It is that time of the Year.

It is that time of the year when the world for me is bought back into sharp focus. It is the time when I remember what was and what might have been.

Of course for those of you who have not seen my sons story you have no idea what I am talking about. So I thought on the third anniversary of the life changing even I thought that it was about to time to really record this and maybe put a layout or two in to illustrate things a little more. You will have to excuse my rambling though.

Anyway, on with the story. I really sit here with tears welling in my eyes.

On 22 February 2006 DH and I took our son Hayden, 3 1/4 years old, into Bandar Seri Begawan Hospital, that's in Brunei, as he had had a case of vomiting for 7 days. We had taken him to a doctor twice during this week but really he had got worse and certainly no better. It was a gastro bug he had caught. At this stage he had lost a lot of weight, was very shaky when walking and somewhat incoherent when he was speaking.

At at least 20% dehydrated and electrolytes severely out of whack, he was hooked up to IV fluids. He was to spend the night in hospital. Now you have to use your imagination at this stage. Brunei is a developing nation and the hospital system is in a developing stage too. So my night in hospital with Hayden was one on a mattress on the floor. To cut this part of the story short the night involved repeated blood tests, replacement of potassium, sodium and general fluids for hydration. As the night went on Hayden got less responsive and to me it seemed sicker not any better.

In the morning DH and I changed shifts. The decision was made to move Hayden to PICU. No sooner had I made it home and I got a phone call to say that Hayden's heart had stopped beating briefly, he had been resuscitated and was now on a ventilator. Luckily for Hayden a young and newly trained Cardiac Pediatrician was at his bedside when all this took place. Thanks you so much to this Doctor.

After making a few arrangements I somehow drove to the hospital to find my son hooked up to so many machines you cant even begin to image it. It was like a Christmas tree with lights flashing, machines dinging and in general it was a huge stunned moment for me. (Just a moment while I wipe the tears from my eyes.)

Now Hayden was none responsive, had no gross motor skills, no language, ventilated but conscious we think and on what felt like a pharmacy worth of medication. He was medicated for continual fluid loss, electrolytic imbalance, kidney failure, extremely low blood pressure etc etc I wont bore you with the rest.

We had no idea what was going on. Between the continual blood tests and the CT scan we were in the dark. Luckily for us a Kiwi friend, who was also in Brunei, was ICU nurse. She was by our side, asking the great questions for us and generally supporting us. Our friend sat with me for 3 nights while Hayden's life hung in the balance. It was really touch and go. I so appreciate the support given to us at this stage. So Karen if you ever get to read this thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.

After 5 days in PICU we were told by the head of Pediatrics that they had no idea what was wrong with Hayden but said he needed to be taken back to New Zealand when he was stable. By now he was off the ventilator but had his eyelids taped down as they would not shut, his arms secured gently down and still attached to many of the same machines.

Hayden had become a pin cushion. Not a vein was left untapped. Eventually a central line was put in, but bed sores were becoming evident and an IV site had tissued badly.

21 days later with the support of Karen, my sister who is in the medical profession we put Hayden on a commercial flight back to New Zealand where the long pathway to discovering what was wrong with Hayden, his prognosis and rehab. I will leave that part of the story for tomorrow.

I have used this journalling from this blog post on this page.



Credits Essence of Cream kit by Lindsay Jane Designs. The font is Papyrus and bush is from Obsidian Dawn.

We went Box Carting.

When you have no choice but to stay home during the summer break it is difficult to keep children entertained and yet keep the tribe able to self entertain.

We started the holidays making a list. The children and I sat at the table one day and I listed everything suggested as long as it could be done in a day. Of course that eliminated the suggestions to get on a plane and go to visit Australia, go to the snow and other such things.

Instead we came up with such fun things as going to the beach, treking in the forests, baking, drawing, make and do projects, visiting the beach, going to the movies and others such things.

So armed with the list we set to and here are some LO showing these things.

Box Carting



Credits. Spring Showers kit by Lindsay Jane Designs at Scrapbook-Bytes. Font is Arial

Going to the beach



This photo was taken one day trying to capture the icon beach going tools. I had no idea that DD was in the background but loved the shot so much. Credits. rope from Seascape kit by Lindsay Jane Designs, background paper from Really Funky Water Colours by CRD, WA a blog freebie by Bethany. Font is 5th Grader


Running down Gran and Grandads drive to go swimming.



