The cast is finally off...

He is FREEEEEEE

Cast getting cut off...

Joshua has been waiting for a while now. He had all three on for a total of 8 weeks so enough was enough as far as he was concerned...

He is loving writing with his right hand again and not being restricted :)

Am glad the dramas are over and hope they don't come back for a while at least. lol

Cheers Damaris

Broken toe...

Just a little broken...

Last Thursday as I was coming out of Joshua's room, I banged my right foot really well on one of our skirting boards... By Friday, after not having a good night sleep at work at all and still being in allot of pain, I realised that I had broken it...

Not good... Russell strapped it for me and I have tried to keep my foot up whenever possible. Hard when you are working for 24 hours in one go...

Today it feels allot better... Strapping will stay on for a while yet... At least I know they don't put a cast on toes so no use going to the Doctor... Don't need another cast in this family. Joshua and his three was enough to last me a long while. lol

Cheers Damaris

Oops, broke it...

Oops...

Didn't know how strong I was... Lol

These are the clippers I used at Margaret's... Don't think she will lend me her fingernail clippers to do my toenails anymore... lol

Cheers Damaris

Cast has come off...

Joshua had his plaster cast come off last Thursday. They did an X-ray on the hand and then decided to put on another cast. The third one that he has had. This one is fibreglass though and will be on for another two weeks... He was not really impressed... Never mind, the ice cream from McDonald's fixed that. It's failsafe and he can have a serving in a cup :)

Cheers Damaris

Timothy being cute...

When Joshua came home from Hospital with a cast on his wrist his first comment was: "That's on the same side of your body as where I had my three pins in my shoulder"... hmmmmm

Then he went back to his computer while I made Joshua comfortable on the couch... Then about ten minutes later Timothy called me into his room and asked me to take a picture of what he had made for Joshua... So that he could see it, seeing he couldn't get off the couch... The above photo Timothy made for Joshua in one of his games... How cute is he???

Cheers Damaris

Joshua in the wars... again...

Joshua's right knee...

And wrist in plaster...

Old one coming off for up to date x-rays

New plaster going back on late yesterday afternoon...

So he goes to the Skate park two days in a row... First day no dramas at all. Had a great time. Second day we went just after I picked up Timothy so that they could both kill a couple of hours... Them at the park and me... well I wanted to check out the Lesley Park Easter Saturday Markets didn't I...

When I got back from checking out the markets here was a boy had been crying for a while and was in allot of pain. Joshua's knee had swollen quite a bit and his wrist was sore too. Luckily he had his helmet on as his head would have hurt as well... I love it that my boys never forget their helmets. One thing that they are never allowed to go without.

Anyway we went home, gave him some pain relief and all went to bed for the night. On Easter Sunday at 7am we were off to the Emergency Department at Warwick Hospital as his knee had gotten worse though his wrist still annoyed him it was not too bad.

Got there and had his leg put into a rigid splint and now he had crutches as well. We got paperwork for him to get his knee and wrist X-rayed as soon as the Hospital was open again after the holidays or before if they rang us. Well they did ring us and on the Monday we went up there again...

This time he also came home with a cast on his wrist as he had broken it... So now only one crutch, a rigid splint and a cast. Oh what fun... He stayed home on the Wednesday from school but ended up going on the Thursday and from then on as he was too eager to get back to school...

Yesterday we had a follow up appointment with the Fracture Clinic and it was reconfirmed that he would need a cast for another four weeks. The rigid splint and crutches have been returned but he is still wearing a pressure bandage as it is helping the last of the fluid around the kneecap to go down.

He is very proud of the fact that he is the first in Russell's side of the family to get a cast on... :) He has been such a good sport through all of this and has tried hard to keep his weight off his knee. Writing has been a little difficult but he is getting there... What he is most annoyed about is that he can't do Cross Country running in a couple of weeks that he had been practicing for for a long time... At least he will be in one piece again after all the healing is done...

Cheers Damaris

Thanks for the Help :)

What is that black thing anyway?

