Four days out from Christmas Eve . . .

And I think we have got almost everything under control.

As one of the chookie gerls has decided it is time to be broody (and bloody hell, she's got a good beak on her! Hurts through gloves) and Fred has been hanging out to 'grow' chickens, we've left a message for George the birdman and hope he can help.

Big thanks to Roy from Pails for Scales ~ we didn't know where to look so, thinking outside the square and knowing people buy chicks and pinkies for snake food ~ rang and Roy suggested George the birdman.

Have a look at www.pailsforscales.com.au and if you've got the time have a look at their videos ~ absolutely cool (no spiders or creepy crawlies thank goodness!!) :0

If anyone does have a few fertilised chicken eggs they are willing to pass on ~ let me know.

This post is a little boring, more a commitment to get here at least every second day, even if there is little to say - at least to share. The progress post op is slow. Much of the bone grafting did not take, has not started to calcify.

So we will be budgeting, trying to do whatever we need to, smile and enjoy our selves. Getting back in the garden.

Ending on a high note ~ won a Telstra competition, the use and enter your name for $300 daily prize. And I did. So that is $300 into the emergency/secret account and toward the flights to QLD next year.

Chat soon

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...