Happy New Year

After serious and cautious consideration.....
your contract of friendship has been renewed for the New Year 2009.
It was a hard decision to make. So try not to screw it up !!!!!!!!!

My wish for you in 2009

May peace break into your house and steal your debts.
May the pockets of your jeans become magnets for $100 bills.
May laughter stick to your face like Vaseline, and laughter assault your lips!
May your clothes smell like success, happiness slap you across the face and your tears be that of joy.
May the problems you had forget your home address! In simple words........

May 2009 be the best year of your life !!!!!

My darling daughter Pamela

This is a very recent picture of my wonderful daughter Pamela (Pam), who has just turned 44. She is married to Stuart (16 years). They are the parents of James 14 and Rachel 11. Pam had Stu take this picture of her so she could post a recent picture on Classmates. Classmates turned up two of her very best girlfriends from the graduating class of 1983 . Pam and Jo Medina have reconnected...chatted on the phone for over an hour.....love the web.
I joined Friends Reunited a couple of years ago.....freaky....people from that long ago turned up and I sent messages to the ones I remembered....they all replied. How strange....we all look so very different, but recognizable! I think Pam and Jo will get together in person one of these days. I hope so...Jo is a very caring mother of four boys and also grandmother of a boy! Still lives in the same area when she and Pam went to school at Valhalla.

Bummer

Can you read the name of the boat......Temporary Insanity!!!!.

Perry had his first GOOD day yesterday.....5 weeks and 1 day after surgery. This morning he has taken some medical equipment back to a friend who loaned it to him . It was only needed for the first two weeks, not the usual four. Despite the horrible incident December 8 he really has done very well, despite having diabetes and renal failure. Now he must get some weight back on....he has lost around 10 pounds and his doctor told him before surgery, not to lose any weight ...if possible. He is around 170 pounds right now. He made a good start last night...ate a large number of cashew nuts...as did I along with ice cream.....and we also went out for dinner where he ate a steak with fries. I had roast beef and felt very virtuous about taking about half of it home. However....the ice cream and cashews came later. Will power where are you ?

Update

This is a picture of Taxi restaurant at the Waterside Hotel in Melbourne......Michaels surname is Lambie....just yesterday it was announced that Taxi restaurant plans to enter the Brisbane restaurant scene have been put on hold...the economy is shaky here too.
Maybe in the New Year. I really hope so...time Brisbane had a larger selection of cool restaurants.

My handsome son and his beautiful girlfriend Catherine

Catherine sent this latest picture of herself and Glen taken recently....either Laughlin or the river.

Perry is improving somewhat, but he is struggling with his mood. This time of year has been hard for us emotionally for many years......this year seems even tougher with his recovery and no family around. Last year was terrific as we spent six weeks in Melbourne at my brother and sister in laws town house while they were on vacation in Dubai and cruising the med. Pam and Stuart had a fabulous chef (friend of Stu's brother...Michael someone....awful with remembering names at times....) do Christmas for about 12 of us. The absolute best of the best....lobster...shrimp...turkey...ham...Dom champagne....the list was endless. We felt that it was a once in a lifetime 5 star Christmas feast. Mike is part owner of a top restaurant in Melbourne named Taxi....he is about to open another here in Brisbane which we must visit sometime after we get back from our cruise.
Spoke with Sherrene a couple of days ago and am hoping her son Josh can come up here for a week or two. I am very fond of the ....(was almost going to say 'little guy')....young man. He will be twelve early next year and I have been a part of his life since he was 4 years old. Feels like a grandson....the kind that you just want to hug hug hug.....

Another magnificent sunrise.

