Five Things Friday No: 4

It is Friday so that means five things Friday

Going grey naturally.............not for me

I love babies

I suffer from depression

Cold feet

Warm heart

Family life

Hello everyone, dad is doing better he is on both antibiotics and prednisone and mum says he is starting to sound better but still has a ways to go before he is 100%, hell he is rarely 100% now days but still at least he is improving.

Daemon went back to the GP yesterday he still has sores/scabs on his head and has been prescribed another round of antibiotics I told the doctor that it was a fight to get him to the have the last lot and out of each 5ml dose he would have been lucky to get 2ml as he would fight so much. I asked if he really had to have the oral medication and he said yes, I said easy for you to say your not the one who has to fight with him trying to get him to take it. Anyway he gave him a different antibiotic this one he only takes twice a day and doesn't taste as bad as the last one and yes it was still a battle to give him the first dose but this morning we tried mixing it with some strawberry milk and he took it pretty much ok.

Kelli had plans to fly to Queensland on Tuesday to visit Kirsty but has decided not to go with Daemon needing medication and not being 100% although he doesn't look or sound unwell but I understand her not wanting to go when he isn't the best. However, she needs a doctors certificate in order to get a refund or credit from Jetstar so we rang the doctors this morning asking if the GP could do one and leave it out for us and of course the receptionist said we might have to go back and see the doctor although I can't see why we should have to do that we were only there yesterday why should we have to go back just to get a medical certificate.

Kelli is upset about not being able to go and see Kirsty and meet Kelsi but it is just the way it is.

I didn't go to see nan today as on Saturday it will be her 93^rd birthday and everyone is going out to see her then well I say everyone but I guess it will be just me and mum, Frank & Pearla and maybe Sandra, Sue, Jeannie I am not expecting my girls to turn up but they were invited so we will see. I am also not expecting my uncle Ronnie and his wife to attend but we will see.

Up until about 15 minutes ago I was feeling well myself for some reason I am getting a headache right across the forehead and behind my eyes I have taken something for it so I am hoping it doesn't get any worse. I have also put the potatoes in the oven we are having jacket potatoes with our steak for tea and I like to cook them on low in the over for a few hours.

Ok I have ran out of stuff to say so I will post this now.  This photo was taken last year at Nan's 92nd birthday gathering 

My dad has COPD

I was talking to my mum last night like I do every night at 6.10pm I think everyone else knows not to ring me at that time as I am either talking to mum or waiting for mum to ring, but not the point.

I was talking to mum and we were discussing how sick my dad has been lately, he coughs till he throws up a lot of brown/black foul smelling phlegm like stuff this has been happening for a while, he is back to the doctors tomorrow but he was so bad last night that mum ended up giving him a prednisone tablet which helped, she has been trying to not give it to him as she wants him to sound awful when they see the doctor which I get. It sucks when you are rotten and when you get to the doctor you are having a good day and don't sound as bad as you really are, if that makes any sense.

Still not the point, as I was saying I was talking to mum and she told me that dad has COPD, ok why am I only hearing this now, he has had it for a while now and by while I mean years it is due to him only have 1& a bit lungs.

Now this COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ) is a type of obstructive lung disease characterised by chronically poor airflow, the symptoms include shortness of breath, a cough with bring up phlegm, in which chronic incompletely reversible poor airflow and inability to breathe out fully (air trapping) exist. The poor airflow is the result of breakdown of lung tissue (emphysema) and obstructive bronchiolitis. When there is severe destruction of the small airways it can lead to the formation of large air pockets also known as bullae that replace lung tissue this doesn't sound good to me.

There is no known cure for COPD all that can be done is to treat the symptoms and try and delay the progression. Suffers should have a flu vaccination each year and should try and reduce exposure to air pollution. Of course suffers shouldn't smoke, and my dad hasn't smoked in 20-25years.

COPD usually gets gradually worse over time and can ultimately result in death, it is estimated that 3% of all disability is related to COPD, however, the overall number of years a person can live with COPD has increased, which is good news for my dad as I don't want to lose him any time soon. How fast a person with COPD worsens depends on the person and things like how much exercise the can manage and if they are under or overweight, if they smoke or around smokers.

