STRUGGLING FOR BLOG IDEAS!

 It is very hard some days to find something to blog about.

My days revolve around visits to Mum in the hospital, then giving family updates on her condition.

It is the same every day right now.

I've not set foot on the beach yet, not even driven by it!  I have NO IDEA what Coffs Harbour's beach and harbour look like.

And I don't see that changing any time soon, and that really does not bother me.

I am not here to sight see.

So with that in mind... I will leave you with this, it made me laugh.

Just change the word 'tea' to DIET COKE!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sister Lorraine.  I hope you have a special day and get to spend time with your cute grandkids and family. 💙💖💚

ONWARD...

ABOVE: I got these the other day. I love them. There was another one with a black heart... should I get them ??

11.10 am: the gardens here are so pretty.

ABOVE: Mum's room.

ABOVE:  Can you see the singing face?

4.55 pm:  Home from the hospital. Today it was very hard to leave.  Mum is now in the 'Terminal' phase of her journey.

She is asleep all the time.  She is no longer eating or drinking, hasn't for a couple of days now.

It is only a matter of time.

Tomorrow when we go out again, I plan on staying overnight with her... for a couple of nights at least.

I'm going to be getting dinner for Ron and I shortly.  But I just wanted to show you how stunning it is 'out there' today:

ABOVE: The sea is SO BLUE!  On our way home from Bellingen this afternoon, Ron took us to Urunga... and I actually got to SEE the ocean only a few hundred meters away.  But we didn't get out of the car.

I doubt I will get to put my feet on an Aussy beach for a while yet.  😞

There will be plenty of time 'later'.

I know that it's early, but I am going to say 'nite nite' now.... cos after dinner I just want to do NOTHING for a while.  My batteries are a bit empty.

HIT REPEAT

 I did not sleep well again last night.

I'm going to be a walking ZOMBIE soon.

But never mind.

Ron and I will be heading back to the hospital first thing this morning.

Fingers crossed Mum's had a good night.

Anyone in the family reading this, I will be giving you all an update ONCE I've seen her and had a report from the nurses on how she's been overnight.

NO more texts asking for personal updates all day long OK?  I'm damn well over having added stress heaped on me.

This is HARD.  I am doing the best I can.  

ABOVE:  Last night's dinner. Darling (Stew), from now on lets not peel the cucumbers!  They are just fine with the skin on. 😋

ABOVE:  I mean... can you IMAGINE it?  OMG.

And on that funny note, I'm out of here.  Time to hit the road.

ONWARD...

4.00 pm:

ABOVE: Well, the butterflies lied.  We've had NO RAIN at all.  Not even a suggestion of rain.

It's stinking hot again today.

Ron and I got to the hospital around 8 am today.

Mum is again having a 'sleeping' day.  But so thankful, she is in no pain most of the time.

I cannot stress how much I LOVE all the nurses and doctors at Bellingen Hospital!  They truly are angels on earth.  So loving, so caring, so KIND.

It's now late afternoon, I've got the washing in that's been out there for two days... almost time to sort out some dinner for Ron and I.

And then?

RELAX.  

All done.  Dinner.  Checking in with family. Relaxing.  Off to bed in a couple of hours, maybe less.  Signing off cos I'm damn tired.  Story of my life right now. 

RELAXING THE RULES

 Gosh I am so happy today.

The RULES of visiting anyone in the hospital is "ONE PERSON PER PATIENT, PER DAY"... no exceptions.

But because Ron got VERY UPSET yesterday while visiting Mum, they are relaxing the rules and allowing me to go too.  That way I can support Ron through this.

Which means I can see Mum every day for a while at least.

I hope and pray she picks up soon and can come  home again, with us getting support from daily nurse visits.  That would be wonderful.

So... today we will be at Bellingen for a good deal of the day.

I will try to do an update at some point, provided there is something to yabber on about!

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  The dress I bought yesterday.

It's a very similar cut to the dress I got a few days ago... and the fabric falls beautifully.

ABOVE:  These two.  *sigh*

ABOVE:  Stew and Brylee had dinner at Amanda's last night.  Seems Amanda is pretty chuffed about that.  DICK.

