wow, February already :D

Well we did a lot of work upstairs and I still have the heavy curtains to wash and rehang.
We have been very busy all of last week with specialist appointments and followup test but a good result all round.
Today I made a HUGE batch of GF biscuits so that we have got plenty over the coming weeks.
It was a recipe that I saw on facebook and they do not taste too bad.
Lots of work to be done in the garden over the next few weeks and hope to catch up with some very good friends also.

Gee I am sooooooo shite on keeping this blog up to date :) 15th April to 28th May

Hello all,
Well time sure is flying past these days…..
Soo what have we been up too…..
I was supposed to see the Hearing Aid people on about the 14^th April, but with the couple of short weeks over that time, my appointment was put back to the 1^st May.  L

Easter weekend we spent the time at home and were visited by Beckie and the Children for Good Friday.  Ben came and joined us and then we had Bradley her for two nights before we met up with his Mum and brothers and sister at Uncle Ben’s on Easter Sunday.  This was good because the children could go for a swim in the pool at the complex.  The only downside of that is that Max cut his chin open as he slipped getting out of the pool.  First aid administered by Nanna and the cut taped up with Elastoplast tape and then Mum and Nanna did a trip to the chemist for waterproof dressings and butterfly-strips also.  Got some childrens Panadol to help with the pain side of things too.  The Elastoplast managed to stay intact for 48 hours before being replaced with a modified Butterfly-strip and a waterproof dressing.  After a week the chin looked fantastic.  It had healed really well.

We had a great day with the grandchildren and they loved being at Uncle Ben’s place.

Easter Monday was our wedding anniversary and also my Sister Jenny and her husband peter celebrated theirs. What a beautiful fine day it was.  So Darryl and I did some family tree research for the BECKETT family tree. [I have decided to do the Beckett tree for the grandchildren so that they know about their ancestors].  Darryl and I had an interesting time visiting different cemeteries taking photos of headstones, trying to find some graves – still looking – and then we stopped at Margate [over near Redcliffe] and had a lovely lunch looking out at the ocean.

Tuesday we took the car into our friend Paul and had its service attended and then we headed to Loganholme shopping centre, where we had not been in a long time.  Wandered the mall for  quite a time and then went home.

Wednesday was spent doing all the household chores, and Barb spent a lot of time spring cleaning the caravan.  All curtains were washed and dried, window screens taken out and scrubbed and put back and then all the linen was washed too.

24^th April  we headed into the Wesley Hospital to see Darryl’s respirologist and got a great report from him.  We don’t have to see him until late in the year.  We then headed home and hitched up the van and headed off to Jimboomba.  We have got a lot of things on this weekend – so made our base at Beckie and Matt’s place. 

25^th April we all went to the Anzac Day March at Jimboomba [ granddad proudly marching in the ranks] and then stayed for the full service in the park.

Back to Beckie’s and we headed off to Canungra, where we spent the day with some of our campertrailer group friends.  What a great day.  Time flew way to  fast and it was time to head back.

26^th we headed to Beaudesert to celebrate the 60^th birthday of our good friend Gai.  We had a lovely meal at the Chinese restaurant and then headed back to her house for drinks and chat.  Left there and back to Jimboomba.

27^th we headed out to Wyaralong Dam for the day to celebrate the Naming Day for our friends, Simon and Emily’s, little boy – Flynte.  What a lovely day we had and then splatter of rain did not start until the day was well and truly over.

28^th – Darryl and I took the van back home and then headed off to my cousin Julies and we were doing some research into the family.  What a great day we had.  Again – time flew way to fast and before we knew it – it  was 7pm.  Thankfully Rhonda gave Buster some food and turned the light on for him.  By the time we got home it was nearly 9pm.  Poor little fellow had thought we had left him. 

29^th I did some research into two other families – Bruce’s and Donald’s – all part of the Menz/Bruce family tree.

1^st May I had an appointment with the Hearing centre and got my hearing aids.  They are so tiny BUT WOW, the things that I can hear now :D.  Volumes are being turned down and I can hear what the big fella is muttering about over in his chair :D :D

5^th May – I pieced together the final bits of Luke’s quilt and have started layering them and pinning them in preparation for quilting.

6^th May was not a good day.  Meniere’s has reared its head and my day had been very unbalanced and then the brain-fog kicked in with the residual headache.

9^th May we made our way out to Jimboomba and spent some time with Beckie and Luke before heading to see our GP for our check-ups.  He wasn’t happy that I have had nearly two weeks of post-menopausal bleeding so is sending me for follow-up test and scans.  He also wants me to arrange an appointment with a gynae – so have done that also.

I have had my hearing aids for one week today and at Lunch time I heard the chimes in my ears to tell me to change the batteries.

10^th May we joined the family at Funky Mexican at Cleveland to celebrate Beckies Birthday and as a combined mothers day also.  I made a cake for her – which she wasn’t expecting.

12^th May we had dinner with some lovely friends and it was great catching up with them.  We had not seen them for about two years – so was great to see what each of us had been up to.

13^th May we travelled to Northlakes [north of Brisbane] and met up with our friend Chris from Campertrailers group and had a lovely 4 hours chatting and planning our next adventures.  Chris is currently house-sitting in Northlakes.

15^th May we were back at the Hearing centre and making some minor adjustments to my hearing aids.  I also had the tests and scans attended.

19^th May went to see the specialist Gynae and he wants to operate and remove a suspect ovary. When? Well I have a space free on Thursday morning!!!  Right.  So Darryl said – get it out the sooner the better.  We were due to travel on the 20^th to Goomeri,  to spend a week with our caravanning friends and witness the Pumpkin Festival.  So sent messages giving our apologies, completed the admission paperwork for the hospital and called Beckie and Ben to keep them in the loop.  Once home it was letting the siblings know what is happening.