COPD has been referred to as “smokers lung”

Someone with COPD is at an increased risk of many complications such as chest infections, pneumonia, collapsed lung, heart problems, anxiety, depression, hypoxaemia.

Hypoxaemia is caused by lack of oxygen to the brain, which can result in confusion, memory lapses both problems my dad has, dad also suffers from depression due to his bad health.

Suffers of COPD are at increased risk of a sedentary lifestyle due to the difficulties they have with walking and doing anything that can cause breathlessness this of course means they do less which make the COPD worse due to less exercise and they end up in a downward spiral of inactivity.

I worry about my dad a lot lately, since having the lung cancer in 2009 it has been one long battle, although when you ask dad how he is he will usually say he is fine nothing wrong, this is because he doesn't like to worry his children and grandchildren.

Dad also hates to go the the doctors since he is forever seeing one doctor or another but he needs to keep up on the doctor visits it is what is keeping him alive, not seeing a doctor can mean a simple to fix problem is not caught till it is too late. Dad knows his family love him and worries about him and that we want him around for as long as possible.

Since dad gets like this a lot I think he should have a stash of antibiotics to take when he is bad and not have to wait till he can get into see a doctor to get started on them, he has the prednisone at home which mum can give to him when it sounds like he needs it.

Ok this has been a long winded post, sorry for that I do try not to write long winded posts.

Five Things Friday on Saturday

Ok here is five things Friday on Saturday because yesterday I as flat out like a lizard drinking and in so much pain that when I got home I didn't have a thought in my head except to have a hot bath and do nothing, however of course do nothing had to wait till after I unpacked the dishwasher, repacked the dishwasher, unpack the shopping, than vacuum out the house.

Anyway on to my five things for Friday and it is Friday some where in the world

I have a bad back

I love having photos on the walls

I am going grey

I prefer to drive an automatic

I need to dust

A bitch about Tim because I love him so I am allowed

Do you ever look around the house and think I wish I could change stuff, I do at times I wish I could have a nice vanity in the bathroom and I would love to be able to rip out the kitchen and redo it but of course I can't since we rent from the Department of Housing (government).

I have told Tim a few times that I would like to buy a nice rug for the loungeroom but each time I suggest it he kind of just brushes me off, he doesn't want to fork out money for a rug. I would also like to either paint or wallpaper the walls here but again that isn't going to happen, Tim has painted the bedrooms at different times during our time here. However, he says it involves to much work to paint again and he is just can't be bothered.

Sometimes I feel that Tim buys stuff he wants when he wants it but when I ask for something he wants to know if I really want it, do I really need it. Only a week or so ago I told him that I would like to get a new camera before we go to Hawaii but what does he say what's wrong with your camera, well there is nothing wrong with it I just feel like a new camera but he went on and on about it I ended up telling him not to worry about it.

When we bought the car we have I wanted to get a small car but Tim wanted a large van so we ended up getting the station wagon, now Tim has talked about buying another small car for him to drive to work I said fine but get an automatic so I can drive it at times but he of course wants a manual much to my annoyance. If he does get another car it bloody well be an automatic or I will be pissed off.

Yes this is a bitch about Tim post, but I love him and I am allowed to bitch about him from time to time. 

Walking dramas, a sick Leo and a motorhome for sale

Hello everyone, here it is Monday again.

How was your weekend?

Oh yeah some of you are still having a weekend?

Anyway mine was good, although yesterday morning didn't kick off well, I went for my usual morning walk and I was about half way through the walk when I started to feel light headed and my legs felt like they were going to give way on me. Since I walk past a dental surgery I thought I would detour and sit for a bit on the steps of the dental surgery, remember it was Sunday so I was expecting the dentist to be closed.

Anyway someone came out of the dentist and asked me if I was alright, yeah they were open, that was a shock anyway as I was saying someone came out and helped me inside gave me a cup of water and asked if they could ring someone to come and get me. So I gave them my mums phone number and they rang mum who rang Kelli who came and got me and brought me home.

I didn't feel very good all day, I went over to my parents place for lunch and as I was walking out to get in the car I again felt like headed and unsteady so Kelli ended up driving us over to mums. I did manage to help mum cook lunch well by help I opened the frozen roast potatoes and put them in the airfryer and when they were done I took them out and put them in a tray and into the oven to keep warm.