3.35 pm: Just home from the hospital.  A long day just being with Mum... helping her eat some lunch etc.

She is adjusting to the new environment quite well... and the staff there are so very lovely.

ABOVE:  Not much more I can do right now.

And tell her I love her as often as possible.

*** This is hard ***

Ron's daughter has invited us to dinner tonight, so Yaaaa,  a night off cooking!

7.55 pm:  We had a very delicious dinner with Diane and Brett.  Brett is the cook in the house and he made us spaghetti bolognese, fresh salad and garlic bread.  One of my favourite meals.

Home in good time to head off to bed early.  I hope like hell I get some sleep tonight!

NEW NORMAL

 Today Ron and I start our 'new normal'.

Which means today Ron will visit Mum in the hospital and I will stay home.

But... today Ron will drop me into town so I can do some jobs.  I desperately need to get a cheap Australian phone, so I don't keep running up exorbitant phone charges!

I got my monthly bill and nearly spat the dummy!  It was so BIG.

So, a new phone, a new number and less charges.

I also want to start sending 'stuff' home via the post.

If I keep everything I buy here,  and try to bring it home when I do eventually leave; I am going to end up paying for an entire seat just for my luggage!

So... time to get some parcel bags and send shit home.

Once we are up and ready for the day, we shall ring the hospital and see what sort of night Mum has had.  I'm hoping she did well overnight and didn't get unsettled.  

At least if she needs turning or cares, they will have more equipment, and able hands, to do that easier than Ron and I.

That is the primary reason she went to hospital yesterday.  Ron and I were really struggling with managing a bedridden Mum, and we were scared of hurting her inadvertently.  

Right, I shall get on with the day... catch ya later.

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  Found these from yesterday.  Good Morning Coffs Harbour.

7.22 am: I rang the hospital bright and early this morning to see how Mum was.  She had a 'good' night but woke extremely distressed wanting Ron.  So he's heading out there very soon.

I am getting dropped off at the Plaza mall ... where I will investigate phone options.

11.33 am: Well its taken a while ... but I now have an Aussy phone number. I came to town without my passport... but the Telstra staff were wonderful and connected me up with my drivers license instead.

I've done some shopping! Whoops more summer clothes and shoes. 

Ron says Mum is very, very weak but has most of her marbles... which is rather neat as they've been missing for a while. 

1.21 pm: Well.. I just ran into my first 'glitch' here.

I tried to get a taxi back to the house, and two taxi drivers REFUSED to take me because it's a gravel road and a little steep in places.

So I now have to just sit and wait for Ron to come back from Bellingen soon and pick me up.

Luckily he's almost ready to leave, as Mum is not responsive right now.

TRACY: I don't think I could carry all that lot up a steep gravel road somehow! 

2.54 pm:   And I am finally back at the house with Ron.  I've got a good lot of fresh veges/salads stuff  in the house now.  

The OLD MOO is very sleepy today, but OK.

I am now going to put my poor feet up for a rest!  They really don't like this heat and I was on them walking around the mall for about 5 hours today.  Good exercise I must say, but I've got two blisters coming up UNDER my feet!

Naaaaaasty.

Well the feet still ain't up.  I had to put away the groceries, then wash the floors;  particularly the laundry floor; which reeked after the freezer defrosted.  

Now I am taking a break before cooking dinner!  Which won't be too hard as I bought some pre-made salads so I didn't have to cook much!

ABOVE:  Lacy got her new glasses today.  I think she looks gorgeous.

edit:  The best thing about her glasses is, she doesn't have to SQUINT to see everything now.

6 pm:  Ron and I just had a delicious dinner of lamb sausages, potato salad; coleslaw;  tabbouleh salad;  and cute little tomatoes.

As far as I'm concerned, it's the end of the day.

I'm knackered and am going to finally put my feet up.

A WALK IN THE GARDEN

 Late yesterday afternoon I decided to get out of the house and set foot on the soil ... first time that day!

I thought I'd wander down past the clothesline...

