August 29, 2012

Thank You. That's All.

I am so overwhelmed with gratitude for the kind words, wishes, and support from you, my lovelies in the online community, regarding my son and his diagnosis of Crohn's Disease.

Your thoughts and prayers are so appreciated, you have kept me buoyant through these unsettled waters.

Mr C starts his treatment tomorrow with an 8 week liquid diet of Paediasure, in chocolate flavour of course, which is a complete balanced nutrition.  He has sampled one tonight, and it has the tick of approval!
 

I have found myself reaching out to people in similiar situations and I was lucky enough to connect with a young man from America.  What a positive and inspiring attitude he has, even with everything he has been through.

Fit, healthy, happy and positive!

He sent my son a personal message, with some words of support for Mr C, and for me!

Thank you Jake.

August 25, 2012

And so it begins....



Two words that hadn't entered my psyche until just recently.

Crohn's Disease.

If you are not familiar read here.  It is a type of inflammatory bowel disease, and my 9 year old son has just been diagnosed.

I wrote the note above while talking with the doctor who delivered the news.  I had to ask him to repeat certain parts so I could write it all down.

I like to know everything.  All at once.

I'm a bit like that.

So how am I feeling at the moment?  Shock, sadness, sorrow and repeat.

I think I'm grieving.  For the loss of my healthy child, for the years ahead that he will suffer with this disease.

Who knows what will happen.  I understand fully how bad things happen to good people, and that there are others in situations much worse than ours.

But this is our reality.  And I shall grieve for my child as I will.

My mind has been filled with appointments, visits arranged for the doctor, the pediatrician, the dietitian, blood work, immunization booster shots, drugs, treatment and support.

I allow myself to cry maybe once a day.  When I'm at my most emotional, the tears sting and I worry about the future.  Then I get it together and just worry about the present.

Mr C will start treatment next week with Exclusive Enteral Nutrition, which is an 8 week liquid diet to heal and nourish him.  No solid foods at all.

I've arranged his feeds to arrive next Monday in the form of special medical milk poppers, and I'm drafting letters for his school and his teacher.

We will give him weekly and monthly incentives to keep going for the full 8 weeks.  Hopefully then he will gradually start back on a easily digestable diet.


Knowledge is Power 

I'm determined to find out everything I can about Crohn's Disease, to allow my son a healthy life.

I've joined Crohn's and Colitis Australia as well as a great online forum.  I've spoken to a counsellor by telephone who has had experience and who guided me greatly.


My Son

We have been honest all the way with Mr C about what has been happening, with the trips to the Royal Childrens Hospital, the invasive tests, and what his body is doing.

He is so casual, so easygoing - I'm the one who is the emotional nutcase.

I showed him a diagram of the body and I explained what the tests were for, and how the little camera that he swallowed recorded all the way through his body.  I told him why he has to have treatment and why he will feel so much better by doing this.

"Mummy, what if the kids at school tease me".

My tears come again, as I remember the first time he was laid on my chest, and I swore to protect him forever.


St Mary of the Cross to Pray to God for Callan's treatment and recovery. Dianne M
 

August 19, 2012

It's in the Air


Here in the country, the days are getting warmer and the blue sky is always so beautiful.

Living in this part of Australia means that our winter days are so pleasant, but our nights are cool.

I can handle that!

I sit on the verandah of our new house and the air is fresh and crisp and the mountains are so clear to look at.  Now we are coming to the end of winter, and there is this feeling that Spring is just around the corner.

It's nice.

The best thing about the warmer months ahead is that we will be in our new house, and we have so much to look forward to. 

I can't wait to entertain our friends on the deck, overlooking the pool as the kids swim and play.

And for all of us to be able to enjoy our new home after a long and hard 4 years of owner building.

Bliss.  Just bliss....



August 15, 2012

House Update



....................Can you hear that?


It could be the sound of beautiful running water.

Or some brand new plumbing in our new house.

I think it's more like the sound of patience, excitement and achievement!

It was such a thrill to turn on a tap today and see fresh, clear water, pumped from our new rainwater tanks.

Kind of like a milestone.

Let's do the numbers -

*  4 years living on the farm, in the shed.

*  4 Christmas celebrations

*  So many summers and winters and birthdays

*  More days than I can count......

I really can't believe that what I've been dreaming about for so long, will finally become a reality, in only a matter of weeks.  Something The Hubbster and I have worked so hard for.

