The Best Laid Plans...

My work days got moved around a bit this week and I ended up with 5 days off in a row. Total awesomeness.

 

 I had grand plans. Grand. Plans.

 

I figured I'd spend the first day getting all the chores out of the way - you know, the grocery shopping, clean the house, a couple loads of washing - then I'd have time for fun. Friday was going to be all about me with a shopping trip and hair cut on the cards. Then the weekend would be free to do fun stuff with Hubby and the kids and I was even thinking we might call on our teenage babysitter and fit in a date night too.

 

But... yesterday morning I did something to my back. I have no idea what that something was but it has resulted in me being barely able to move. And, oh my word, the pain! So all the plans flew out the window and now I'm on the couch watching daytime tv. I saw the physio yesterday. She helped a little and ordered me home to rest, rest, rest. She also told me to pass the message on to Hubby and the kids that they needed to wait on me hand and foot - they're doing a pretty good job but it's kinda frustrating watching them do stuff differently to how I do it. .

 

So now it's back to the tv, pinterest and blog reading. And pain killers. I'm counting down till the next dose.

Woot Woot!

I trotted down to see the doctor this afternoon. Again.

He checked on his handiwork from Friday evening's surgery and declared the problem to be fixed. HOORAY!!

I have to take things a little bit easy for the next few days, but that's just to make sure I ease back into top gear rather than trying to jump straight back to levels of crazy activity. I'm allowed back to work tomorrow and my boss has very kindly told me to only do as much as I can and to go home when I need to if I can't cope with a full day. I'd already arranged to work short days most of this week because school goes back on Wednesday so I'm thinking that'll let me get back to speed rather nicely.

And after a week and a bit of drama, drama, drama... I'm pretty darn happy to be easing back into things.

Home Again, Home Again...

Jiggety Jig!

Well the bleed started again yesterday afternoon and a quick call through to the doctor resulted in me being told to meet him at the hospital and then scheduled for a spot of surgery at 6pm. This time it was all done in theatre and under a general anaesthetic, rather than with the use of local anaesthetic in his rooms, which meant he could dig around a bit more without me having a sooky-la-la cry.

I have to see him again Monday to be sure the bleeding has really, truly, properly stopped and then he's sending me off to have some blood tests to check my haemoglobin levels as well as something to do with clotting agents in my blood. In my usual sick and twisted way it struck me as funny that, after a week of minor arterial bleeding that has the doctor all worried, he's going to order more blood be taken in order to check how it's doing LOL.

The best news is that I'm no longer on bed rest. I'm not allowed to lift heavy things or do anything even mildly strenuous but I am allowed to get up, walk around and do some normal stuff. Yay! Unfortunately I'm feeling kinda wiped out so have actually spent most of the afternoon in/on my bed. But tomorrow I'll be tackling a few chores I'd had earmarked for the past week, like labelling all the school stuff for the kids.

Bugger!

The bed rest and finger crossing doesn't seem to have done the trick. So after a not brilliant night I've spoken to the hospital and have to meet the doctor in an hour and a half.

If you could keep up with the finger crossing? Thanks.

Update at 10.30am:

Back from seeing the doctor. It seems that a minor arterial bleed caused all the trouble - it would stop for a bit and then go again and decided to go a bit crazy at 1am and again at 2am but then settled until 5am. The doctor has 'sealed' it with silver nitrate and I'm back on bedrest for an extra few days. All being well this should be the end of the drama. But he has given me his mobile number "just in case". That finger crossing I asked you for? Please keep at it. Pretty please?

And any more suggestions for websites, blogs or Pinterest requests would be most welcome.

Still Here

I've spent most of the day following the doctors orders.

I did overdo it slightly this morning, gave myself a wee fright and spent the rest of the day trying to make up for it. So, all from the comfort of my bed I've played board games, been adorned with jewellery and joined in with some crazy made up game that involved tiny little toy puppies and the girl-child being their mum who had to go to work, shopping and out with friends. A lot. I totally took that as the guilt trip it was intended to be. I also watched tv, read and played on my laptop. Oh and I fitted in a nap too.  Hubby has been wonderful, sorting the kids, organising meals and hanging up load after load of washing.

