Project Love Me

I discovered this challenge which I really like.  Project: Love Me.  It involves journaling which I love to include in my scrapbooking and also will provide a source of inspiration for photos and blogging.   So I started at the beginning today using the first weeks prompt of Dreams.

Here is what I was prompted to write.


I wish I had a magic wand and turn back time.  Not to make a fortune or live the silver spoon life.  It would be a chance to take action sooner so Hayden, my son would not become disabled.  I guess hindsight gives us that perspective on life.  I dream of what might have been and how things could be different.  How dramatically that dream changed and no I just hope that someday Hayden will be able to learn things that will enable his life to be more than it is and less of a burden.

The credits can be found here at Nuts4digi.

Ten - An interview with my DD

It has been a couple of months since McKenzie turned 10.  So I thought that I might just interview her to find out what she was thinking about the world now that this auspicous moment had arrived.

I decided to interview her and try and understand all bit about what she was thinking.

What is the best thing about being 10?

(Interview of McKenzie today)

I am a double digit.
I am an even number that means I am even
I have a zero in my age
I am old enough to have sleepovers
I get to wear whatever earings I like.(thats what she thinks)
I am trusted so I can do some things by myself.
I get to make decision for myself
I can depend on myself
I get more challenging work at schook which I like
I am trusted with more valuable things, my ipod.

Definitely thoughts to scrap.

Credits can be found here

P365 2010 Finally

Finally after much deliberation I have made a front and back cover for my P365 2010 book

Here is the cover page for the front.

The credits for this are stitching, flowers and swirl come from SS 4 kit from Weeds and Wildflowers, ribbon and alpha come from SS 6 kit from Weeds and Wildflowers and finally the wordart from Suddenly Artistic.

The back cover is rather more simplistic.

The credits for this page are the paper from SS 4 kit, word art from SS6, the heart a blog freebie, the stitching and staples from Life 365 Attachit 2 all from Weeds and Wildflowers

A Miracle has happened

As many of you know my son Hayden has a port a cath.  This device sits just under the skin and  that gives hospital staff direct access to his veins for IV fluids and taking blood.

(image sourced from smith medical site as linked above)

Since it was discovered that Hayden has the medical condition Cystinosis it has been and incredible challenge to take the necessary blood from him on a monthly basis.  Not only was/is he needle phobic but his veins are very small and seem to wriggle around everytime the needle came close enough.  Maybe, looking back, it was Hayden wriggling and giggling (and screaming ) as the needle came closer.

A port a cath became necessary about two years ago because he protested so much that we were no longer able to get blood out using a needle and finger pricks were being done.  When 10 mls or more of blood are needed that is not an easy task.

So winding the clock forward, the port a cath is inserted, the nerves quarterised and we are set for painless blood taking and IV moments.  How wrong could I have been.  The needle phobia was still ever present and Hayden was still requiring three adults to hold him still while his veins were accessed.  He protested so much that the Communtiy nurse (she) who was supposed to collect the monthly bloods was nervous everytime she came to see us.  Then it was the case that he knew she was nevous and she knew he was nevous.  The nervous child and adult both became really nervous with the nurse shaking as the needle go closer to Hayden and Hayden protesting even more.  Oh no I am thinking, another solution is required.

Now I take Hayden on a monthly basis to Day Stay at Starship hospital.  This is New Zealands first build hospital for children.  These nurses are very practised at accessing port a caths and while Hayden still protested and required three adults to hold him down blood was alway gathered.

Now that leads us two years on and to today and our miracle.  During the 30 minute drive to Starship I remind Hayden that he is giving the nurses some blood today and it does not hurt.  Today he happily followed the nurses to the room, happily took off his shoes and shirt, sat on the bed and two minutes later the nearly 20 mls of blood was collected and were were on our way home.  Hayden had not protested, not needed any adults to hold him.  It was a miracle.  Long may this miracle moment continue.

Of course this post would be complete without a photo of Hayden showing off his port a cath.

 



Wordless Wednesday 9 February

Here are two photos of DD.  Now I know they are quite dark by DS2 (just 7yrs) was the photographer.

I am linking to My Little Drummer Boys an Austrialian Wordless Wednesday post.



New 52 week 5

So here I am blogging for the third time today.  I am playing catch up incase you are wondering.