The offending tyre

My lovely helpers. :)

Last Monday I was out and about and ended up with a blown tyre... I went to find the jack and couldn't. The manual finally told me that it was under the front seat??? So got everything ready to do the tyre and two lovely people from RoadTek came and asked if I was OK. Told them that I had not done the changing of a tyre before but that I was fine. They got out and took everything out of my hands and had the tyre changed in about three minutes flat... Amazing team work :)

Found out that they were both working on The Gap where there is allot of roadworks going on at the moment and will be for some time to come... Again thanks so much to the wonderful people that stopped and helped... Couldn't have been on my way as quickly without your help :)

Then had to change my other three tyres as apparently you are supposed to check your air pressure in your tyres about once a month. Well no one has ever told me that so had no idea. Russell and I have bought allot of cars over the years and have only ever had one go out of warranty... This was my first flat ever... Things you learn... Am glad that the people that I bought my tyres from will check that for me from now on whenever I want them to :) One place I went to wanted $520 for four new tyres. Top of the range was all they had apparently. Then I went to Ryanie in Warwick and got the three for $295 with a balance and alignment. Gotta be happy with that :) :)

So Brad my lovely Blue Yaris is off for his 40000km service next week and then all will be good again :) Now if only I could remember to refill the water bottle for the wipers... Still have not done that after about two months of running out... Oh dear...

PS. 30.1.11, found out from my baby sister that that black thing in the first picture would be something to attach to the car in case it needs a tow??? Duh!!! lol

Cheers Damaris

Oops, now what???

Hose ends ready for the joiner...

This bits don't help. Will have to buy a joiner on Thursday...

I mowed about last week and had to change the chooks water this morning. Well that was not happening today. We are currently giving them water from the bore tank... I mowed over the hose and didn't even realise... I got the hose about five metres from the bore attachment so at the moment have about 85 metres of useless hose sitting in my yard... How silly am I.

Today I was supposed to also Gerni the outside of the house and wash the outside windows. Another job that has to wait till the end of the week as on Thursday I go into town and will have to get a joiner for the hose then. I am rather annoyed with myself I must admit for doing something so foolish... Well one learns I guess...

Was the perfect overcast weather today too to be doing it. Never mind there is always Friday :)

On a brighter note, am off to Craft group this morning... Have not been for four weeks due to appointments and two weeks school holidays. Can't wait to get there. :)

Cheers Damaris

A close encounter...

Bruce eating grain, tail feathers down...

At the bottom of our driveway, across the road we have a lovely neighbour who adopted and Labrador about two weeks ago. Now this large chap is so cute. He is soooo friendly and loves children and other dogs. Needless to say he escaped a few times last week and ended up at my place. :)

Friday was one such time. Only thing was that he is so big and bouncy that he scared the chooks as well. So they scattered everywhere and our Rooster Bruce and a guinea fowl ended up in the backyard...

Yep you guessed it... our dogs happened to be out there too chewing on some bones when live meat walked in the yard... The guinea fowl got away. Nova though had Bruce pinned against the fence and was not letting go... I can't get over the amount of feathers that she got out of him in such a short period of time. Russell shooed the big visitor away and my neighbour did come for him straight away but by the time Russell got back to seeing if the chooks and dogs were all ok it was all a little too late... He ended up with two large gashes just near his tail. I put Dettol on it and hope it heals ok but now is just a waiting game.

The next day he was happy enough. Tail was down as the wound would be very sore for him. Not too sore to try and jump some hens though. hehe... Here is hoping all will be ok. :)

Cheers Damaris

Chicken and Leek Pie anyone???

Chicken and Leek Pie. Yum is all I can say. :)

Love it when Russell makes dinner and comes up with beauties like this one. He took two recipes and combined them last Sunday night. Was a fabulous way to finish a wonderful Mother's Day.

Timothy as seems the usual now... injured himself. At least not like last year's Mother's Day where he actually broke his arm completely through. No this time he took a kebab skua and pierced his little finger. Blood pouring out everywhere... didn't stop for 1/2 hour. Nearly made us miss our movie "How to train a Dragon". Boy oh boy... Told him next year I am tying him to a chair all day with nothing within reach. lol

This pie that Russell made was completely failsafe as well... :) It was soooo yum. Shame he got the leftovers for work during the week. Never mind. I will just have to put my order in for another one. :) hehe

Cheers Damaris

Guess what I am doing today...

Sad looking glasses...

