The Card Door ~ how paper can make you cry with joy . . .

Trying to describe an operation without being gory is difficult ~ so I am not going to go into that first up! This is the time for recovery and moving forward after so long stuck in a rut and unable to do much about it!

The first thing I need to do is give a might loud "Hey Ho - Hip Hip Hooray" to Kimmie from Splendour Palace for being the insigator of the most amazing thing that I think has ever happened to me ~ for me. Kimmie started a post on the Simple Savings forum, suggesting members send cards to help me stay positive ~ a huge help with recovery.

And here it is:~ The Wall of Wellness and Warm Wishes

I've already had the joy of looking through my cards again ~ Kimmie you are a national treasure . . . an international treasure! Thank you for the card drive ~ the words of care and encouragement are such a beautiful and beneficial way to start my day.



First and foremost can I say ~ everyone's support and love has been the most amazing experience I have every known and there is absolutely no way I can articulate just how much it means to me ~ how much it has really helped me stay in high spirits, especially those days when I felt so low ~ there is no way I can explain what you all did to help keep me up, drive me forward and get me home!

Honestly!

I admit ~ initially I think I was embarrassed, humbled and overwhelmed ~ I do feel honoured, dare I say special!? *grins*

THANK YOU so much for your cards, the flowers, the Glowie's fruit basket (seriously, the nurses tried to run off with that ~ I had to request one nurse not attend the room because she was adamant it would go off before I left. Hello ~ aside from the strawberries, some apples and bananas ~ the fruit went home and into the fridge!!), the notes and letters ~ and I confidently say I did know each and every person - explaining to MyMan who you were, what had happened/our chats.

A four leaf clover got quite a teary greeting; home made cards were admired by everyone and a handwritten note given to me in Radiology from a SSer's hubby was stuck onto the end of my bed declaring the SS community's wishes to see every day (with the little smilie face in the corner) was just SO SO uplifting.

The support, friendship, discussions, everythings from my friends helped me get to surgery - you kept me sane, made me laugh, let me be a part of your lives as much as mine. And you know what? I cannot wait to get back and play!! *really big grin*

There are many memorable moments I want to share with you. Things that happened.

MyMan and Fred took photos at the hospital ~ and in typical little boy style, there are plenty of toilet and bathroom shots, along with many others! I want to share the 'Greys Anatomy' moments I experienced - RMH is a teaching hospital and that in itself was wonderful, not at all a bad thing because I probably learnt more about what actually happened.

They had me standing within 24hrs, walking in less than 48hrs, walking up stairs in under a week!! I asked questions, got answers ~ I had the opportunity to have the students take 'control' and the qualified OT, Doctor, pharmacist and pain m'ment stepped back and supervised. But not a zoo feeling . . .

From my perspective ~ the operation was a success!
While I have pain from the graft and op sites in my back and hip and a fair bit of muscle & nerve aches (according to my surgeon it was a 'bit of a dog's breakfast in there'), that constant, persistent, throbbing pain has gone. I am standing upright - no curving trying to eleveate pressure. My shoulders are lower and I don't hunch/slouch/twist. If I could get two feet off the ground at once, I might even go a weeny bounce ~ but no, not for a while!!

SO - Thank you ALL again ~ loud or soft ~ your words, messages and thoughts were - and still are - so very very appreciated and received with so much love and thankfulness. Richard too feels blessed - and passes his thanks on too.


(¯`♥´¯)
.`*.¸.*´ with much love and thanks

Oh boy, oh boy ~~ September . . .

Life just goes too fast sometimes ~ even with a fractured spine!


It has been a hard slog, but September always holds some great events for the humble inhabitants of the Bungalow. Fathers' Day is important and we joined the 20th Century with our first video camera. A combined Fathers' Day / brithday ~ because MyMan's birthday is on 16th.

The 23rd is MudGuts birthday ~ very important this year as he turned 18. How the hell did I become the proud owner of a 6'9" lean, lanky adult? September also has my sister's 35th; a new addition to the family on 12th (I think it was the 12th, a hell of a lot has happened this month!); school holidays and a sojourn into hospital for me!

Finally I have had my surgery . . .

Right at the start of the month I said to MyMan, quite confidently, we'd know more about this surgery waiting list thing. Boy, was I right. At the start of the month we were called down to Melbourne for a pre-admin to surgery appointment - taking quite a few hours (and that all important urine and bloods they are so keen to remove).

All things explained, I certainly felt comfortable, and the date was made: Tuesday 16 September ~ MyMan's birthday. In for up to 10 days ~ some OT while in RMH and then rehab at home as MyMan was offered paid time off for a few weeks. Excellent.

Was the longest two weeks ~ and probably the most painful. I swear the ol' bod decided it did not need to hold out any longer, and just didn't.


Now I've been home a week, still getting on top of a heck of a lot of sleeping ~ so I hope you don't mind if I say good night for now and fill you in tomorrow.

I must show you a few gifts I received ~ from those very special Glow girls, a most appropriate fruit basket was sent. I don't know about you - but hospital food is not the most wonderful and I was stuck on a soft and light diet for most of my stay and supplemented my lack of meals with bananas, grapes and the biggest strawberries I have ever seen in my life.