I 've got tomorrow to get through in the same way so while I have you here... got any suggestions for blogs or websites that I should check out? Are you on Pinterest? What's your name over there - I'll check out your boards and follow you. Or if you're not on and want an invite leave me a message in the comments and I'll take care of it.

 I did launch into a big whinge here then came back and deleted it because I sounded like a total brat with first world problems. I am ridiculously lucky to live in a country with great health care, to earn enough to be able to pay for private health insurance and see the doctors of my choice in the hospital of my choice and to be able to afford to have a few days off work while I get better. So whinge over. If being bored is the worst of my problems then I'm doing just fine. 

Ups and Downs

Ummm, a warning to my male readers. Yeah, all two of you. Lady parts are discussed in this post so you might just wanna go read the paper and come back tomorrow. Okay? You've been warned, carry on at your own risk...

It's all about the ups and downs here, people. I had a routine 'well woman's check' with my regular GP a while ago and she decided to send me off to see a gynaecologist for some, shall we say... lady issues. I saw him last week and he did a little procedure, told me I was very brave, outlined what to expect for a couple of days and sent me on my merry way. Yay me. Fast forward to today when things went a little awry while I was at work and I put in a quick call to his office to be told that no, that was not okay and I should be in his office in two hours time. Please.

A mad dash up the hill was followed by an equally mad dash back down the hill in a different direction where I was seen very promptly and, amid much head shaking, he spent an hour or so fixing me back up. Nothing quite as reassuring as being told that I'd saved myself a trip to theatre and he was very pleased that I'd had a small panic and called because if it had been left till tonight we would have been making a mad dash to hospital. He very nicely informed me I would not be working for the rest of the week, I would not be partying for Australia Day and that I was very lucky he  wasn't sticking me on bed rest until he saw me again. He was just severely curtailing all activity that involved moving around.

So, I'm seeing him again on Friday morning so he can check up on me and (finger's crossed BIG TIME!) all will be well, good and fixed up. Otherwise, he tells me, it'll be hospital bed all the way.

So I'm resting, with my feet up, playing on the computer, and keeping my fingers crossed. If you could do the finger crossing too I'd me mighty grateful.

One More Sleep!

I've worked, shopped and washed today and bright and early tomorrow morning I'm outta here. I am so excited about seeing Felicity - I can't believe it's been three years! Can't wait to sit down with a cup of tea and just chat away without having to worry how long I've been on the phone and what it's doing to the phone bill.

Pretty much every conversation I've had today has started with, "By the way, did you know I'm going to Queensland tomorrow?" Half the people at work are totally excited for me and the other half wish I'd just shut up!  Work was busy, busy, busy but I managed to skip my lunch break and get away a little bit early. A quick run into the shops to grab a couple of last minute things then home to get some washing on - some stuff I wanted to take away with me and getting my work clothes washed because I'll get home after midnight on Monday night (Tuesday morning really!) and need to be at work to collect last minute info at 8.30 Tuesday morning to take it into a 9am meeting. Might need some matchsticks to hold my eye-lids up that day. But I'll deal with all that then.

I'm packed, I have a book and a magazine for the plane and Hubby has the kid stuff under control for the next few days (and I'll be speaking to them pretty much every day anyway). Right now I'm enjoying a cuppa and the last fruit mince pie, then onto very important holiday prep - leg shaving and toe nail painting - and then bed. I'm thinking a couple of panadol might be in order to make sure I actually go to sleep. I think 4.30am is gonna arrive really soon!

Not sure I'll have a chance to post while I'm away (too many cups of tea to drink and too much talking to do) but I promise I'll share photos when I get back.

So, Did I Tell You...

That I'm going to Queensland? Oh yes I am!

After Hubby totally outdid himself with my awesome birthday party he took it to a whole new level with my birthday present - a plane ticket to visit one my BFF's who just happens to live in Queensland. You might remember me talking about the very gorgeous, very lovely and just all round super nice Felicity when we lived up in Red Dirt Central? Her twins are the same age as Offspring #2 and we hit it off straight away. We left Red Dirt Central to come back to Perth and some time later Felicity and her family left to return to Queensland. We've stayed in touch (thank heavens for Facebook which make it so easy to keep up with my friends who are scattered through the country and even the world!) and although I invited her to my party I knew she wasn't going to be able to come.