Well it could include ringing the Optometrist and finding out if he can fit in Joshua so that we can get his eyes checked and I can at the same time buy new glasses for him... The old ones are looking very sad and sorry indeed and need replacing. He can't wear them anymore... Don't ask me how it happened. Neither of the boys are admitting being the guilty party. Must have been sat on or stood on. Was on the coffee table fine one minute, the next they were not so fine...

I must say that I am a little worried with him riding to school without them but as he leaves when there is no traffic he will be OK. In the afternoon he goes together with friends as well so again he will be OK.

Strange looking at him without them on actually. Am so used to seeing them on the bridge of his nose. And he has only had them for 1.5 years...

Hope he gets a new pair within about a week, if not sooner...

Cheers Damaris

Joshua's Surgery update...

Pictures of his nose before the operation. Diagram below shows bone that they cut away...

As you know from my previous post, Joshua had his nose operation last week. You can see for the pictures above that his nose was VERY congested... Well yesterday we went back for his first post operation appointment to see how things were progressing up there... He really wanted to get the all clear so he could go back to school... So did I for that matter. hehe

They looked up in there and were very pleased with the progress I must say. They even sprayed the inside of his nose with numbing spray so that they could suction out any leftovers. There were none to be taken out. woohoo...

He can also go back to school from Monday which we are both pleased about. He must take it easy and not do any sports for at least another week or so but other than that he is fine to participate.

The Surgeon wants to see him one last time in four months to do the final check up and then we don't believe that we have to go back again. Amazing, after nearly 11 years of nothing but a congested nose to be finally be free of specialists and hospitals and medication... How awesome is that.

Cheers Damaris

What is that noise???

Offending little pebble...

Just for background, I live on a dirt road, only about 120 metres long and our driveway is also about 100 metres long...

I was driving around last week and was horrified every time I put my breaks on or drove really slowly that I could hear this horrible noise on the right side of the front of my car. Now this car is only a year old. It has not even done 25000km so what is going on...

I went to town last week and the noise was getting worse so decided, only after my pedicure off course, lol, that I need to see the Black Toyota mechanical experts. Took the car there and told them of the horrible noise. The manager took it all under control and got someone to look at it straight away... I waited for about 1/2 hour and then he brought me out a little pebble... A pebble. It had gotten stuck in the break pad. Must have picked it up from the road or driveway. They say that it probably won't happen again but I don't know... I could have sworn that there was metal scraping upon metal but no just a little pebble...

I am ever so grateful for the wonderful help that I got. It was done straight away and cost me nothing... All this in a country town. Wouldn't see that happening in Brissie I reckon... Shame but am just so grateful that the noise is gone.

Cheers Damaris

Meet the Chicken Whisperer...

Russell the Chicken Whisperer...

As I mentioned earlier this week, Joshua hurt himself riding his bike to school. Well this means that while the arms and hip and legs are healing it is left to Russell and I to put the chooks and ducks away at night time.

Well for the last few nights that is just what we have been doing and last night capped it off. Here is Russell crouched down looking under the chook house telling the chooks to please come out and one by one they all did. I couldn't believe it. It was amazing. One by one...

Same with the ducks, he just shone the touch to where he wanted them to go and all 11 of them just did what they were meant to... they went to bed. :)

The first night he didn't even need to do that, he just talked to them and the ducks went into their night cage. It is amazing to watch I must say.

He joked last night and said: "What am I now, the chicken whisperer????" I might just add that this is not a chore that he likes to do but does it because he has to at the moment... When we got inside he was rather proud of himself and told Joshua straight away what had happened.

He is a keeper I reckon... :)

Cheers Damaris

Great start to the School year, not...

Cass and David attending to Joshua...

First day of school went really well for both the boys... They had a wonderful day... Yesterday Timothy got off to the bus fine and had a great day again. Didn't find any money though and that summed up his day for him. Could have been better... lol

Joshua left early at about 7.30am to go and meet up with four other friends from school and they were to all go together. Love it how they organise that and are able to just meet up together. Wouldn't be able to do it so easily in the city that's for sure.

About 7.45am heard this almighty: "Mum, Dad, someone HELP ME!!" I raced outside to see what was going on and here he was coming up the driveway with his bike. Helmet still on crying his heart out...

He had been flying down the bitumen road and put out his foot to slow down, well he did slow down but first went over the handlebars and took a whole lot of skin off. His left arm swelled up straight away so I immediately thought that it was broken. It looked terrible. He would only let us wash one of the wounds and as we couldn't move him we ended up calling the Ambulance.