My children on a summers day this January. Credits. Everything from Spring Showers by Lindsay Jane Designs at Scrapbook Bytes. Fonts are Minion Pro and 1942 Report.

and of course the make and do projects.

Building a Seesaw



My children just last weekend. The journalling says....Take three budding playground designers. Find long and short pieces of leftover wood, stack and pack them ready to bear weight. Test drive the strength and balance of the design. Now you have a seesaw ready for use. Credits. border (recoloured) and photo template from Once Upon a Christmas Time by, Lili and Emily Merrit Design, background paper from Grandmas Pressed Flowers from WW, dream WA a blog freebie from WW, wire vine and scatter dots from Kickin up the Leave from WW

Font is Jellyka, Saint Andrew's Queen

and having a go at using the hammer.



DS1. The journalling says....Concentrating so hard to hit the nails. Okay really you were just working out how to make contact between the hammer and the nail. Credits Spring Caprice kit by Cinnamon Designs. Fonts is Scrap Kids

All in all a very successful summer break.

Me...a follow up from yesterday.

So here I am today following up on yesterdays little rant with a page. It has that rare photo on it with a little journalling.



Credits..Ho Owls You by Cinnamon Designs. Font is La Bamba LET

The journalling is an after thought. After I had slept on the ramblings I wrote yesterday. Here's what it says......I was sitting here thinking about the things that I love about life. I thought that I say how much I love Brandt, and my children. Or say how much I love my MP3 player and the fact that the sun is shining today. I could say how much I love the weekends and the fact that I get to sleep in.

But I came to the conclusion that I would not be able to say that I love anything if it was not for that fact that I am loved by the people who mean most to me. This makes my life complete

I dont think any more needs to be said.

Why is it....

Why is it that I detest having my photo taken so much that when I have no choice but to produce my image I feel like I having a mug shot done?

Why is it I never look at the great green eyes I have or the fabulous hair colour I have put in at the moment or even the lovely straight teeth that came about through orthodontic work as a teenager?

Surely I ask myself, my self esteem is not that low. Then I think some more and realise that I rarely look at myself in the mirror either. Simply long enough for a little make up when I am going to work and a quick brush of my hair and that's it.

Hmmmmm....I have tried everything when posting my image. Just the top of my head, my eyes only and hidden behind the camera.

I guess there is nothing more to hide. Watch out for the next installment a page with my photo on it.

P365 Weeks 7 and 8

Goodness me time does fly. I have decided that I will post my LO rather than burden myself with daily posts which I never accomplished anyway.

So here is week 7.


Everyting on this LO is from Life 365 kit from WW

This week I tried to address the fact that my DD has not featured in many of the photos. Unfortunately they are not the best of shots but none the less they are great representations of those moments in time when all you have time to do is point and snap.

Featuring also is the shell of my computer. There is nothing operable left inside as the generic components inside stopped co operating with us. Luckily I had everything backed up on our external hard drive.

Week 8



Everything on this page is from Life365 kit from WW

As you can see I do feature here not once but twice. I simple hate being in front of the camera but was forced to produce a shot Nuts4Digi where I am on their creative team. So just before heading out to work, with a slightly painted face I got DH to take a shot or 7 so I had a selection to pick from. Boy is it a shock to zoom in on those parts of the face that are prone to .......looking a little weathered. In fact I would not advise anyone to do this as it might just cause distress and send you out making decisions that you might not otherwise have done so.

Well I am all up to date now.

Enjoy

More Layouts

Yes I have been busy since my computer came back.

Here is another group of layouts using Lindsay Jane's Art 101 and the girls add on.

Here is DD at Butket Shibandar, Brunei. Okay it is a historical photo but playgrounds were not a common thing in Brunei and it was stinking hot. It was a fabulous afternoon of play at this traditional playground. Just look at how much fun the photo is portraying.

Everytime you Smile




My second is from the same kit. It is a reflection of just one of the activities we undertook during our holiday at home this summer.

Chalk Creations



Such a simple to clean up task. Out on the driveway under the Camillia tree. Nothing more than a little rain or next time you wash the car to clean it all up.