MyMans' employer also sent a gorgeous bunch of orchids ~ one of my favourite flowers. They looked stunning and are still looking quite beautiful today!

To hold the suspense - I won't show you a pic of the tulips. We'll start my hospital journey tomorrow and Fred took heaps of pictures - of everything including the toilet seat...

Robbing Peter to save Paul . . .

Sometimes the month just gets away from me.

Other times so much happens, it is impossible to believe another month is over.

That was July ~ it was immensely productive, mundane to a degree, but a heap of things happened, were planned and discussed and implemented ~ and I am accepting all the help offered and available to utilise.

Oh why did I not get home help earlier in the piece!?! While not a lot of an entitlement - only 1.5hrs a fortnight ~ it is just so terribly wonderful having the floors mopped, vacc'd, swept, the bathroom done and the kitchen given the once over properly. To walk on floors mopped by 'Vicki', compared to those done by MudGuts, is an absolute dream.

Started doing hydro - therapy that is! Been having fun with that one. When I worked at emergency services and the wear on my back started becoming evident, a few of the medics would recommend hydro - not of the water therapy variety. Well, not sure if that is where I want to play again - knowing that the pain relief would be significant, temporarily! Any how - the water therapy is great, challenging and at times leaving me a little sore. Note to self - when the pool is extra warm - remember it will effect the 'patch' 8o) Bit trippy one time! Funny a little, lucky no driving required most of the day.

Did the budget - again. Tax refunds have been a godsend. Only in as much that this has enabled us to be on target rather than behind which we seem to be at the start of the month when all the mortgage, credit sweeps go through . . . and payday is still 15 days away. Every month we had the funds for all the mortgage transfers - just not always at the time they were need or due.

Must say thanks to Simple Savings (again) for providing the insight to negotiating with utilities and debtors. With the knowledge gained, we are now almost up to date with every single bill - and those with a debt have had a budget payment plan negotiated and in place. Heating is going to be HUGE this winter as with fractures in the spine the cold is really quite intolerable and we have found keeping the temperature at 'normal QLD' has been working well. :o)
Funny that, eh?!

But also a big thank you to all the utilities that did help out ease the stress and burden. Every month now, regardless of the amount used, gas is $60, electricity is $120, and it will be looked at in 12 months to see how it is going. Funnily enough, the only company who wont come to the party is good old Telstra. How odd (not!) Never mind - I have got the tax refund through, it will be paid in full today! Wonderful.

Over the weekend we covered the budget, how the refunds are being used (oh, we have grown up when a whizz bang fandangled 'toy' did not factor once), declutter, things to do in the veggie garden and more. But it was fun, not a chore. I am sure I have said that before. I recently started with the closets and have been handing on clothes to people I know. Few dollars here and there, especially when posting 3kgs of clothes!! Might even use a courier to QLD as it is cheaper!

Financially speaking

Interesting month really ~ we have been following interest, listening to the doom and gloom and taking things on board. Anyway - July ended, August commenced = here is how we look:

July 30
Morty (our mortgage : 2005-$190k) : $169,212.63
LOC (our life : max $21k) : $16,926.76
CeeCee (our credit card : current max: $7k : 2004-$21k) : $5,722.82
All bills paid and up to date.

And Friday, interest was applied . . . so now we look like this for the start of August :

Morty (our mortgage : 2005-$190k) : $170,542.01 (interest $1329.38) : $70 in redraw
LOC (our life : max $21k) : $16,741.53
CeeCee (our credit card : current max: $7k : 2004-$21k) : $5,241.80


Mortgage Extra Payments
July: $90 ~ interest saved: $1,306 *~* Time reduced: 1 month
August: extra paid: $20 ~ interest saved: $287 *~* Time reduced:
Interest saved to date: $1592

$10 each Monday and Friday to Morty
$10 each Wednesday to ING Savings Maximiser (shall we call that Max!?) Current Balance : $59.15

Yes, the tax cheques do make it look a little healthier ~ hubby's is in, mine is clearing. I was a little disappointed in DH's return - but doing regular office role as opposed to his prior ad hoc, all hours / no hours, overtime I guess the claimables do change in PPE especially.
MyMan is into the whole 'add in what we didnt spend that we usually would' approach to the credit card and he has backed of CeeCee since the purchasing of monthly travel - that alone give CeeCee an extra $400 a month. *CeeCee leans back and sees the slimming effects*

Getting better at staying under budget, just the timing has been stressful - robbing peter to pay paul before payday. We both agree with the tax refund in the LOC the stress will be gone. It is up to us to maintain that surplus and keep increasing it now. We've looked for other 'slimming' methods and buying bulk, online are part of that.

Might take a break - back is aching and I am sitting not laying at the moment (naughty me, I know ~ so smack me! Please?) Time for cereal, a few juicy prunes (yeah for codiene, not), check for eggs and do my Harper Collins book review ~ really enjoyed the book! Will pop a link in if the review is published!