They arrived about 1/2 hour later and Officer David and Cass helped out heaps. They cleaned all the wounds and dressed them. They took his temperature, blood pressure etc, checked his spine and head for injuries. None were sighted. The helmet was not even scratched from the fall.

We went to the Warwick Hospital and there they took XRays, checked him over fully again and recleaned and redressed all the wounds and put his arm in a sling. No broken bones. Truly a miracle.

Joshua was discharged from Hospital just after 11am and off course wanted to go to school. I put my foot down and said: "No". You need a rest baby... And that he did. He slept allot of the afternoon and watched some DVD's.

He ended up sleeping on the couch as it is bigger than his bed and let him have allot more room. He had some painkillers this morning just to tide him over for school and right now is waiting for me in the car. Has been at me since 7.30am to go to school... Best get going. Thank God for no serious injuries. He can't do sports for two weeks but that is a small price to pay. Oh, and he is getting a bigger bike...

Cheers Damaris

Operation time...

Love a peaceful sunrise...

Must say I didn't think the time would ever come. Over two years ago I was doing alot of repetitious work while working and ended up with a ganglion in my right wrist. I am right handed as well.

My GP tried injecting the area with steroids twice but it kept coming back. The injection is supposed to crystallise the ganglion and it is then supposed to disintegrate. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. I also tried bashing it with an Encyclopedia book and that didn't work either.

I have been on the waiting list for Ipswich Hospital for 1 1/2 years now to get it seen to. It comes and goes and even when small it is very painful. Even driving is a pain for me. More so because everything is so far apart from each other out here. My hand can't be used for picking up heavy items which is no use to me out here either. Milking is also painful. It is under a tendon and is 1 cm in size. That is the reason for having to actually operate and not just getting it out under a local. If only...

I was supposed to have my operation in the beginning of September but at my preop ended up getting sick so I was advised that I was back on the waiting list. I doubted that I would be operated on before the year was out.

Due to some lovely Federal Government funding going into elective surgery, I was called up last week and told that I had won Lottery. The operation kind...

So at the moment I am trying really hard to stay away from sick people. That is always hard when the seasons are changing as they are at the moment. My operation is on Friday at this point in time. Glad I didn't have to go for the preop again as I didn't want to get sick again. Just in case...

I will certainly be out of action for a little while, during recovery time but am hoping that the 10% chance of it reoccurring will not apply to this hand. Will be fun mastering brushing my teeth with my left hand. lol

Cheers Damaris

Ooooops, Damaris...

Trailer load of Lucerne hay... all 19 of them

I did a fantastic job on the tyre hey???? NOT... Not one puncture either.

What a wonderful day it started out to be. The sun has been shining here beautifully for a week or more now. No cloud in the sky. Just lovely little hobby farm animals around the place. Picked up a duck egg this morning as well. Was wonderful...

That was until I went to get Lucerne hay... We usually have about 12-15 bales in the back. They are heavily packed and I get loads of biscuits out of just the one bale. With three bovines I end up using 1.5 a week, if that. Anyway back to my story...

I was loaded up with 19 bales... yes 19 bales! Only thought about it on the way home, Oh that might be too much of a load... Well it was. Got 10 minutes from home, still on the Cunningham Highway, and there I could feel something funny... sounded weird, smelt weird, ooops I had best stop. So I did, saw that I had shredded the tyre totally and there was no way I was getting home on that. So pulled off the road as far as I could and rang Russell. Thank goodness I have a mobile (used for emergencies only and this was one of them.) He came out with the kids and they sat in one of the cars mainly.

Funny thing was that when Russell was changing the tyre for the trailer, he had stated to the boys that he had not done that before, and sure enough he put it on the wrong way...

Then we got it on the right way, checked the pressure and it was below 20psi. So had to keep pumping till both were 35psi till we could go. Oh and yes some of the bales went into the car boot instead of staying on the trailer, seeing it couldn't cope with the extra weight and all that...

So now we are off sometime soon to get two new tyres and use the other working one as a spare... grrrrr. So all in all a good lesson learnt...

Don't overload the trailer and make sure that the tyre pressure is correct and what it should be.

Cheers Damaris