Week 5 n my New 52 project, a project about me is another self improvement thing.  I have always struggled with having finger nails that I would not be embarrassed about.  Yes you know what I mean, I bit them especially in times of stress or unhappiness.

This week I am pleased to say things are looking up in this department.  While I have a couple of broken nails this is the best sent of nails I have had since I decided acrylic was the answer for me.

So proudly (not looking at the short stumpy fingers and wrinkles) here are my fingers.

Now maybe I need to go and get them groomed properly.  I guess that could be a new thing for another week.



Beetroot Relish

This was my best find of last weeks menu.  We had it on our burger and while the children were not so keen on it I think that they will need to be given time to acquire the taste.

Beetroot Relish
(Souce Weight Watchers Magazine Feb 2011) no online link to this recipe

1/2 cup of cider vinegar
1 tbs of brown sugar
1 tsp sea salt
2 medium beetroot peeled and coarsley grated
1 medium green apple peeled and grated.

Put the cider vinegar, sugar and alt in a small saucepan and bring to the boil.  Add the beetroot and apple, reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally for 6-8 minutes or unti lbeetroot is tender when checked.

That is all there is too it.

Monday Menu 7 February

I know that I am late posting this but I am still going to link you up anyway.

here is the plan for the week.

Monday  Chicken, new potatoes and mixed vege

Tuesday  Chicken curry pasta

Wednesday  pot roast with new potatoes and salad

Thursday  Beef Fajitas (with bbq sauce, cummin and chilli sauce)

Friday  Aussie Hamburgers

Saturday  Indian lamb cutlets with sauteed potatoes

Sunday  Leftovers

Rounding up January

I am taking a leaf from Katie The Scrapbook Lady and am going to round up at the end of each month. I have not yet refined what I am going to round up but thought that I would use the list in the link from this blog as a prompt to start me off.

Books

I have taken  up a reading challenge.  It is something I have been meaning to do for some time and now that the children are at school I will be able to dedicate some time to this activity.  I love drama style books so watch out for my review in the next couple of weeks as I will be finished the book I am reading.  So I am currently finishing Hot Blood by Stephen Leather.

What fun things did we do as a family?

It is the summer holidays here.  That means 6 weeks break from school for the children and a time to rest, recover and enjoy each others company.  I booked Hayden into Wilson Home for Respite care and we packed to go camping at Hahei on the Coromandel Penisular.

Our site has no electricity and we make use of the flushing toilets and short hot showers (the bare minimum I require) provided by the camping ground.  barbeque  and gas cooker for heating food, a chilli bin for providing coolness and one fantastic solar powered lantern for night time light.  Our best camping finds for this year of course were the memory sponge for on top of our air bed and the tent we bought the children which they still need to learn how to assemble.

Of course our days were filled with

Visiting Hot Water Beach ...hear is a photo of the very hot water bubbling out of the sand at the waters edge.

Kayaking on the esturay at Cooks Beach

Of course the time in the water.

Playing volleyball with friends



Rock Pooling

and generally having a fabulous time.

Giving Gifts

This month was Andres 7th birthday.  We were camping for this and he had a fantastic day.  He was very spoilt and got gifts from all family members who had remember to send them away with us as well a few special things from us.  He shared his day with our friends.  We had party food from the shop and an icecream cake... You know the sort when you buy one block of icecream in cardboard place candles on the top.  Then sing happy birthday and serve to all children in a cone with sprinkles and chocolate.  Finally the children got to light sparklers on the beach.

Here is McKenzie and her friend.

Accomplishments for the Month.

This month I achieved a goal of being healthier and fitter.  I have been working at my diet and exercise habits.  I am so pleased with what I have achieved in the last 8 weeks I now am focusing on doing this while working and rushing everyone around everywhere.

Monthly Tasks

I wish to be able to say they are done but no so plant to work on this tomorrow where I will report back.  So the backing up etc etc will be done.  It is diariesed (if there is such a word)

Wordless Wednesday 2 February

Can you believe it is February already.

Here is my photo which I am linking to My Little Drummer Boys

These three are Kayaking at Cooks Beach Estury.  On the front is a friends son Kai, DD McKenzie is paddling and DS2 Andre is pretending to fish off the back.