I’m starting to feel guilty at not having our Blog up to date. A couple of phone calls to see if everything is ok as well as meeting people while shopping asking about the Blog. With builders, painters and electricians around our routine has been fairly well disrupted.
Last weekend Chris, Nicole and Michael arrived home for mother’s day. While they were home I got them to help move us into the new bedroom and ensuite. They took us out for dinner at Code Orange restaurant for Mothers day and in general spoilt Jill. Michael cut and coloured Jill’s hair on Monday morning which was very much appreciated.
Jill has refused to let me do any lifting and I have become frustrated as there is lots of things to do , leaves are falling and the front lawn is now a carpet of Autumn leaves , colours look great but need raking and mowing .- will make good compost once they have been put through the lawn mower. The carport still has lots of rubbish there even though the builder cleaned up.
On Thursday we had a check over by the OT staff and we have a slight problem with the levels in the ensuite floor and that has to be addressed. I had already spoken to the builder about it and at the moment we are coping with it but as Jill said, the ensuite was to help with her independence but at the moment because of the level difference she is not confident to enter the ensuite on her own. We will have the builder and the floor layer back this week to see what can be done.
Last weekend before Chris and Nicole arrived, our neighbour came in to apologise, a visitor while backing down her drive had turned too early and collected the new fence. I won’t tell you what I thought. Jill was impressed that I retained my temper. One thing I have learnt is that I need to count to 10 more often that ever before.
Jill has had to cope a lot the last few weeks with the builders, visitors and just the interruption on her life and it has taken a tole and we have lost our way in handling what life has bestowed on us. I am hoping that after this coming week we can get back to normal (our normal life). Exercise, both physical and vocal are ever so important. Jill needs to go to the urologist and back to the specialist re the CPAP machine. She has had that for about 8 weeks and we have gradually been increasing the pressure each week and currently are up to 10 (range is 0 to 17). As we go to the next pressure it takes a couple of days for Jill to adjust. She will not admit it but the CPAP works. Suzie from CPAP @ Home checks in with us each week and downloads all the information from the microchip. She is able to tell if we are using the machine, what hours, the amount of air leakage from the mask the number of times Jill stops breathing. Initially that was around 50 and with CPAP it is down to 14 and is gradually coming down.
Chris and Allison arrived on Saturday afternoon and we had some of Jeannette’s pork chops with V8 vegetable juice and basil for dinner. We watched the Swans and west coast football match. Fortunately the swans won for Allison’s sake. We again went out for lunch on Sunday at Hollywood’s. During Saturday evening we had a Skype call from Jeannette and Gavin – their last call from Rosebud before they head off for their around oz adventure. They left at 8am on Sunday and were to spend their first night at a free camping site near Stawell – called Canadian Gully Bushland Reserve. Some time ago I purchased a book called Camps 4 Australia which lists all the rest areas, free camps, national parks, state forests and low cost caravan parks – some 3000 listings and it includes camp snaps so that you get a visual preview of the sites before you arrive. There is probably a 5th version out by now. You can also check their Webb site for up-to-date information. WWW.campingaustraliawide.com
Jill has to go to get a range of blood tests this week and I have a check up from my urologist following my opp. So I guess this week will be slightly disturbed again. I hope to bring the caravan home and perhaps think about a trip away after the success of Eildon at Easter. The kids are heading for Hervey bay and Fraser Island for the last week in June and early July. Jill would have loved to head off with Jeannette and Gavin , but Hrevey Bay may be the alternative. We will have to see what the next couple of weeks bring our way.
Photos of our Easter Adventure
Jill is after her breakfast so I had better make a move.
Fingers crossed we will see you on the net next week.