ABOVE:  I wasn't sure how far I could go before running out of track.

ABOVE:  I couldn't go too far in fact.  But I was enjoying taking a few photos of new growth, and the lovely trees on the property.

Then this happened:

ABOVE:  I was like, OH HELL NO... I'm outta here!

BUT, being the very diligent blogger that I am... I gathered my wits about me, took a deep gulp, and went back and took a photo and a video.  You can all thank me now.

ABOVE: Of course, this means wandering down THAT track is no longer an option!

NEVER AGAIN.

If there's more of those monsters I'm staying inside the house, thank you very much!  I mean, doesn't it look friggin EVIL?

Now... as per usual, it's too early for me to comment on my forthcoming day's activities.

They are pretty much the same most days.

Care for Mum.

Sit with Mum.

Field countless messages, emails, texts, phone calls and so on about Mum.  

I'm doing my very best to keep everyone up to date, let me assure you all.

ONWARD...

EXHAUSTED... and it's only 6.45 in the morning.

Mum has been awake since about 3 am.  Not in pain thankfully, just having a rough night with delirium and other issues.

Hopefully she's now going to settle down and have a rest.  

I just went to get fresh bread out of the chest freezer in the laundry.  And DAMN!

It's totally defrosted.  Lost everything.

Last time it was moved to access inside of it, it must have unplugged from the wall.

So that just added to a shitty start to the day.

5.04 pm:  Mum got admitted to Bellingen Hospital today. It is a Rehabilitation Hospital.   Ron and I were both allowed in today to settle her in.

After today, she is only allowed ONE VISITOR per day, so we will have to take it in turns to see her.

That sucks.

But at least she is getting better care that Ron and I can provide her right now.

I'm rather tired today, it's been busy as.

ABOVE:  These two adore each other.  It's just so heartbreaking that they have to be apart right now.

I'm now going to try and relax for a little while before getting our dinner.

The day is done.  It's been a bit fraught really, so all going well, Ron and I will get a good sleep tonight.

FLIES

 This place has lots of insects and spiders!

Everywhere I look I see a spider, a fly, a skink or a bug.

ABOVE:  That is, according to Ron:  "Just a fly".

*** JUST A MONSTER FLY if ya ask me! ***

Luckily, this house has been bug sprayed, so it the come inside, they fairly quickly die.

Every day there's at least a dozen dead flies on the window sills.  Ikkk.

ABOVE: It's heating up.  And the damn fluid retention is REAL.

My lower legs, ankles and feet are hideous by the end of the day.

I try to put them up as often as possible... but clearly it's not enough.

ABOVE:  I'm so relieved I thought to bring over my personal fan!  I can take it with me anywhere.  I just plug it into my computer overnight to recharge it.

Today... well I have no idea what will happen.  It all depends on how Mum is.  If I get out for a walk or to the shops... time will tell.

ONWARD...

Well it was an unsettled night for Mum. So a quiet day here today while she sleeps it off. 

It's going to be another hot day by the look of it. 

Lunchtime here and I made us sandwiches with left over corned beef and salad.  And caramelised onion relish.  Soooo yum.

Mum didn't manage that so she got a little creamed rice pudding, which she loves.

I've been trying to keep my feet up a bit more today... ha ha ha!  Not too many moments when that happens sadly.

But, it is what it is... and we soldier on.

ABOVE:  Ron mows this lawn to within an inch of it's life!  I swear, it's smoother than a golf course.

Dinner tonight:  I made a Chicken/Bacon/Mushroom Cabonara.  It was damn lovely.  Even Mum has had a few mouthfuls.  She kept saying "Mmmmm, mmmmm" ... so I think she liked it. 😃😊😋

Wrapping the day up now, we are coming up to a busy time.

Changes, repositioning etc.

TORN

 I'm now in turmoil.

I'm here in Australia to be with and help care for my Mum.

Meanwhile back in New Zealand our son Steve is having another bad flare up of his Pancolitis... and I desperately want to be there too.

Bawled my eyes out last night, just so TORN... I want and need to be here... but I so badly want to be there for him too.