When I got home in the afternoon the first thing I did was go in and have a nap, after my nap I was feeling much better.

Today when I went for my morning walk there was no problem.

In other news Little Leo was sick yesterday, Jessica said he was running a temp and was very tired only wanting to lay in bed and do nothing for most of the day.

There was vomiting as well but thankfully he made it to the toilet each time so nothing to clean up.

Although he was fine this morning and he went to school as usual, last night Kelli, Jono and their boys stayed at Jessica's place.

My dad has decided to sell his motor home as he is unable to drive it any more and it is just sitting there and he would rather sell it and have the money. So yesterday he had my brother and Tim over there to help polish it, although on Saturday he managed somehow to wash it himself although it took a lot out of him and after he was finished he was having trouble breathing, in fact he didn't wash all of him my sister Sue went and helped him finish it off as he had done about ¾ of it and was unable to do the rest of it.

Leo doesn't like porridge

Good morning world, how is everyone on this fine but cold Saturday morning? I am ok have a bloody headache and after I went outside to peg the washing on the line I came back inside with a runny nose.

Yesterday was a long and busy day, I didn't have Leo Thursday night as I had to be over at the hospital for a 8am appointment so I told Jessica she would have to drop him off at the OOSH, but as it turned out Kelli spent Thursday night at Jessica's place and she drove him to the OOSH.

So I had Leo here last night instead, anyway back to my appointment at the hospital it was with the diabetic specialist, he said he was pleased with my BGL's and told me to continue with the Byetta injections. He did say my diet is better but could still do with improving. I also had lost weight when they weighed me and he was happy about that also.

After the appointment I went to Charlie to meet the family for breakfast, followed by shopping and then home to unpack before going to get Leo by the time 4pm rolled around I was stuffed. I was so tired I didn't want to do anything, I didn't have the energy to even cook something for tea and I was in bed by 8pm and asleep pretty much straight away.

This morning I have been up since 7am with Leo and have done a load of washing and pegged it out and now I just don't want to do anything else except put my feet up and watch telly. I have no idea when Jessica will be here to get Leo, some time in the next couple of hours I guess.

I have suggested to Jessica that we change Leo's night here back to Friday nights, so she can have a sleep in on Saturday, I was only having him Thursday nights because she had to get up early for work but they have changed her pick ups on Friday and she no longer has to get up early on Friday's.

I can tell you I am glad that Kelli is home, I have missed her, and I know that at some point her and Jono will find another place but I am not looking forward to it because she so much like another daughter now. Daemon is also like my grandson.

Oh yeah before I go, I have to tell you this I made porridge for breakfast and I asked Leo if he would like some, he said he didn't know what it was but would try it, well I go in after I had my breakfast and he hadn't eaten it so I asked if he wanted it and his response was “tried it didn't like it, how do people eat that stuff” so I guess you can say he doesn't like porridge. 

Patience

This afternoon when I dropped Leo off at his mum's house I told her she would have to help him with the last of his homework, which is to be handed in tomorrow. Well of course I get from her “ I can't” “ I have no patience” this was frustrating and I then turned to Kelli who is spending the night there and told her to make sure he get the last of his homework done, there is only two things left to do.

This made me think of how much patience I had when my girls were little and you know what I had very little, I was not a patient type of person and would often end up yell and carrying on like idiot.

I think most of us become more patient as we age and than we reach a certain age and our patience evaporates and we can no longer put up with idiots and fools. This is why old people are usually thought of as short tempered, cranky old farts...............lol

Although my mum is one of those rare people who has had a lot of patience since she was fairly young, mum was the calm one out of mum & dad, dad was the short tempered one, the one who would fly off the handle and rant and rave about stuff. Now they are in their 70's dad is becoming more short tempered and cranky and mum well she still has endless amounts of patience, my mum is a rarity.

I would love to think that I would have as much patience as my mum does when I am in my 70's but I am not so sure, I am in many ways more like my dad, I have always been a short tempered woman like my dad but like my mum I will get over things very fast. I do my block and then I am over it, I am not one to stew over things or to harp on things once I have released my anger I am over it.