22^nd we arrived at the hospital before 7am and told that going through to theatre at 9.30. Say goodbye now as hubby can’t go any further L.

All checks and preparations attended and then waited.  Went through to theatre at 10.20 am and woke in recovery at 12md.  Back to the ward by 12.45pm and then chatted on and off with Darryl and Beckie before they left at about 3pm.  Had a disturbed nights sleep – as one does when recovering from an anaesthetic and having all the necessary observations and checks attended.

23^rd – check by the specialist at 7.30am and all good.  He said he was glad he got it out – but is sure it is benign – and will get back to me next week with the histology results.  Discharged at 9.45am and then home to sleep for four hours J

I have noticed whilst incarcerated on REST that Buster has got quite a constant cough and he seems to be breathing with some difficulty.  This progressed quite severely over the weekend and on Sunday night he hardly had any sleep due to this constant cough. L  Monday we contacted the Vet and was able to get him in at 10.30am.  They think he may have Kennel cough – so have to keep him separate from other animals until seen. L

Well - he does not have kennel cough J but he does have Congestive Heart Failure and a huge heart Murmur  and they are not sure how much longer he will be with us. L  We have commenced him on fluid tablets and he will have a review next Tuesday.

Wednesday 28^th – Buster had NO coughing at all on Monday night and it was so good to know he had a good sleep BUT he is still breathing faster than he should.  He did have a couple of coughs this morning though L He is nowhere near as energetic as his usual self :C and this morning we had to force him to take his fluid tablet. L  Tonight I hid it in a piece of cake and he took it no worries :D

I had another follow-up with the hearing people and don’t have to go back until our return from our next trip – so that is good.

We then went to the Redlands RSL club to see our dear friends Julie and Ted Bartlett who are on a trip out from England.  Their son, Ted’s, partner Megan gave birth to a beautiful little girl last month in Darwin, so we were seeing some very happy grandparents.  They head back to Darwin tomorrow afternoon – so it was lovely being able to spend time with them and Elizabeth and Leanne.

As we were saying our farewells we received a call to join Julie and Ted, Elizabeth and Leanne for lunch.  What a lovely day we had.  Arriving home at 5pm.

We got the results of the histology back on the ovary.  It is BENIGN so all is good.  The other stuff that was done requires review and possible further action but not until we return from our trip – Doctors orders.

So that is all from us for now.  Sorry for the medical stuff BUT most of you will understand that this is how I tick.

time is flying by......

Well we have been home for two weeks and we have been having a busy time with specialist and GP appointments, dentist and eye checks.
We are going out to visit friends who will be camping at Andrew Drynan park on the Lion's Tourist Road, near Rathdowney, this weekend.  We won't be camping as Beckie is having her fund-raiser for her 'Ride to Conquer Cancer 2012' at the Jimboomba Library - and we will be in attendance.
Darryl has had to have a GTT (Glucose Tolerance Test) [a two hour blood test] and his result has come back that he has NIDDM (Non-Insulin Dependant Diabetes Mellitus) and needs to start medication.
a new round of health issues is about to begin.........
We are doing some tidy ups here at the house.  We are painting the front fence, Darryl is going to paint the metal out the front with rust-preventative and we are seriously thinking of pulling up the original carpet upstairs. It is really tatty carpet and puts a dampener on the look of the house.  Ahh well - will see what eventuates.
Young Max is to go into hospital to have his tonsils and Adenoids removed in a couple of weeks so it looks like we will be camped on their front lawn for a couple of nights to look after the kidlets.
We had the van serviced last week and the guys were really pleased with it.  We will get it serviced again in March prior to us heading of to the corner country with Wendy, Ian and Holly for Easter.
We are also planning on meeting up with Grey Nomad friends for a tag-a-long up to Darwin after that.

Buster has settled into being the ALPHA dog here and doesn't seem to be missing Andy.  Andy has settled into life at Jimboomba and the children are really enjoying having him and Bob to look after.

Will Keep you updated.

Busy weekend and busy week ahead :)

Well this weekend we have mowed the lawns, whipper-snipped the edges, and today we washed the van AND the car and then karcher'd the stamped driveway.  It is lovely and bright and hopefully we have gotten rid of the mould :D
We now have a severe storm warning all the way from Toowoomba across to the Redlands coast.  Just looked at BOM and there is an awful lot of red and yellow and some black in the storm on such a huge front.
Tomorrow we are heading out to Jimboomba to see our Doctor - and hopefully he will give us a clean bill of health .  Waiting to see what has to happen with my knee though.  IT has not been too bad - wearing the brace everyday and taking panadol osteo.  During the night is when it seems to give me the most grief :(
So will wait until Dr Rod has a chance to look at it and give me his expert opinion.
Darryl's two specialists last week were quite pleased with him and don't want to see him for 12 months - whoo hoo.  I haven't heard from my specialist yet - but will try and contact them tomorrow.
This week we have had only one doggie to look after.
Andy has gone to live with Beckie, Matt, Brad, Gemma, Max and their dog Bob.  Buster has been good.  He was off his food initially but seems to have settled down.  We are trying to keep up Ben's routine with him and he goes for a walk each afternoon.  We take about 30 mins to do the walk and it is difficult to encourage Darryl to come along - and 80% of time he walks behind us :)
It is almost time for me to get a new computer too..... :(  My little vaio is not coping :(  Have taken a lot of photos and documents off it and put them on the external HDD and still only have 15GB left out of 120!!!
It has been a great little machine for the past 3 years.