Random Mutterings

So where is life at.

Mum had her Knee replacement surgery last week. It went well, apart from the usual vast amounts of blood loss. I’m going to push our paediatrician to test Annie for genetic blood clotting disorders because it does seem to be a running theme in my mum and I. Anyways Mum is good now and should be going home tomorrow. Pretty fast going for a knee replacement but she was out sooner with the first knee.

Grandma had her life support removed last week and in a turn of events that is somewhat miraculous is now out of the coma, communicating and doing well for someone who is 91 years old and has had two strokes.

Father in law is back in hospital and will probably be there for the week. He got a chest infection which is now clearing up but they want him to stay until it goes away, which should be just in time to start his next round of chemo.

I’ve been to see the Gastroenterologist (or at least my regular guys partner). Seems my MRI showed that whatever the problem is IT IS NOT a Crohns flare up. Which leaves me with the worrying – well what the hell is going on then – kind of thing. End result, colonoscopy next week. Both Woo and Hoo.

Annie is being a 5 year old going on 16 year old girl and it is driving me barmy. That bossy, know it all attitude just makes me want to lock her up and throw away the key. Not that I’d actually do that but it just seems to push all my buttons. She has been inspired by the Olympics to become an Olympic swimmer – well that and the fact her Granddad was a competitive swimmer. We’ve changed our minds on the whole school enrollment thing and Annie is now going to attend the school that is 4 minutes walk from us. I’ve spoken to heaps of people, gone back for a second and then a third visit and I’m really liking the school (and not just for its proximity).

Heidi is growing in leaps and bounds, I swear that she will be taller than Annie in under 12 months time. This week at swimming Heidi graduated from the beginner group and is now in the pre-school swimming group with her sister and older cousin M. Very exciting. The sensory diet is going great guns, although to give Heidi the full sensory workout she needs every 90 minutes kind of kills my back but we are working on that. I’ve gotten rid of Foxtel and there is far less TV viewing in our house. I’m really impressed at the language improvement since that happened. The sensory diet leaves Heidi in a calm enough place to learn and the lack of TV gives her the opportunity to practice her language.

My nephews are over fairly often and it is much fun to see them interacting with the girls, both boys balance out my girls skills and they all compliment each other very well in their play. There is of course the usual dramas and tantrums but over all they are very good together.

I purchased some boardgames based on

1. Turn taking

2. Fine motor skill challenge.

We ended up with

- Operation

- Snakes and Ladders (3D version)

- Barrel Full of Monkeys

All classic games I remember playing in my childhood. There are so many fancy games available for children now but I wanted stuff that was going to last the test of time.

So far we’ve had more success when I play one on one with the girls. Annie is really getting into the challenge of snakes and ladders – counting, moving the playing pieces etc. Heidi is still impatient so the whole game is about waiting to take her turn, which is why it only works when she plays with another adult, playing with another child is just too difficult for her.

I have an unfair advantage at Operation – or so hubby claims – all that time I spent cross stitching has given me great fine motor skills and on even the most difficult setting I can beat the clock (well provided I’ve not drunk 5 cups of coffee before hand and am shaking like a junkie needing her next fix).

While I’m updating – Hubby is going well, he seems to be constantly at work, even on his days off he gets called into work. . One of the residents at hubbys work is a Fundie pastor who wants hubby to bring Heidi to a church service so he can cure her autism and save her. Grrr. Apparently the reason she has autism is because our faith is not strong. I’ve got a mental image of a lightsabre being insert where the sun does not shine, because the force / faith is strong my friends.

Funding applications. We should hear this week if we have the funding for the sensory equipment. Our local council is helping me out with house cleaning once a fortnight for 12 weeks (phew), their cleaner will come in and do the big jobs for me, cleaning walls, defrosting freezer, cleaning windows (starting Wednesday this week). All that stuff that never gets done because I barely have time to do the little stuff. We’ve also applied for respite care, someone to take Heidi out for 2 hours a week while Annie is at Kinder so that I can have some time alone without the girls.

My friends S&J have been amazing taking Annie and Heidi at their place on Saturday mornings for the last month, it gives me a chance to nap, clean house or have my snap, crackle and BANG for breakfast without worrying about what the girls are up to. Even better is knowing I get to have lunch with S&J afterwards and chill out and enjoy some grown up conversation.

Now I’m all muttered out. Time to go finish the dishes, fold some laundry and try not to jump at shadows after watching last nights episode of Dr Who.