So what about you are you patient or are you short tempered or maybe your are something in between. 

What is your take of drugs

Drugs...............do you know someone who has a problem with drugs?

I do, there is a member of my family who has a problem with drugs even though they haven't done drugs in a while as far as I know. I don't know much about their problem I have never asked and to be honest I have never wanted to know.

I know very little about drugs and what goes on with drug addicts it is not something I have much knowledge about.

How about alcohol, do you know someone who has a problem with alcohol?

Again I do as most people know Tim likes his wine but he is trying to cut down his drinking and has been doing well, not drinking much if at all during the working week and only having something to drink over the weekend. I am very proud of him.

I do not get why people with a drinking problem and people with a drug problem are lumped together, the term “sober” to me refers to someone who is not drunk not someone who hasn't done drugs someone who hasn't done drugs is clean not sober in my opinion.

Maybe I am just old fashion or just old.......................lol

I don't understand why people do drugs, I just don't get it and I don't get how people get addicted to pain medication I know it happens but I don't get it.

I also don't see the point in getting stupid drunk all the bloody time, I am not saying I haven't got stupid drunk because I have of course just not every week maybe a couple of times a year but not all the time what is the point. I like to have a few drinks but it is rare for me to be drunk.

Kelsi Jayne

Hello world, I am having a nice day reading blogs and doing nothing much although I do have to get off my ass and do some ironing at some point today I just have to get motivated to do so.

Kelli will be home this afternoon, why because Sue is returning from Queensland she is no longer needed or she is just homesick whichever doesn't matter she will be back today.

As I mentioned last week Kirsty has had her first born child Kelsi Jayne born on the 7^th at 10.15am weighing 8lb 4ozs, Kirsty and Jacob changed the middle name from Eve to Jayne, Jayne is Kelli's second name.

I am feeling a bit sick today, pains in the tummy and a headache along with feeling oh so tired but of course I don't want to go to bed as I do not think I will be able to wake up if I went to bed.

My Mother's Day

This is my Mother's Day post, the day after Mother's Day why a day late well yesterday being Mother's Day I was busy doing nothing much and the usual Sunday stuff as well and by the time I had time to write a post I didn't feel like it so here it is Monday morning and I am starting this while Leo has breakfast.

Anyway my Mother's Day was bloody awesome it kicked off with Natasha waking me up to give me a present, yes don't faint anyone Natasha gave me a Mother's Day present. A really lovely long in length and long sleeve jacket that is oh so warm, I love it and it was such a surprise that I felt happy for the rest of the day.

Next up Jessica turns up just after I got back from my morning walk to give me her presents, she bought me some kitchen stuff and a watch pendant in the shape of an owl which I oh so love. I will wear it a lot I reckon.

Than it was time to head on over to the Eastern Tiger for lunch, which was really nice plenty of prawns and oysters for those who like such food and all mums got a rose and a free drink there were 7 mums at our table. Dad told mum after they left that he really liked lunch and would like to see us do more family functions out there instead of at home as it means no work for mum.

Dad even said he would like to go out there for Christmas lunch but mum shot that down fast no bloody way she wants to do that, not for Christmas other days yes but not Christmas.

Kathy kept telling me that I didn't have to pay for her to come out with us but since I usually end up paying for Natasha I decided this time I would pay for Kathy instead and told her it doesn't always have to be about Natasha, she is just as important to me and I am sure Natasha would understand, if she knew.

Tim gave me a comfy seat for my computer chair to give me lift and comfort this is something I really wanted and in fact I was the one to go and find it and buy it for myself but that is ok better to do that and get what I want/need then something I don't want or need.

My sister Sue spent Mother's Day in Queensland with Kirsty but according to mum she is feeling homesick and was missing her mum yesterday, she will be flying home tomorrow. Which means Kelli will be back here either this afternoon or tomorrow I can't remember when she said and I was only talking to her about it an hour ago.............lol

Speaking of Sue, my sweetheart Kelli gave me this, it is a block to go on the wall about how the love of an aunty and a booklet of vouchers for thinks like choc chip biscuits or a massage from Kelli which I loved also.

