Instalment 29 Thursday 5 May 2011

Today was filled with many mixed emotions. My stomach was knotted and I felt on edge. My doctor had organised an appointment with a specialist which was set down for 1:30pm and I felt nervous and tighter than a drum.

I got some jobs done through the morning and then before I had to head off to South Bank to the doctor's rooms, I fed my babies and cuddled with them. I weighed the possums today and Tamigotchi weighs 99 grams and Saori weighs 72 grams. The new technique seems to working, especially for Saori. She is now doing very well, putting on about 9 more grams since the changeover.

I received some news during my visit with the specialist, and after some more tests performed by the doctor, he revealed that I would need some fairly major surgery and so he got busy organising this for me. I have mixed feelings about surgery. On the one hand, I know it is now the best thing for me and hopefully will fix my problem so that I can get on with things. On the other hand, there are risks, as there always is with surgery, but I have to move past this and concentrate on getting through it all and look forward to when I'll be healed and life will be so much better for me. The surgery is set down for 23 May, which is very close and now I have some things that need to be organised. I experienced a little teariness during the rest of the afternoon and evening, which is probably only natural. I'll improve. Out of everything I felt concern over, I worried the most about being separated from my gorgeous babies while I'd be in hospital. The doctor said I'd be in for about four days approximately. I will miss my little babies.

Steve, a friend of ours was to come over for dinner a little later on tonight. Ian decided he would come home with Steve. Steve would stay the night and Ian would catch a ride to work with Steve in the morning. Steve is from Kingaroy and is down in Brisbane working with Ian, although we've been friends for years. They are working on the same project.

We ended up, after a unanimous vote, ordering a couple of gourmet pizzas from Sambos, down at Gumdale. Sambo is an old family friend. He makes lovely woodfired pizzas and we haven't had pizza for a very long time. We also had some lovely 'fattening' calzonne as well. We weren't disappointed and dinner was delicious. Kimmy had also made a lovely triple chocolate custard cake and we had some of that for dessert.

We enjoyed a lovely evening catching up on all the latest details in Steve's life out at Kingaroy with his wife Collette and son, Christopher. It was good to see him.

Instalment 13 Tuesday 19 April 2011

It's the school holidays for me and so I try to dedicate some of this time to catch up with friends that I might not normally have much to do with during a school term. Sometimes too, I like to catch up with friends who I teach with because, with the busyness of the term, I  don't always get many opportunities to catch up socially. Holidays are the perfect time to do this. And so today, I was due to meet up with some of my mates from school - fellow teachers.

When I woke up this morning I didn't feel too sporty and I was due to meet everyone at 9:30am. I found it very hard to get myself going. I was extremely tired and I think the late nights and four-hourly feeding sessions through the night were beginning to take their toll on me.

After I fed the babies, I took a shower and that helped a little. I really wanted to make an effort to catch up with everyone, so even though I missed meeting everyone at school for the carpool, I managed to get to Flute about a half hour late; but I made it.

It was great seeing everyone. Because the word was out about the babies, the topic of conversation featured a lot of questions about them and how it was all going. I only stayed for about 45 minutes because I really was very tired and the time was getting close to the babies next feed.

Even though it was a short visit, it was great.

Tamigotchi seemed to be a little wet along his tummy and legs when I went to feed him in the afternoon. He usually is very fluffy and warm, but this afternoon, he was really quite wet. He had obviously pee-ed himself.

I try to toilet both possums after each feed, however, they won't always oblige me. Maybe this was a time when I'd missed and he really had to go. I changed his pouch after feeding and drying him off. Accidents happen.

It is strange but in the time that I've been looking after these two gorgeous possums I've never actually seen them do a number two! I've since been told by my mentor that sometimes the possums will 'take care of that department'. So, I guess that's what they are doing.

Saori is still such a little darling. She has decided that she likes to stand up and hold my hands to eat. She doesn't want to be wrapped up in a blankie anymore! She reckons she's a big girl now. She is still the tiniest little poppet. She has also discovered a great hidey-hole at the top of my shirts and tops. She gallops up my front once she has eaten and next thing I know she's buried herself down my front. She finds a comfy position and settles down quickly and begins to preen herself. She is so funny to watch. She also loves me showering her with kisses.