Perry took this shot a few days ago. Brilliant!
The visit to his Orthopaedic doctor on Friday went very well. He doesn't have to have formal physio as the range of motion is terrific and he can do whatever he feels comfortable with.......practise bowling when the weather cools down. Swimming maybe later this week. Pain level is still uncomfortable, but manageable . Explanation as to what happened Monday night ? Nothing really...the inference was.......sometimes....people just die suddenly. His heart is probably a bit weak...not sure if he has a heart murmur or not. Renal specialist...David Saltissi tomorrow. Hopefully the iron infusion has helped...he has been really good today after feeling dizzy last night at a Christmas party here in the village. I quickly got him home, took his B.P. and sugar level ....both O.K....had him lay down, feet above his head and a cold wet cloth on his forehead. It was way too hot and humid and I think he was just not up to it. I wasn't very worried this time even tho he was lightheaded, he didn't act anything like he did on Monday night.

Anyway.......my recent thrift store bargains!!!!!!! The shoes are new and therefore the most expensive. From Target and cost more than the total cost of the clothes! We have two thrift stores on the island....this one is next door to our doctors office...so I can't help but slip inside to see what I can't do without....even if it is a couple of books. I donate heaps of stuff then turn around and BUY stuff. Can't resist a bargain.

Shoes @ $22.95 cost more than the clothes.

$8

$4

$1

$3

$5

$

Blue sky and HUGE STORM cloud

We get fantastic storms here. I took this an hour ago and now the storm is here.....lots of lightning....not much in the way of rain yet, but it is coming according to the T.V. Warned to keep cars under cover in case of hail....clear loose stuff from around the house etc.

Perry is doing O.K. Tomorrow he sees his Orthopaedic Surgeon after a Nurse Practitioner contacted him regarding getting physio started. He has results of tests taken at the hospital Monday night to take with him, which will hopefully help explain a little more clearly just what took place and maybe why. We do understand that quite often....things just happen and are not understood very well.

Our T.V. lost it's picture a few hours ago.....sound still fine. Searched the web for some answers....not much luck and to get a tech here tomorrow afternoon......GOOD LUCK WITH THAT ??????

Very scary night.

Perry doesn't remember much about one of the scariest nights of his or my life.
Around 8.30 he decided he would take a shower to settle his leg down. It wasn't actually very painful, but a shower feels very soothing. When he came into the living room I blathered on about a funny show I had been watching and he was resting one hand on the back of a chair and the other on a doorway.....when I took a close look at him I thought he looked drawn and tired...so I asked him if he was O.K......his answer was...no, not really....I feel a bit dizzy. I quickly jumped up and led him to the sofa where I found that he was dreadfully clammy and falling asleep...(unconsious.) Things went downhill from there....very rapidly. I called the paramedics who arrived within six or seven minutes. The two of them took his blood pressure, which had dropped to 80/40....did an ECG....etc. He was in hospital 30 minutes later. Making it short....I picked him up around 1.30 today after him having several tests run ....xray...etc. He has a letter to give to our GP along with the results of the tests that were done. The letter stated that nothing sinister had been revealed....however the truckload of drugs he is taking and the possible side effects need to be looked at. He was told that they almost lost him for awhile. It took hours for his BP to return to normal.... (normal for him) ...and after that seeing that he had been under observation for all that time....it was O.K. for him to go home. Must get out of bed...up off a chair....ssslowly. He had no chest pain...nothing other than a lightheaded feeling and then ....even tho he was sort of awake...he was actually unconscious. He has suffered from a similar episode a long time ago, but it resolved very quickly.
Hopefully it won't happen again. It's been quite an ordeal for him. It's hard to pace yourself to your age when you still feel young. Young at heart....but 73 is 73.

Iron Infusion

All went well yesterday.

The BICB picked him up at 6.40am ....he was the last passenger, so off they all went to various hospitals and clinics. The trip to Holy Spirit Hospital cost $25 round trip...cheap cheap cheap... and no driving aggravation involved, which is a big plus when you don't feel well to begin with!

He was thru by 2.00pm so he didn't have to arrange for the passenger ambulance after all. Home by 3.30 looking pretty tired even tho he had slept a lot of the time......was told he snores pretty good!!! Tell me about it !!!