All in all yesterday was one of the best Mother's Day I have had in years 

Five Things Friday

Here is five things Friday for week number two

I like the colour purple

I suffer from back pain

Sometimes I get so excited I jump around and squeal like a little kid

Fridays are my shopping day

I am so looking forward to Mother's Day

Leo's Mother's Day Stall and more

Well it's another cold and wet day here but only showering on and off, so I have to use the clothes dryer to dry the clothes but such is life. Tim is asleep on the lounge next to me but only for another half hour when I will wake him to go back to work, he will be taking the car to work this afternoon because he will not be home till really late, like midnight late.

This morning Jessica dropped Leo of she was running late, so she dropped him off and left for work but 10 minutes later she was back the little girl she drives today didn't go to school. So she was able to drive Leo to school and she will pick him up from school this afternoon since I will not have a car.

Now when she dropped him at school they walk in and she asks Leo if he wants to go and play before school and what did he do, run of and didn't look back when she left there was no hug or kiss, these days are rare but Jessica was upset about how he ran off and didn't seem to want to give her a hug or kiss before she left. He is growing up and these days will happen from time to time.

Today is the Mother's Day stall at Leo's school so I gave him $10 to get something when Jessica was talking to him about it he said he wanted to get something for her and for nanna, Jessica said he might be able to only get one gift and he said he would have to get something that me and her could share. Jessica said but I am mummy shouldn't you get me a present and he was like but what about nanna I have to get nanna a present...............I think Jessica was a little upset that he was so worried about getting nanna a present.

I can tell you I will be surprised if Natasha gives me a Mother's Day present I think it is better if I don't get my hopes up that way I am less likely to be let down and disappointed.

I know that Natasha and Blain are not coming out for lunch on Mother's Day but that is ok I didn't expect them to come, and since they are not going we have asked if she can watch Leo while Jessica comes out since it would cost Jessica $17.50 for Leo and he will not eat that much and it seems like a waste of money. Natasha hummed and arred about taking him but in the end said she would.

Family stuff

What a day, I went to see my nan this morning and she was good said a few words and woke up when we got there, we took Denni with us again.

The weather here has been cold I am in long pants and socks during the day and two nights ago I changed the sheets on the bed from summer sheets to winter sheets, I know not everyone uses winter sheets but I do. Growing up my mum would put winter sheets on our beds from around May and I am the same, although now days my parents don't use them they only ever use summer sheets. Ok some of you might be thinking what are winter sheets well they are flannelette sheets and they are warmer then cotton sheets.

Yesterday my niece Kirsty went into labour and has now had her first born daughter Kelsi but more on that tomorrow as at the moment I don't have a photo or any more information about Kelsi.

For some reason I am extremely tired today I am having trouble staying awake, I know some would say go have a nap but I don't like to do that when I have to go and pick Leo up from school as I am worried I will over sleep and end up being late to get him.

You know I decided 6 weeks ago that I wanted to go our for lunch on Mother's Day and told everyone about it including Tim but when I mentioned it to Tim last week he got all pissy saying I hadn't told him before and wanting to know how much it was going to cost him. I worked out how much he would have to give me for our meals it worked out to be NOTHING as I had put some money aside for it over the last 6 weeks. I will have to go out on Friday afternoon and pay as much as I can before hand so mum is giving me dads money and money for Dawson and Dave has given mum money to give me for them.

You know when I got all snappy with Tim about the money he was like what is wrong with you why are you snappy and why do you have a attitude, hell he started it but you know he didn't get that it was all my fault. I love him but at times I want to throttle him.

Yesterday when I drove Leo to school he was fine, but when we got there he started saying he was sick and didn't want to go to school, I managed to coast him out of the car and walk to where he lines up in the morning but he wouldn't sit down or line up. His teacher came up and took his hand and talked to him then another teacher took his other hand and held him while I walked away but as it turned out as soon as they let his hands go he ran off from them. The school rang me and asked if he had his morning medication, which he had, but I want back to the school and talked to the principal who said he was sitting in a room across from her office and that she would take him back to class shortly. I spoke to the teacher when I picked him up in the afternoon and she said he was fine when the principal took him back to class,worked well and she had no problem with him.  