She now officially has a favourite place to curl up in. I have to wait until she falls asleep so I can gently lift her out of there and place her in her little sleeping pouch. Saori, we've discovered loves the feel of skin, rather than the material of the pouches.

We went over the Mountain

We were up bright and early today. My husband slipped off to the airport in his ute, loaded up with Jelly Beanz and Mitzi (our two Old English Sheepdogs) to pick up his brother-in-law who was due to arrive from WA.

In the meantime, I decided to harvest some fresh herbs from the garden and make some savoury muffins and some apple, cinnamon and blueberry muffins. When the guys returned home, they put in an order for some porridge and once everything was prepared, we sat down and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and catch-up.

What do you do with a relly who is only here for a couple of days before heading off to the southern states? You take him to the mountain...Mt Tamborine, that is.

We headed out after the boys set about mapping a new and different way to go. Hubby wanted a new and fresh experience. We drove along the Mt Lindsay Hwy and headed off toward Canungra...the back way. We passed through some truly beautiful country that we don't often get to see. It is amazing where people decide to build.

On a previous trip out that way, we stumbled upon a little settlement called Wonglepong and found ourselves really drawn to the area. It is very peaceful and beautiful out there. The natives are doing an awesome job keeping their places in immaculate condition (well, most of them are). There is one place in particular that we both really love. We can visualize ourselves living there...one day...everyone has to have a dream...don't they?

After we exhausted most of the streets we began our assent of the mountain. Going up this back way presents itself with a slight challenge (very narrow road...too narrow for caravans, etc. Lucky for us we didn't bring our caravan...oh that's right, we don't have a caravan...well if we did...it would have been a challenge).

This was our third assent of the mount and we had to wait at 'base camp' for the lights to go green. Have you ever been in a car with an 'enthusiastic' driver who uses both hands (and arms) to express themselves and point out things of interest? My husband likes everyone to check out the scenery. He says there's no point having everyone watching the road. But I think it's so they can't see that he doesn't have his eyes on the road either.

What is it with men, machines and narrow hairpin turn roads? Mountain roads are like a magnet for dubious road etiquette. How close to the edge of a mountain road can a wheel can go before it slides off down the embankment? How many k's can you do around a hairpin corner? "Brockie ran into a tree honey, probably on a road just like this one", I tell him. "Slow down, don't go too close to the edge, watch for falling rocks (well, we have had a lot of rain these days)"...and so it goes...

We reach the top and I can begin to breathe again. Once again normality returns and hubby appears to be in control - almost. Our guest brother-in-law has never been up the mountain and the plan is to take him to the main centre of the Gallery Walk, have lunch and explore...except for one minor detail...we have never been up the mountain this back way and it soon becomes very clear to all in the car that we have no idea where we are going. Hubby turns this way and that way, backtracks and does it all again...it's a big mountain I tell our brother-in-law (who now has the refidex opened up on his lap, suspicious that there is a chance we may be lost). There were many moments where we thought we were heading back down the mountain after not even finding Mt Tamborine. Finally, though, we were saved from further embarrassment when we stumbled upon a tourist map on the side of the road...and how helpful that proved to be. I was very impressed that my mere male (MM) stopped to check.

We enjoyed a lovely afternoon of dining and checking out the local shops. We were 'fortunately' saved from a sure drowning during a passing shower of rain when we escaped into the Mt Tamborine Winery. Here we were offered wine tasting of their exclusive wines. The boys left the premises (after the weather cleared) brandishing two bottles of awarded labels. Next door we ducked in and sampled some interesting dukkahs. We finished off our trip to the mountain by visiting with some friends who live up there. At least we were able to find them without too much trouble once we got our bearings.

Spending the day up on the mountain was very enjoyable and our brother-in-law assured us he enjoyed himself too. There's always lots to do and see. We missed the craft markets today, however, we can always go back another day...we need the practice.