I have my new custom made ear plugs and got to try them out a few nights ago. VERY GOOD. Ladies....I highly recommend them....gents too ???

I have been told I sometimes snore also....ha ha.....very ladylike tho....if there is such a thing !!!

Downloaded the update of Picasa a couple of days ago. I have liked it since the day we got it....the update is really terrific! Need to organize our pictures...what a chore.

Pam's birthday tomorrow. The first time in her life that I haven't had a card and gift ready for her. My gorgeous daughter will be 44. I would have loved to spend the day with her, we have such fun ....we have the same sense of humour and bounce off each other like a comedy duo sometimes. Laughter is such good medicine and I read somewhere yesterday that it is a proven fact that laughter and happiness is truly catching! I'll buy that. When we gab on the phone I always hang up and feel great for hours after.

Three more birthdays between now and Christmas.....Libby will be 58.....Lorraine...not sure...around 60/61...then Glen ...my Christmas baby will be 42 Christmas Day.

Uh oh....look at the time....stuff to get done before we go visit the local Dr...Perry that is.

See ya!

(Love this picture!)

Nice picture of James Winch

This picture of my nephew James was taken recently. He is following in his fathers footsteps...career wise. I imagine he will eventually become a ships captain . At present he is in a learning environment out of Western Australia. Libby has two sons. Carl aged around 34 and James 20. (Two husbands)
Very hot and humid today with a lightning charged storm that has just swept thru. More to come tomorrow and the day after.
Perry heads off to have his iron infusion early tomorrow at Holy Spirit Hospital. It could be a very long day for him I'm afraid. He is getting a ride in with the Bribie Community Service bus....however as he doesn't know yet how long he will be there, he has had to arrange for a passenger ambulance to bring him back when they can. Hopefully it won't come to that and the BCS bus can pick him up around 3pm. I won't drive in stormy weather....I get panicky.

Start to another very warm day

Even less happy today....

as Dr Saltissi has ordered an iron infusion to be performed at Holy Spirit Hospital this coming Friday 5th Dec. " No physiotherapy, as overexertion can be extremely dangerous with your anemia this bad 'with your heart' "....said the doctor !!!! ....What heart ?????....one doctor tells him he has a heart murmur....the next one say's...no no no....your heart is fine. HOWEVER (another however)....he has high blood pressure that is hard to treat. What next ?
I KNEW his red blood cell count was down as he hasn't been able to stay awake unless he is physically doing something. Iron infusions are only performed in a hospital setting due to the fact that some patients have a bad reaction to it. Apparently they give a small injection in your butt first to see how you react....then it is a five hour procedure. Improvement is immediate...yeaa!!! Has to double up on iron pills and two injections a week for a while. Obviously when you have an operation, there is blood loss, so that accounts for it. If the ortho and the renal docs had discussed the operation, I feel sure Dr Saltissi (renal) would have had him tranfused there and then.
We have three Christmas parties to go to.....passed on the one last Saturday and most likely the one

Not happy today

Friday's visit to the surgeon went well although a small question mark regarding the color of the skin around the scar. If it had become redder he was to call the nurse on her cell phone number. It hasn't so far...in fact all the swelling has gone down and the scar is healing beautifully. HOWEVER....(there is always a however)....there is quite a lot of pain behind the thigh which the doctor was unable to explain...other than to manipulate both legs to rule out sciatic nerve involvement. The visit to the physiotherapist on Tuesday will hopefully be fruitful and not too painful. Tomorrow is his usual scheduled appointment with a kidney specialist. Last visit showed his red cell blood count to be down again....I feel it is still down, perhaps even lower as he really is more sleepy than usual, taking into account his recovery from such invasive surgery......Enough !

