How We're Going

The short answer is...better!

Rory's sleeping has improved tenfold.  Our visit to Ngala was such a success.  I don't know what they did, but they work miracles (or rather God does through them).  Rory now usually only wakes once a night (so much better than six times on average).  Duncan and I feel like new people.  I'm hoping he'll stop feeding at night soon so I can enjoy a full night's sleep (he usually wakes between 3-4am absolutely ravenous - he's a big fellow).  Oh how I took sleep for granted before I became a parent!  He can self-settle without being swaddled so now he rolls around in his cot, finds his own dummy, and plays with his teddies before going to sleep.  No more patting, ssshhhing, and rocking.  He does get himself into some funny positions, but he can go to sleep standing on his head if he likes, as long as he sleeps!

His eczema still flares up.  It's never been as bad as it was here though.  I'm still none the wiser as to what causes it.  I've monitored his diet, changed our laundry detergent....

I'm on new medication, the levels are now right, it is working, I feel really good.  I still struggle with getting stressed over minor situations.  I've found the key is doing less, really saying NO, and being organised (it's better to arrive somewhere early than be rushed and late).

In my naivety, I thought my recovery would be like this:

In reality, it's more like this:

Part of me worries that the medication will suddenly stop working like the old one did, but I know that I've just got to cross that bridge IF I ever come to it.  It's pointless worrying about something that may not happen and, if it does, there are lots of people around to support me.

Thank you, Lord.  I am amazed by Your grace every day.

Bible Verse of the Day

Praise be to the LORD for He has heard my cry for mercy.  The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.  The LORD is the strength of His people, a fortress of salvation for His anointed one.  Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.
Psalm 28:6-9

Gastro....Eeerrrgh!

After a few days of stomach cramps, I started throwing up on the way back from Perth on Sunday night.  We had been up for the weekend for our goddaughter's 1st birthday party.

We called in at our local hospital as I was hopeful they'd give me an injection of Maxolon.  The nurses checked me out, did a test to rule out pregnancy (phew!), and came to the conclusion that it must be a virus.  Whenever I've had Maxolon before, it has worked a treat.  This time it didn't work at all!  I was still vomiting in the hospital, on the way home, and once I'd gone to bed.

This has made me face one of my greatest fears of becoming a mum...having to look after someone else and soldier on while you're feeling so rotten.  Duncan brought Rory into our room so I could feed him and then took him back to his cot.  His very understanding boss gave him the day off to look after me and the little man as I was bedridden all of yesterday.  I was feverish, weak, lethargic and barely ate anything, except for a few crackers.

Last night, my arthritis flared up again.  Oh my goodness, the pain was bad.  I think it was because I'd been lying down so much.  I even resorted to taking Celebrex for the first time in two and a half years just to get some sleep.

Thankfully both Duncan and Rory are still well!

I'm feeling a lot better today, but whenever I've had gastro, the recovery always seems to take a while.  I just lay on the floor, resting my head on a cushion this afternoon while Rory played with his toys next to me.

Vomiting!  Ergh!  One of the grossest physical sensations ever.

Friday Funny

CHILDREN WRITING ABOUT THE SEA

1.  This is a picture of an octopus.  It has eight testicles. (Kelly, age 6)

2.  Oysters' balls are called pearls. (James, age 6)

3.  If you are surrounded by sea, you are an island.  If you don't have sea all around you, you are incontinent. (Wayne, age 7)

4.  A dolphin breathes through an arsehole on the top of its head. (Billy, age 8)

5.  My dad goes out in his boat and comes back with crabs. (Emily, age 5)

6.  When ships had sails, they used to use the trade winds to cross the ocean.  Sometimes, when the wind didn't blow, the sailors would whistle to make the wind come.  My brother said they would be better off eating beans. (William, age 7)

7.  Some fish are dangerous.  Jellyfish can sting.  Electric eels can give you a shock.  They have to live in caves under the sea where I think they have to plug themselves into chargers. (Christopher, age 7)

8.  When you go swimming in the sea, it is very cold, and it makes my willy small. (Kevin, age 6)

Odd Socks

Rory's collection of mismatched socks seems to be growing (he loves pulling his socks off and chucking them over the side of the pram). So I decided he should wear odd socks to show his support for Mental Health Week.

As you can imagine, this issue has become very close to my heart this year. I strongly believe that pouring more money into mental health will also reduce homelessness since I know a number of people who choose to live in their cars, on the streets, or in the bush when they are unwell. In a ideal world *sigh*.

Though this year has been mostly horrible, I can see that it had given me a unique opportunity to meet up with and maybe even share the hope I have in Christ with other women suffering from postnatal depression.

Powerhouse Museum and Doctor Who

I've been spending the past few days adapting to being back westside after our latest Sydney adventure.

It all started when there was a mix-up with the dates we were coming over.  We had booked our flights for Monday afternoon, so we were shocked when Duncan got a message from our friend Michael who was at the Sydney airport waiting for us on Sunday night.  Oops!

Chilling before heading to the airport

At the Perth airport

Rory was a bit grizzly on the flight over and didn't sleep much.  It was so cramped having a baby on your lap.  I found myself slightly green with envy watching the adults chilling out by themselves or those with kids old enough to have their own seat and watch movies quietly.

We had a ball!  It was all over too quickly.  Thanks so much to Michael, Amanda and their girls for their amazing hospitality.  Rory loved the girls and having an assortment of new toys to play with.

Rory looks like such a chunky monkey

Rory's new Indian headdress

I enjoyed some cuddles with their cat, George

We arrived on Monday night and spent Tuesday having lunch and shopping in the suburb Amanda and Michael live in.  We visited an opshop (of course) and I picked up a couple of garments much to Duncan's disgust.  The day didn't get off to a very good start when another driver reversed into Michael and Amanda's car, hitting the passenger door where I was sitting.  Everyone was ok and he was a decent bloke who acknowledged it was his fault.  I was impressed with how quickly and civilly it was sorted out (not always so in Perth unfortunately).  Then Duncan got a bit lost (he walked to meet us, pushing Rory in the pram), but I eventually found him.

On Wednesday we headed out for our first big adventure!  We caught the train to the city to go to the Powerhouse Museum.  While having lunch, Amanda was the first to witness the 'cliché of the day':

 



There were so many interesting exhibitions at the museum.


The Beatles (my mum would have loved this):

 



Fashion:

 

I know....very random



Experimentations:

 

I'm electrifying!

 



This was a very cool interactive play area:

 

 

 

 

Then Michael discovered there was a Doctor Who exhibition on at the ABC building.  Duncan is a Doctor Who fan.

 

Yes, Amanda, there's something behind you.



 

 



We saw the ABC 24 Hour News being filmed:

 

The weather man was wearing sneakers haha!

 

I couldn't resist a photo with Dorothy:

 

 



 

 Some of these photos are Amanda's.  Used with permission.



Wedding 1 2013

Back on the 14th September, we were privileged to attend the wedding of Clare and Michael, a couple from our church.  The wedding was held in a marquee on Clare's family farm and, despite the wet weather, it went very smoothly.  My parents looked after Rory so Duncan and I could go alone...a very strange feeling now.