Hubby to the rescue! As he said, "If Mohamed won't come to the mountain, I'll have to send the mountain to visit Mohamed. Or Felicity." It was one of those completely unexpected, totally out of the blue presents that just blow you away.

So I'm going to Queensland. All by myself. For five days.

And I leave on Thursday.

Oh yeah!

On The Other Side!

Wow! After what seemed like a week of celebrating (and,  let's be honest, actually was a week of celebrating!) I finally hit the big Four Oh yesterday and what a day I had.

Hubby, after seriously outdoing himself with all the party stuff, totally surprised me with his gift. He's sending me off to see one of my bff's from Red Dirt Central who now lives in Queensland! He made secret phone calls across the country, booked the tickets and threatened the kids with certain death if they spilled the secret. And then he handed me my birthday card, waited for the tears and calmly handed me a tissue. I am SOOOOO excited! The big trip is in a couple of weeks but I reckon Felicity and I will burn up the phone lines between now and then.

We had a family lunch with more pressies and another birthday cake - this one was a pile of delicious custard filled profiteroles...

And I got a couple of nice pics with the kids.

After a short rest we headed off to to dinner at another bff's house. And enjoyed another birthday cake, this time made by the very gorgeous daughter of the house who is turning into quite the chef. The photo really doesn't do the cake justice but it was beautifully decorated and ever so delicious.

And so the curtain finally draws to a close on my fabulous 40th birthday. It was the most fun-filled, love filled, wonderful birthday and I've had the most amazing time celebrating it.

Downhilll Slide

Today I've done washing, tidied the house, helped supervise a pool party, finished the Christmas shopping (and if I haven't got it all now, it's not gonna happen cos I'm not going back again). I do still have the food shopping to do and might duck out after the kids have gone to bed to get that out of the way.

But right now? I'm about to crack open a bottle of wine and enjoy a last drink on the last day of my thirties. And when I wake up tomorrow I'll be in a whole new part of my life. If, as 'they' say, life does begin at 40... I say bring it on!

Almost 40!

It's my birthday later in the week and, as most of you know, it's a big one. The big Four-Oh! And in order to celebrate in a way that we'd be sure to remember for years it was decided that I'd have an 80's themed Formal do. Hubby went a little bit crazy on a Chinese website buying all manner of party extras - strobe lights, laser lights, mirror tile stickers and then set to work making the back deck into party central.

People. It was AWESOME!! I haven't laughed so much, danced so much or had so much fun in years.  And since just about every single photo of me has me holding a glass of bubbly I think it's fair to say there may have been champagne involved!

I had my hair done in the afternoon so that it was suitably 80's in style - big curls and all swept upon one side - and slathered on the blue eyeshadow and blue eyeliner.

Hubby made the most spectacular decorations.

My girlfriends frocked up appropriately.

And the boys did their part too. (I made Hubby shave off his beard so he could rock the Magnum mo. I have a thing for Magnum. Hubby's darn lucky I didn't make him wear high waisted tight shorts to go with his Hawaiian shirt and Magnum mo!)

And we took to the dance floor with the seven hour playlist of 80's music, admired ourselves in the mirrored wall, exclaimed over the lights and laughed ourselves silly when we couldn't see each other when someone got a  bit over-enthusiastic with the smoke machine.

A friend of a friend make the special request birthday cake that was a work of art in itself. I was thrilled with it. And it tasted great too.

I had such a fantastic time that I suggested to Hubby we should do it all over again soon. Like maybe for New Year's Eve. He rolled his eyes, shook his head and walked away laughing. I'm gonna take that as a 'yes'!

NaNoWriMo 2012

Do you remember right around this time last year when I decided to add to the general chaos and stress by taking part in NaNoWriMo? It's when you try to spend November writing a book. Or at least 50,000 words worth of it.

Yeah. I'm doing that again. 'Cos I like to live on the edge. Of sanity.

Drowning, Not Waving.

I'm struggling with the world at the moment. Nothing serious, and nothing to worry about. Just feeling like I'm always three steps behind where I need to be and that no matter how hard I try I can't quite get to where I need to be. I can usually deal with it- but then again I usually only feel like I'm one step behind. Maybe it's the new job. Maybe it's all the work going on around the house. Maybe I just need to work out how to fit in more sleep. Whatever it is, my head won't stop going over all the things I need to be doing and it's a little bit poisonous. It's hard to feel good about what you have achieved each day when your head is reminding you about all the stuff you havent' done. Yay I spoke to that person I've been chasing for two weeks, and organised that thing I've been working on, and finished that huge pile of paperwork that needed fixing but... I didn't pay this bill, or check that homework, or cook a very good dinner or get that load of washing hung out.