Dear Dad

This is the first post in a series of Dear……………. Letters to my family members, I am kicking it off with a letter to my dad……………..so here we go……………

Dear Dad

You know that you are loved by your family but do you know how much we need you and how much we worry about you. We all know that you are fed up with doctors and hospital but it worries your children and grandchildren when you put off seeing a doctor when we all can see you are not well, when you are having trouble breathing and put off going to the doctor or A & E until you get worse. When you have a fall during the night and are short of breath we would rather you ring 000 and improve and not need them or have them come out and check you and be told you are ok then you leave it too late. Yes there are times when going over to the hospital seems like a waste of time and you feel too sick to wait around the hospital waiting room for ages but your health is so important to all your family.

We worry about your memory and understand your fear as much as we can but really need to take notice of these things, don’t put off getting help till it is so bad there is nothing that can be done to help, we know that you worry about losing your licence but we are more worried about losing you period.

Dad your family needs you and that means you need to take care of your health.

Ok enough going on about your health let’s move onto all the great memories I have of you my dad, one of my earliest memories is of walking around near aeropelican with me on your shoulders. I also have a vague memory of the time we got bogged on Blacksmiths beach and yes I do remember it is not a clear memory but I do still remember it. 

The time we wallpapered the kitchen is also a good memory and it still makes me laugh when I think about it, I don't know if you know dad how much it meant to me that I was able to help my dad with things, like wallpapering the kitchen and running power down to the garage when we lived in Flame street and putting up the pool.

I know I am blessed to have you as my dad; you have always been my hero, my idol. When I was around the age of 18 nanna asked me what type of man I would like to marry and all I could think of was a man like my dad, to me you were special the perfect dad, you could do everything and I always knew you would protect me and keep me safe. I know it may sound silly but you are still my hero and my idol and I am still so proud to be your daughter.

I was lucky in that I had you all to myself for 6 years but even when Jeannie & Sue came along I never felt pushed aside or that you loved me any less I just knew you had enough love to go around. All my life I have wanted to make you proud. 

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Mother's Day Gift Ideas
A clothes basket holder for when I peg clothes on the line
Winter socks or slippers
Bath gift set
Voucher for a massage 
New Baking Trays
A New camera
Forever Comfy Cushion for my computer chair 
A New Airfryer

My Arm

Look at my poor arm, it is so sore I am applying Aloe Vera Gel to the arm to try and help it heal but after I apply it the arm is even more sore.

Now I know you are all wondering what on earth I did to it, well I had it covered with band aid for about 4 days because of a couple of small sores on the arm and on Thursday it started leaking goo. I removed the band aid and it looked like it does and was as sore as all hell.

Some have said I might be allergic to the band aid, others have said I left it on too long and that is what caused it, whichever I don't know. All I do know is it looks terrible and is as sore as....................

5 Things Friday

Welcome to the first ever 5 things Friday this will be a new Friday thing where I will list 5 random things that will either annoy me, piss me off a lot, I find amusing, or strange or just something about me that you may or not know about me..............so here are today's 5 things.

My feet sweat a lot

I have a lot of wax in my ears

I have crooked fingers

I wear glasses for reading

I can only open my mouth a little bit 

Parents...............I Don't See Mine as Old, How About You

Love and appreciate your parents.

We are often so busy growing up; we forget they are also growing old.

My parents are now in their 70's but I do not think of them as old, my mum is a very active woman still driving children to school and watching toddlers and babies nearly every day of the week. In fact mum gets up at 5.45am most morning except on the weekend when she will sleep in till around 7am.

My dad was really active too, till he had lung cancer in 2009 and since then he has gone down hill and is no way as active, yes there are even times when he moves like an old man this is due to the fact that his feet are not good any more, since he had radiation treatment his feet are often painful and he finds it painful to walk or stand for any length of time.

Mum's memory is pretty good at times I think it is better then mine, however, the same can't be said about dads memory. Dad has moments when he can't remember people's names or mum telling him something and those moments are getting more and more.

My father's parents died in their 70's and my mother's father was in his 70's when he passed away but her mother is still alive she will be 93 at the end of this month, I can see my mum living to be in her 90's easy.

Do you see your parents as old, or are you like me and just don't see them ageing?