We will have space and storage and privacy and organisation and something lovely for our family.

The hard days are quickly becoming a memory, and now a sense of relief and achievement have taken their place.

August 13, 2012

Cuteness Overload


C'mon.  Tell me this isn't cute.  Look at his little face!

He's smiling!  I love him x

August 12, 2012

It's a beautiful day, don't let it get away..



We had a great day today!  An early morning start at my son's last AFL game of the season, where we sat in the sun and watched the under 11's play the full adult field for the first time.

They looked like little ants out there!

The rest of the day was spent at a favourite yearly event, a local school fair.  This is a big, big deal!  These parents put so much into this wonderful day, it is a credit to this small, country school.

Everything from markets, cent sales, baby animals, entertainment,food and drinks,  and a huge area of rides and attractions to keep the kids busy all day long!

I usually buy my kids a wrist band, which allows them unlimited rides, and gives me time to sit in the shade and people watch, which I love to do. 

I love days like this when the kids can kick off their shoes, and run in the fresh country air.  Some sunscreen and a hat and everyone's happy!

Today gave us a glimpse of Spring, which is right around the corner.  I won't miss these cold nights in the shed..bring on September!

Did you have a good weekend?  What did you do??



August 9, 2012

Poetry

One day I will no longer search for you in the endless sea of faces

One day I will discard my shroud of self pity and regret

One day my dreams will be free of you

One day you will just become someone I used to know

One day

Not yet

But one day.


I tore this poem out of a magazine in a doctors waiting room nearly three decades ago.  I remember I was sitting with my father, and once I read it, I had to have it.

I've kept this poem, all folded and creased, in a very special place for all these years.  You know, where you keep your special treasures that may not mean anything to anyone else, but so significant to you.

I don't know who wrote it, or why, and I don't want to know.  For some reason it resonated with me, and I've thought about this poem over the years in the most random places.  At the traffic lights, or while out walking or when waiting for sleep to take me.

Did the author have such a deep longing for someone, to evoke such powerful words?

Was a cherished soul lost, never to be found?

This is why it haunts me so...and that is the beautiful mystery that I love.....

August 8, 2012

House Update

We had a public holiday today and it was the most glorious winters day.  Blue skies, fresh air and nowhere to be.

I spent some time hiding from the kids on the side verandah of The Money Pit, drinking in the view along with my cup of tea.


We then had a visitor, our neighbour Barry from across the paddock who dug a trench for us to connect our mains power.


It's all getting very exciting!

We then spent the afternoon running data cable for the internet through the walls of the house.  I fed the cable through while the kids whinged about having to sit under the house and help.

They guided the cable through to The Hubbster so we had quite the production line going on.

As the sun went down, I had a quick moment to snap a photo of our new fancy pants bathroom light fittings.  They arrived from America last week, and The Hubbster had them up and installed before you could say quality brushed chrome!


The days (and weeks) are going by fast and it will be Spring before we know it.

Fresh flowers in my new dining room?

I think so!

BlogHer'12


If you are a blogger, you may have heard of a little get together held last week.

Called BlogHer'12, more than 5000 bloggers attended with a very special address from President Barack Obama himself!

Yes, this conference is bigtime.

Close to 20 Australian bloggers attended, and during the last week or so, I've lived my New York Dream through their words and photos.

A life changing experience for them?  It seems so.

That's what is so wonderful about blogging.  The writer gets to share their words and relive their moments in time and the reader gets to experience it, even from afar.

Everyone wins.

I had this crazy thought yesterday that I'd really love to attend next years BlogHer conference in Chicago, USA.

Could I really do it?  Save the money, leave my family for 2 weeks, and combine my two passions of travel and blogging?

Hell yes!

My friends know that my obsession is America.  Here's some photos of the holiday that changed my life.



August 2, 2012

Photo a Day July

I'm a busy girl, as you already know!

With 4 years building The Money Pit, we have a farm, we have kids, I have a job and a blogging obsession.

I've now discovered Photo a Day, courtesy of Fat Mum Slim. I've been using Instagram on my Iphone to take a photograph every day for the month of July and I've been posting them to my facebook wall.

How I've loved being inspired and the creativity this task has given me.

To capture that perfect shot.  To see how others perceive the prompts.

This is now something I plan to do every month.  I've already started on the August list.

Do you participate?  Do you feel inspired too?