I am looking forward to five whole days off . I've had to swap days a bit this week to fit in staff meetings and school events which has made the juggling act I've been doing even more difficult but as a result of the swapping I end up with a five days 'weekend'. And I'm planning to put some of that time into some serious sleeping. And some more into a bout of serious de-cluttering and chucking out around the house. I figure those things should go some way to helping me find even ground. Even if it's just for a little while.

Having a Whinge

So something happened this morning that hurt my feelings. I don't want to be all cryptic-like but I can't really go into detail so just bear with me while I have a bit of a whinge.

Rationally I know that it's just my ego that's been a bit bruised. And that those responsible mean less than zero to me and my life. But it still rankles a bit. Okay, a lot. And yes, ridiculously more than it should. It should be a brush-it-off-and-get-over-it kind of thing but instead it's stewing away and making me more frustrated as much over what happened as by my own inability to shrug it off.

So more as an affirmation for myself than anything else I'm going to make a few points:

1. I'm not actually invisible and I think it is incredibly rude when people treat me like I am.

2. Just because I might not be on your radar doesn't mean my opinions and ideas are any less valid or correct.

3. I am intelligent, funny and all kinds of awesome. The fact that you don't know that, or can't be bothered finding out, is your loss.

And speaking of all kinds of awesome - tomorrow marks five years since my first blog post as Red Dirt Mummy! Give my poor battered ego a little boost and tell me something you love about me and you'll earn my undying gratitude. And maybe a packet of TimTams.

And you could also go like my Facebook page (if you haven't already done it) - that'd make me feel a whole heap better...

Time For A New Challenge

Remember last week when I told you about that job I was offered?  Initially it was a relief/acting type position filling in for someone over the next month or so and I said no. My current position is a casual contract position and, while I've been in it for over 12 months, I wasn't prepared to ditch it for something else that might mean I'd end up with no job at all.

Then it turned into a contract till the end of the year with a good possibility that it will be extended and some chance that it will lead to a permanent position. And my current boss all but promised (as much as she could, considering it's government and all) that I'd have something to come back to at the end. And head office all but promised that they'd make sure my current boss would have something for me to come back to.

So after a few phone conversations, a bit of negotiating and a whole lot of thinking... I said yes.

I finish up next week and start the new position the week after. I'm so excited. So excited that the nerves haven't set in yet. But they will.

Done In

I worked the first three days of the week and just about died of exhaustion by Wednesday night. I know many of you work full-time, have kids, get meals on the table and do all the other wife and mum stuff but, Lordy, I am stuffed. My feet hurt, I have no energy left and my brain has turned to mush.

And I'm going to do it all over again next week. By the time I get finished I'll be a gibbering wreck. But I'll be a gibbering wreck who can buy another truck-load of crushed limestone.

I.

Here's a meme I found floating around ages ago. It's been sitting in my inbox waiting ever since. So for an easy Saturday read, here you go. If you decide to do it, let me know and I'll come check it out.

I am finally getting over this rotten cold.

I think that I should go hang out the washing while it’s sunny.

I want a pair of flat, knee high boots. But I can’t find any I like or can afford.

I have meringues in the oven.I dislike when people cut in line.

I miss my friends from Red Dirt Central.

I fear I will never have a career again. A job, sure. But not the career I crave.

I feel excited and nervous about turning 40. Lucky I still have some time to prepare.

I hear the kids running around outside.

I smell freshly cooked Anzac biscuits.

I crave things that are never in the house when I want them.

I usually say the wrong thing.

I search Google for something at least once every day.

I wonder if we will ever get the reno’s and extensions done on the house.

I regret not doing my Masters when I got in.

I love my family. They are my everything. Even when they annoy the crap out of me.

I care too much about what other people think of me.

I am always worrying.

I worry about pretty much everything.

I remember before I had kids.

I dance to The Wiggles.

I sing only when the music is turned up REALLY loud and no-one can hear me.