I have been creating.

I have using this wonderful kit Tranquility by Digi Illusions from Nuts4Digi.

Here is Life is Like a Butterfly.



The Journalling says...are the words of a song but to me they are always a reminder of this photo of you. Life is joyfully given and can just as easily be taken away. In our family we know this first hand.

This photo is testament of your determination to live and exceed the expectations around you. Here you are lifting your head for the first time since you were hospitalised. Evidence of your illness is there in the photo, scars from bed sores, NG tube and severe IV tissuing on your foot. We had to cut off all your beautiful long blonde hair and stretch your muscles which had contracted.

You are precious and I love you.


The second one I did is This Moment with DS2.

Homework

I know that this is not unique to me but why is it that some teachers simply do not have any idea how long homework takes to be completed or how hard homework is especially when it comes to art and craft style expectations. Now in my past life I was a fully fledged teacher and sit here thinking that DD's young teacher needs a dose of having her own children to see how long it took to complete the collage that was expected this week. 15 minutes a night the note said. Hmmmmm simply not possible, maths, spelling, reading, oral language, and collage for an 8 year old to complete in four nights.

Of course I sat down and googled the images needed, took and printed photos, found all the other bits and bobs to glue on, even printed out some labels to staple on. Luckily I have a few paper scrapping supplies, for the those rash moments of Hybrid thoughts, and couldn't help embellishing a little. Approximately 3 hours of my work plus 1 1/2 hours of DD time to complete this little project.

Heaven forbid if next week involves art and craft.



Now I have got that off my chest I am feeling better.

Thanks for listening.

Chores

That's right chores. What is it about not working each day, youngest son now at school and DH working in Beijing and I am left with all the chores. Each day there is a long list of chores I try to accomplish but it seems impossible. The washing, cleaning, bedrooms, kitchen, bathrooms all need looking at today. The ironing is constantly in perpetual motion, dishes all ways to be done and at the end of the day when I look around it feels like I have gone no where and achieved very little.

Life is busy.

On top of all that there are the after school activities. Now I know that there are not many at this stage and my children are only little or unable to participate in any. Tonight DS2 had swimming. DD had to take her homework with her and that meant scissors glue etc as she is supposed to be making a collage about her by Friday.

Here she is all organised and in the car where there are fewer distractions. DS1 is in his seat as well. It is a terrible time to have him out as his Rubifen has worn off and his behaviour is less than ideal.

Hmmmmm 4.30 is not a great time to have a lesson

Project 365

I have finally got my computer back, well it had to be replaced because its internal workings were no long repairable. I have decided that instead of posting a photo a day that I would post my LO's on a week by week basis. Maybe there will be days. That will give me time to blog more about other things.

So in catching up here the LO's I have done....all 4 of them week 3, 4, 5 and 6

week 3 and it is still the summer holidays. We have been busy being busy, if that makes any sense.



Credits are quickpage from Lauries Scraps a blog freebie, background paper from Funky Love Songs by Emily Powers stitching from stitching kit by CRD border and date circle from Life365 Hodge Podge 1 by WW glitter from Chase n Ryan by Flerg. Fonts are Tahoma, 2 Peas GG Mix, 1942 report

week 4 and I have noticed that not too many photos of DD. I wonder what she was up to when the camera was around?



Credits are Quickpage from Lauries Scraps a blog freebie, page border, date dots and journalling borders are from Life 365 from WW. Fonts are Scrap Rhapsody, Dynamo Inver and Scrap Kids

week 5 and another week of journalling and school holidays are over. DS2 first day at school, a very exciting week for him.



Credits are everything from Life 365 Kit by WW except green paper from Life 365 Hodge Podge pack 1 by ww rope from My Favourite Things kit from WW. Fonts are arial, 1942 Report and Smudger LET

Finally week 6 and I am all caught up.



Credits are Chipboard paper from Full of Wonder kit, Blue paper, flower cluster, photo border from Life 365 Hodge Podge 3, border, journalling tag, brad, from Life 365 kit date circle recoloured from Life 365 hodge podge 1 kit. Fonts are University Roman LET and Jellyka Saint Andrews Queen.