Pam has been in close contact...and day before yesterday she said she had checked out the Classmates site and found one of her best friends listed. She paid the membership fee and hooked up with Jo Medina ...a girl she used to have loads of fun with especially in her senior year at high school. Jo has been married 20 years, has four children and is also a grandmother! She is going to call Pam sometime this week, so they should have a great time...probably on line also. Perry found a lot of his classmates from way back when he went to Temple City High School. I found several of my old (OLD OLD...ha ah) classmates from grade school and also from a place I worked at in 1957. That site is called Friends Reunited. Love our computer.

Oooppps !

This is definitely an example of when it is O.K. to say .....OH SHIT !!!

What a difference a few days make

The new knee is coming along very nicely....just take a look at the difference! The staples are to be removed tomorrow when he sees the orthopaedic surgeon tomorrow....16 days post op. I have taken quite a few pictures that we want to show to the doctor as we feel the degree of swelling and bruising were not explained, causing both of us a LOT of concern. The amount of pain control is quite minimal now...however he has what he feels is some sciatic nerve involvement that is possibly due to the unnatural gait. Hopefully tomorrow's questions will be answered satisfactorily. The chair in the picture above is rented for a month and probably won't be needed that long and the crutches were handed to him on the day he was discharged...free! I think he will be using a single walking stick very soon as he has been venturing short distances around the house without the crutches. The whole ordeal has left him without as much energy as he thinks he should have....forgets he is 73 years old and recovery will take awhile. The extra sleep he is getting is really long overdue, and I have to keep saying....the more the better !

The impatient patient

is doing well despite being radically curtailed so far as mobility goes. He has had a couple of rough days where he hasn't known quite what to do next to keep on top of the discomfort....(pain) and awkward mobility.

Friday we went grocery shopping. I left Perry sitting on a bench seat in the small mall on the island. ( He was wearing shorts and his dressed wound was visible and unmistakeably due to a knee replacement operation.) I bought groceries and picked up meds etc....got back and he had had one visitor and another was sitting there with him showing off his 2 scars. This guy had both knees done on the same day! While they talked I darted into Target and bought out a pair of el cheapo velcro fastening sandals to try on...tried them on...they worked for the swollen foot....went back in and paid for them...back out and they were still chatting. Who says women are the ones to gab to strangers??? Anyway...'Bill' introduced himself to me and told me that what he was looking at .....huge bruises up the back of the leg....were all looking pretty normal. Perry has been pretty concerned about this aspect of the whole procedure as he wasn't warned about this....also the amount of swelling from the ankle to thigh. He is still a little worried about this and has to wait till Friday to see the doctor for the first time since the op. Staples to come out and hopefully a repeat of a pretty potent drug. Endone gives quick relief and is very good taken at bed time, as it also makes you pretty drowsy. One of my neighbours said she took one once and NEVER AGAIN....she felt as tho she was walking two feet off the ground. Whoa !!!!

This is only day eleven post op and each day is a little better than the day before.

We have had some amazing weather here lately. Three huge storms...one of which was likened to a category 2 hurricane which caused a huge amount of havoc to a beautiful area know as The Gap. Roofs blown off, massive trees torn out as tho they were little twigs, flood damage to hundreds of homes and businesses. The damage bill hasn't been estimated yet, but it will be huge.

If you could read my thoughts....

Not feeling wonderful today. Perry that is.... If I think his leg looks worse...(more redness) during today and early tomorrow I must take him back to Redcliffe Hospital in order for them to do tests and treat any infection. A nurse at our local doctors office changed the dressing early today and called our doctor in to have a look as it does look a little redder than is desirable. Even so....both nurse and doctor said his overall condition at this stage looks very good. Years ago...knee replacement surgery required 3 weeks in hospital....so it is very early days yet. He is getting more used to using the crutches and is not as hesitant when moving the leg...all positive.

I don't think nursing is a really great job for a 69 year old woman. When my mother was nursing my father after a stroke...the doctor told her to take it slowly....as there are not many nurses out there aged over 65!