I don't always do what I should.

I argue with myself.

I write lists. Lots of lists.

I lose stuff all the time.

I wish on rainbows.

I listen to kookaburras laughing their way round my yard.
I don't understand maths.

I can usually be found at the kitchen bench. It’s where the computer is.

I am scared of the dark.I need quiet to be able to function.

I forget lots of stuff. It’s not always a bad thing.

I am happy, most of the time.

Home Again, Home Again

The engagement party was last night and it was lovely. The venue was on the beachfront, about an hour away for us, and we laughed because we hadn't seen the ocean for the longest time. Mental note to self: must ensure children occasionally see ocean! I was truly excited that we'd be there for sunset - there's nothing like watching the sun sink into the ocean - and I am pained to admit that I missed it. I was too busy talking and by the time Hubby nudged me it was gone. Oh well, I guess we'll have to head back again soon.

The party was for a younger cousin of mine who has been away travelling for a couple of years. She looked gorgeous and glowy and in love and we met her fiancee who seems very nice. Hubby and my brother gave her the third degree "what does he do? how old is he? where is his family from?" etc, etc, etc. Hilarious when you know what a terror my little brother (and hubby too, for that matter) was in his younger days. It was really nice to catch up with family I haven't seen for ages. Between us moving around the country-side and life in general we worked out that one of my cousins hasn't even seen Offspring #2.

So, how was my outfit? Pretty much perfect I'd say. Better dressed that some, not quite as jazzed up as a few of the pretty young things. Some of the teeny little frocks were gorgeous and my sis-in-law and I had fun ogling (and coveting) some seriously beautiful shoes. Now I need to find some fancy places to go so I can get dressed up again!

For Your Approval

Awww... you guys! Thanks for all your advice and words of wisdom on what to wear. I carried it all with me when I went shopping today and I present my finds for your approval.

As suggested by Trish: pretty shoes. I'm loving the peep toe and the buckle.

I was considering the 'going out' bags I already had and came to the conclusion that most of them should probably go into the dressing up box. There's nothing wrong with them except that they were fashionable about 10 years ago and were last used about 8 years ago. So... a pretty little up-to-the-minute clutch purse.

And I love the material lining. Pretty, pretty, pretty.

I vetoed the suggestions on dresses and skirts. I'm just not comfortable in them and, while I will be a little outside my comfort zone simply by dressing up I don't want to be so far out of it that I feel like a freak. Even if I looked okay I'd feel weird and that would just put a downer on the whole night. I found a pair of black pants that are just gorgeous - they're just regular black pants, pretty much the same as every other pair I already own except that they fit beautifully - skimming my butt and thighs rather than sticking to the lumpy bits - and just sit really nicely. I tried really hard to buy something sparkly. Really hard. But nothing fitted / sat nicely / stayed where it was supposed it / covered the bits that really should be covered / cost less than my fortnightly mortgage payment. Then I found a plain black T with a lovely ruffle. Not too ruffly that it messed with my head but big enough to add some interest to the top. The t sat well and looked good too. And to go over it a 3/4 sleeve, long-line cardy with ruffly bits too. The photos don't do it justice - it looks better on a body than it does on a hanger. Promise.

I'm going to wear my big gold hoop earrings and check out what I have bead/necklace wise, and make a raid on a girl-friends jewellery box if I need to, and that's what I'm wearing! It should be dressy enough to look the part yet still close enough to my comfort zone that I can enjoy the evening.

Any positve feedback would be most welcome, criticism not so much - the credit card is smoking and I don't have time to exchange anything anyway. But again, thank you. Your advice really helped me out while I was looking for ideas and trying stuff on. You guys are the best.

What To Wear?

Arrggghhh. I've got an engagement party to attend on the weekend and the dress code is cocktail attire. Help! I'm a not very dressy, not very girly, nearly 40 year old Mum. I do jeans, t-shirt, 3/4 casual pants... all very casual and all very suited to my casual lifestyle. I'm going to be surrounded by 20-somethings who, from the pics I've seen on facebook, are gorgeous, slim and used to dressing up.

Any suggestions for what I should be looking for? I'm not comfortable in dresses so I'm thinking more along the lines of black pants and a sparkly-type top. At least then I can pretend it's jeans and a shirt, so long as I don't look at myself in a mirror.