Trust in the Process

DS Hayden has spent the weekend in Residential Respite care. I have to say that initially when we were allocated government funded care I felt guilty because I couldn't wait for it to kick into place so that we could get a break, I could sleep through the night even consider going on holiday etc etc etc.

Now I have overcome this guilt, thank goodness, and got to the point where I can say that the women who work at the place Hayden stays at are wonderful, he loves going there, gets weekends full of fun and adventure and I can trust in the process in place and say that Hayden is getting the best care.


If I was unable to trust this process then the weekends we have without Hayden would not be a break, a time to sleep, relax, go out and do things normal families do. Our family has come to rely on these days for all sorts of things especially to bond without the ever present tension that is associated with Hayden

It is not that we don't love him but the breaks help us to stay strong while he is with us.

The view as we go across the Auckland Harbour Bridge on a fabulous winters day. Photo overlay by Emily Powells. Everytime that Hayden gets to this point in our trip across Auckland, he tells me he is going to Wilson Home and that he likes going there.



So thank you to all the wonderful people involved with Hayden's residential respite care. Without my ability to trust in you and what you do I don't think I could have let him go.

I see Red

Yesterday had a feel like this.....photo taken on another day. I just had to take a photo and preserve the moment. I guess you can tell I scrapbook. Camera is always ready to hand.



The credits can be found here at Nuts4Digi

The title was inspired by this song. (Gosh admitting to knowing this when it first hit the airwaves really ages me)



Thank goodness a little sleep and the weekend have sorted that behaviour out. Long may it last.

A miracle moment

Today Hayden needed to have his port a cath (a little device that gives direct access to veins) accessed. This is usually a drama as he became very needle phobic when he spent his 21 days in PICU in 2006. He needs this for his monthly electrolyte count to be done and easy access when IV fluids are needed which at times can be frequently. Cystinosis is a very time consuming and demanding medical condition for anyone to have.

Today was a miracle as it was the first time that Hayden did not protest at the thought of having his port a cath accessed. Now his protests involve screaming and frighting to get free as he needs to be restrained and held still. In fact he asked to have a look. The nurses and I could not believe it. Progress has been made.

Monday Menu 24 August

Last week went really well. I did have leftovers so I omitted one day and we had them then as they were unfreezable.

This week should be fine as DH is home and he can help prepare things while I am at work.

Monday Mince and elbow pasta.

Tuesday French Onion Soup (See below for the photo)

Wednesday Crockpot Beef Tikka Foodtown Magazine Aug/Sept 2009 pg 40

Thursday Quick and Easy. Sport Demands a night of left overs and easy prep.

Friday Tuna Hamburgers.

Saturday bbq chicken vege and salad

Sunday Dahl with flat bread

TGIF

Yes its another friday and this week has seen much discussion in the media here in NZ about the punishment that some secondary school young me got for fighting during an important rugby game.

This go me thinking about the place of sport in my family and how we value it. So in no particular order...

1. We try and encourage our children to choose a sport that they love playing. At their age hopefully it is a team sport that will instill so values of working as a team.

2. We want our children to understand that when you commit to something, sport in this case, that they must follow it through even if half way through the season their best friend has decided that something else is better.

3. To be gracious is such an important value. To be gracious in winning and in loosing.

4. To always try their best. What more could you want from your children as long as they are doing their best.

5. To have fun. To go out and enjoy the game, the company of the others in their team and to come with a smile.

Just look at this bunch of very keen and enthusiastic hockey (field) girls that my DD plays with.

How long can it take to go to sleep?

One of the challenges in our house is the fact that DS1 has immense trouble going to sleep at night. Some nights are by far worse than others.

Now with my other children this could possibly be explained away but with DS1 having suffered serious brain atrophy (injury) it is hard to know why he is not sleep even after he has been up for 14 hours.

In our house, because of DS1 we all rise in the morning at 0615 hour. In mind this is early especially when my children are on 5, 6 and 8 years old and school does not start until 0900.

Tonight has been exhausting. He has gone to bed at the usual time but sleep...impossible. He has torn his room apart, his nappy, which is only worn at night time, off, called out for his dad consistently for nearly 2 1/2 hours and done everything except sleep in his room. It is driving me crazy and consequently I am sitting here blogging instead so I can't hear him.

I know that he is just wanting my attention, well his Dads really, but to give in to this it just seems to keep him awake and calling out for more and more attention.

We undertake the same bedtime routine with him each night, have tried calming music and cant think of anything else to solve this problem. His brain just does not work like other peoples and does not seem to unwind at times.

On nights like this I need all my coping strategies. Thank goodness for my blog.

oh this is what one terrible tired little boy looks like after 8pm.




and lets not forget the manipulative distraction....a drink and a sore finger that needs a plaster....With his medical condition a drink is a key attention grabber.

Here is a page created saying this.



credits are here at Nuts4Digi

Goodnight all.

Mondays Menu 17 August

Here is this weeks plan

My week worked really well. I more left overs with DH away so I need to think about that next time he is away.

Monday Meatball and spaghetti

Tuesday Curried Pumpkin Soup, Weight Watchers.

Wednesday Madras Beef from the Foodtown Magazine pg 45 Aug/Sep

Thursday Easy Night

Friday Beef burgers home made

Saturday Chicken kebabs and salad

Sunday Filo Samosas at WW recipe

Have a great week.

P365 week 31 and 32

Here are the next two weeks in this project

week 31



the credits for this page can be found here at Nuts4Digi


week 32



The credits can be found at Nuts4Digi here.

TGIF

Oh yay it is Friday. I thought that being Friday and all I would try and reflect on the week that has just been and try to look back at what was.

So in brief I am grateful that I am able to work which will enable us to replace our car at Christmas time. I am grateful that people have been very understanding and have helped me look after my children before and after school and then help me get them to their sporting fixtures as required.

I am grateful that the sun has shone all week and summer feels like it is on the way.

I wonder what next week will bring.

Keeping things simple in my house

As I am trying to work while DH is off shore working (necessity has it that I need a few extra $$$) the last 12 days has seen me refine my timetable to the simplest version it could possibly be.

So what have I done...

1. Make the children's lunches the night before and put them in the fridge.

2. Make a meal plan for the week and put it on the fridge. Shop to the plan and cook to the plan. It works a treat. I can even make the meal the night before if necessary.

3. Pack all bags the night before.

4. Put the laundry through the minute I get up in the morning so that the cycle is finished and can put it on a rack in front of the fire before I leave the house in the morning. That way I don't have to worry about the weather and my washing or even try and remember to bring it in. It cant be done the night before as DS1 bedding needs to go in the wash too.

5. Keep my diary current so I know what I am doing without thinking. Vital

6. Grab sleep when I can as I need it after fitting in work, sport sport and DS1 and all his medical issues.

So with that I am off to bed