I really....reeaallllly hope it improves, as the storm season is well and truly here. We have had over 7 inches of rain in one week. Mostly at night....flooded roads and wild wind storms that are more like mini cyclones. I'm not a happy camper driving in the heavy rain. Up till now, today is rather humid and sunny....very little breeze....more rain forecast for tomorrow.

Glen and Catherine

This was taken a couple of months ago...a weekend in Santa Barbara.
Does this chopper look bad or what!

The patient is doing well.

and has no complaints. I drove the freeway that is a mess with construction for about 5 miles and am glad it is Saturday. The traffic was quite light, but a lot of Queensland drivers need to get a lesson in good manners. 80klms per hour means 100 to a lot of them....fines are very steep, but the usual....not enough traffic police. Victoria has speed cameras all over the place....Brisbane has 3. Yes....that is 3. However they are coming BIG TIME...can't wait.

Took me 45 mins to get there so I had to wait awhile before visiting time. When I got to his ward he was having the drip replaced...when he looked up he was surprised to see me as I just went on up about 20 mins early. He looks terrific....pain is well managed so he has been able to get to the shower twice and has commenced physio. He was out of bed the whole time I was there. Ate everything at lunch.... I went downstairs and bought him a cappuccino which he enjoyed very much. We are expecting a storm tomorrow (storm season here) and if it arrives I wont drive in it. If heavy hail comes with it your car can get very damaged....as it is the AC has almost gone out. Only 2 years since it was replaced. At the time we felt it wasn't as cold as it should have been. I want icy cold !!!

Two friends from bowling have emailed and one of them is going to go visit next week. Don't know when he will be coming home, but more than likely Thursday. I will have to rearrange the furniture to allow him lots of room (we don't have much!!) to maneuver.
I'm off to make a cup of coffee.

He looks O.K.

What a nice lot of people I met today. First the mini van arrived at my door around 9.15...driven by a very bright and cheerful Scottish woman named Evelyn. The passengers were very diverse...a slight Indian lady dressed in a sari...a lady named Jill who told me a large part of her life story...(women can do this while waiting for a bus !) Another lady with a pronounced English accent and one man....don't know where he was from....he only said hello and then I'm sure felt overwhelmed by so many women, uttered not one more word! Arrived at the hospital early so Jill and I had a diet coke in the outdoor cafe. She showed me where Perry will have to go for physio and the entrance to use. This hospital is being rebuilt with business as usual! It's a bit like a rabbit warren. Sixth floor where Perry is...very nice and as usual a very busy place. Perry looked reasonably O.K.....on oxygen as he has a pain relief drip that he can control. I looked at his chart and could see his BP is high and his sugar levels not that good either. I'm pretty sure things will settle down tho as others have described similar reactions. He will be on his feet for a short while tomorrow....Ouch. I wont be visiting him tomorrow as I have to go to an AGM meeting at the club, then have an appointment at a hearing aid place that will check my hearing and make a mold of my ears in order to make me ear plugs the same as musicians and swimmers use. My hearing is still normal....which for me means I can hear a sparrow fart! When we go on the cruise I want as much quiet in our cabin as possible...some friends have told us we could have noisy neighbors and that ear plugs takes care of it. Ordinary ear plugs don't do much good for me, so $120 for custom made. Oh well...with care they should last me for a very long time. Anyway...getting back to the patient....he is plumped up with lots of pillows...has rented a TV for 5 days....tells me the food he has eaten is delicious...now it's just....get better!

A little light humor

Bribie Island Voluntary Community Help Association picked the patient up from the front door at 9.00am in a 7 seat van to take him to Redcliffe Hospital for check in at 11am and surgery this afternoon. This service which delivers and picks up patients and one person to accompany him or her, to all the hospitals between Brisbane and Bribie Island, has been operating for the past sixty years and most drivers are retired people who have the time and energy to give back to the community. They are graciously picking me up tomorrow morning at 9 so I can visit Perry between 11 and 12.30. Then I will be picked up outside the hospital and driven home for the grand sum of $10. What a service! We did have to qualify....must be over sixty years old and in receipt of some sort of government pension. We are what is known as 'part pension recipients' . The entitlements that we have are nothing short of sensational.
I will post to my blog later today to let you know how things have gone.

