My oh my - Time has flown (13 July)

Where to start.
Life has been having its up and downs since my last entry and I do apologize for the delay.
We had a busy time after Killarney and then at the beginning of June, Darryl's brother Neville became quite ill and collapsed and was in ICU in Taree on life-support.  We loaded up the van and headed down to support Shirley and it was touch and go for a while.  He came round and was able to get back on his feet.  He was to go to rehab but he decided that wasn't for him, so he headed home about two weeks after being admitted to hospital.
He was able to do most things independently - which really helped his sister Shirley.  The doctors told us that he had Viral encephalitis, left-sided pneumonia and a small cerebral bleed.  The bleed would therefore explain why he ad such horrid headaches.
I was made President of the ladies group that I attend on Thursday's - Jajari Jimbaljin Empowering Women group - a local group from Capalaba.  (Jajari means Sister, and Jimbaljin means Mother - in the Quandamooka language). Quandamooka people are from the Moreton Bay area and North Stradbroke Island.
We were then told that we were to hold a stall at 2 NAIDOC day celebrations a week apart.  So all the ladies were very industriously making soft toys, aprons, bags, beaded bracelets among other items and then baking biscuits and cakes the day before.
The first stall was postponed the day before - due to the condition of the grounds.  We had had steady rain over the week and they decided that it would become too slushy.  We believe this is going to be re-scheduled for about September.
The next commitment went ahead and we had a great day (albeit in the freezing wind during the morning) but once the sun hit our stand the wind seemed to ease off.
At the beginning of July Neville was once again in Taree hospital on life-support due to another episode.  They believe that he has had a stroke which has been caused by his diabetic homeopathy.  It took almost a week for him to be able to stand on his own and manage basic care.  He had lots of scans and tests done but we do not have any reports back at this time.  He is home again and a little slower than before but 'ok'.  We will travel to Taree and see him at the end of the month - we just have some commitments to do here before we go.
We had a visit from Markus Schorn, a young German man who we met in 2012 when he and three other young men were bicycle riding there way around Australia raising money to plant native trees in Australia.  Markus is again cycling from Darwin to Sydney on a world trip - he has a website - www.MarkusSchorn.de
He has written a book (in German :C ) but his website is being translated into English.

Today we found out that Darryl has to have 'major dental' work done and that is to happen this Friday.  He will be sore for a few days after it - so fingers crossed he will be ready to travel at the end of next week.
Our children are doing good too.  Ben has been moved to Woolies at Loganholme - not sure for how long, but the change seems good. We will catch up with him (and his sister) tomorrow for lunch - which will be good.
Beckie is still studying to be a High School teacher.  A couple more years part-time and she will achieve her goal.
The grand-children are great.
"Mister Man" is now 16 and the proud owner of his learner-driver licence. His parents bought him a little car to learn to drive in as they did not want him learning in the big Land Cruiser or his dad's ute.  He also plays basketball and made the finals in each of the grades that he plays.
"Miss Independent" is 9 and doing really well with her violin and has participated in several performances with the school.
"Monkey Boy" is a very typical 7 year-old and 'knows' all. :D At the moment he can be very cheeky but hopefully that won't last long.
"Lucky Last" is 2 and going great.  His vocabulary is growing every day and he (finally) is getting used to going to daycare a couple of mornings a week.  He is being toilet-trained by his mum and seems to be going great during the day.
All the patching has been completed to the walls downstairs and we just need to finish preparing the walls for a quick repaint and then get onto the maintenance of the yard and then we will be done. :D
I have been culling/downsizing my craft equipment :D which is no mean feat - as those who have seen my 'craft area' will know.

Keep safe and well.

25/7/2013 Victoria Point

Well life keeps throwing curve balls in our direction :-(

For the past 6 months I have had an increasing amount of bloating of my upper abdomen and increasing pain with major effects on my colon and no real indication as to why. :-(
Had a CT scan which showed a problem with an ovary - but not upper abdomen???
Admitted to hospital for a colonoscopy and gastroscopy which ALL came back clear and normal and NO cancerous looking lesions and no polyps.  No indication as to why my abdomen is STILL bloated although the cramping seems to have disappeared majorly. [oops spoke too soon :-( ]
US scan of the ovary has been attended and now awaiting the results from that.  We would like to go travelling to escape it all BUT I would rather be near our good Doctor and try and get it all sorted.  The saying 'caught between a rock and a hard place' has been bandied about quite a bit.

Saturday week ago, Darryl's brother Neville arrived at 7.30am for a visit.
He will be here for a little while more.
On the day that Neville arrived we got word that one of our nephews had been in a serious car crash where there was a fatality.  It has been a very difficult [nearly] two weeks for this young man, his family and his very dear friends - coping with the loss of a very close and dear friend.  The outpouring of support for all the lads involved and of the grief to the other young man's family has been overwhelming, but so good to see and hear.

Last Sunday, Beckie was doing some painting in the extensions that her hubby Matt has built for the boys - to get the rooms finished so the boys can go into them, when she fell from the ladder and her foot landed sideways on a tin of paint (luckily the lid was on) and has broken her foot.  She is now in a backslab plaster and awaiting an appointment to go to the fracture clinic and a more semi-permanent cast.
Difficult being in plaster - not allowed to weight-bear, on crutches and looking after a 6 month old. :-(
We are trying to work out how we can get out there to help her, but will be unable to do much until after Neville returns home.  At this point in time, Matt's mother Janine is going to camp on their front lawn in her caravan to assist where she can.

Late yesterday evening we got word that my God-Father, Uncle Keith, has got some major health issues and will need a biopsy in the coming days.  Initial prognosis does not look promising BUT will await the report from the biopsy and pray that it is not as bad as what the GP is predicting.

So the cosmos is not really working with us at the moment. Will keep you up to date but there may be long stretches where nothing happens.

Good news is that our BABY son :D is turning 31 tomorrow.  So a big Happy Birthday Ben.  Hoping that you have a great day.  Looking forward to going to dinner in the evening. Love ya heaps.

 at his Christening in Dec 1982

Some good stuff, the grandchildrens school photos and I will use the names that their Mum uses:

Mr Man aged 14

Miss Independant 7

Monkey Boy 5

Thank you for visiting my blog and hopefully there will be good news in the next issue.