Today, time is dragging, and I am stressing.

Blustery day today...little bit of rain, nothing much tho. Keep taking the cushions off the chairs on the deck and bringing them in, the back out. It isn't in the least bit cold ....just a bit too windy to want to sit outside. I have thought about going to the movies to see 'The Duchess', it is showing at 3.45 possibly for the last time. The theatre will be closed from tonight for a week.....owners mini vacation. Perry has just popped over to the bank to change a $100 into $5 bills. Not sure what he will be able to buy while he is in hospital....magazines and the daily papers. His food will be 'diabetic food only'....not sure what that is even. Last checkup showed no sign of it. He does take a drug for it tho. Tonight and again tomorrow morning he has to wash with special soap....nothing to eat or drink after 7am. The local volunteers called awhile ago to say he will be picked up at 9am......so by this time tomorrow his surgery will be under way. Looked at a couple of online videos last night, even tho I have seen the operation performed on a medical TV show before it was interesting to have another look and listen to some positive feedback from former patients. This time next week can't come soon enough! I am more antsy than the patient. ARGHHHH !!!!!

Exterior view of Bribie Island Movie Theatre and a picture of a fun 'Girls Night Out'

Here are the other pictures I was looking for !!!! Isn't it fantastic ? Obviously the building used to be a workshop/warehouse and now the inside is just the latest in movie viewing comfort. Two small theatres which show all the latest releases and host special nights like the 'girls night out' above. When I first found it....from the outside I thought...oh no....no air...uncomfortable seating, and only one theatre. Was I ever put back in my little box. I have never enjoyed the new multiplexes. The theatre at our local mall has a video arcade and about ten theatres. No atmosphere at all. I only hope the population here supports this little gem and it has many many years of enjoyable showings. It is owned and run by a lovely couple who close the building every Wednesday to give both theatres a thorough cleaning. They are also closed twice during the year for two weeks at a time while they go on a well deserved vacation.

.

Countdown number two

Here it is Sunday afternoon and Perry just said ....three more sleeps till surgery. To keep himself occupied he is out on the deck putting up loads of both coloured and white bud lights that are both for Christmas and now. He will set it up so they are separated....I like white ones all over the inside roof for mood lighting all year...then add the coloured for a more festive look at Christmas time, which is coming in at laser speed. The shopping centers have been decorated for over a week now and I feel pretty soon it will get to the stage where they will leave them up all year ! I love how everything looks tho. (Perry just said...'this is going to look like hell during the day!')

Played bowls yesterday. Both of our teams won, but it was a tough day at the office....very very windy and storm threatening weather. We got about an inch of rain during the night which was great....the local dams are all less than half full and we are on very severe water restrictions. Level 6 which means only 170 litres of water per person per day. Can only use a hand held hose for watering the garden (not the lawn) or washing cars. We have a 350 litre rain water tank that we use for the little area of garden we have and also to water our two potted tomato plants which are looking as tho they are going to be very productive. Perry picked the first one this morning....yum...tomato and mayo sandwich for my lunch. Light mayo....I have stacked on a few kilos which will have to come off if I want to fully enjoy the two week cruise. Checked out several sites regarding shipboard activities. Eating and drinking is usually a BIG part of cruising and we intend to do all we can to keep up that image. One blog I found consisted of photo after photo of ALL the food that is on offer.

I made Slow Cooker Beef yesterday...put it on, then off to play for the afternoon....did mashed potatoes and a pile of string beans (from our garden) and carrots.....lots of yummy gravy to go with it. No wonder I am putting on weight. For someone who never had to count calories, its a bugger!!!!!!