If things don't settle down for him, he MIGHT have to go into hospital and have his lower bowel removed.  

So, please if you pray... pray for him.

If you cross ya fingers and toes... do that too!

I'm crossing EVERYTHING for a good outcome... that he just needs his medications tweaked.

Not sure yet how Mum went overnight, I haven't ventured out of my bedroom yet.  When I went to bed she was a bit restless and needed a little more medication to help her settle.

So, we might end up with another sleepy day today?

Just another day where anything can happen.

ONWARD...

OMLord... it got HOT today!

So the start of the day was quite good.  We got Mum her breakfast, all clean and tidy for the day, then she had a morning nap.

While she was napping I took 'time out' and went to the Plaza to try and find some bed jackets for her.

BED JACKETS?  Ha ha ha!  None anywhere.  So I will go to 'town' in a couple of days and see if I can find anything there.

While I was out I did get her a couple of lightweight cotton cardigans to act as bed jackets in the meantime.

And I might have bought myself something too...

ABOVE:  It was (of course) a SALE... buy one, get the 2nd one half price.  I fell in love with the dress and really didn't think it would look good on me at all... but it does! And the top is just lovely too. 

Ahhh, retail therapy, there is nothing like it! 😊😏😄

Have I said how good THE OLD MOO  has been today?  When she had her awake moments (and they are just moments at this time), she has been really clear headed and responsive.  So neat to know she is aware of us and can have a little conversation.

Seems no one is killing her today at all!  😂😅😆

I had hoped to get to visit the sea today after being at the Plaza, BUT no.  I was running out of time.  So maybe tomorrow or the next day that will happen.

It's crazy, I sit here and look at it half the day, and I've not even set foot on the beach yet. 

We just had a lovely dinner of corned beef reheated with bacon and onion, mixed leaf salad and hot potato.

I'm going to call it a night here... and get me poor, swollen feet up.

HERE YA GO...

 I was sent lots of photos yesterday of family, so I 'saved' some for this morning.

As ya do.  lol

ABOVE: Bylee and a friend of hers from Cambridge.  All ready to go out to dinner.

ABOVE: Amanda and Lacy having fun in the backyard.  Lacy loves making fires... our little pyromaniac. 😝😜😏

ABOVE:  And here we have 5 Harvey blokes.  How did they all end up in very similar blue shirts I wonder?  

OH and Steve... you are looking rather BUSHY there mate!

So it's Saturday... and we have another beautiful day here.  I might sneak out again sometime today, there was this shop... that had some gorgeous looking clothes in it!  AND I fully intend getting to the beach, to SEE IT closer than from the house!

My time away from the house has to be very limited at the moment, because I don't want to leave Ron to cope on his own with Mum for too long.

It really is a full on, exhausting job... but we both need a little time out every other day at least.

I'm making sure we 'tag team' and don't burn out.

Oh and I just want to say this, photos of THE OLD MOO will only ever be published with her full and conscious permission.  That is not possible right now.  Hence her gorgeous face is missing from the blog for now.

ONWARD...

7.23 am:  been up since around 5 am.  We have a totally different OLD MOO today.  She's awake.  She's kinda lost her marbles ... but I am sure she will find them again!  Every day is SO different!

Today might be a 'humour' Mum day... and try not to take offense when we are accused of trying to kill her!  😂😅😍

It's going to be a hot day too... but right now, I'm in a jacket and socks!  Certainly still getting cool mornings.

ABOVE:  This is the beautiful view Mum has from her bed!  We can open the french doors to let in all the fresh air and sunshine.  It's so pretty.

Mum woke briefly just before and was just lovely.  Seems we are not gunna kill her off today after all.  😆😊

You just have to look for the positives all the time eh?  She's back snoozing now, so I get to pop on the computer for a minute and check out what's happening in the world.

Oh I forgot to tell you!  Stew sent me a photo of the interior of Spotlight, and the message read: "Got weekend withdrawal symptoms so just had to go!!!"

What a shit!  I asked him what he was doing there?  Curtain rod ends apparently.  *sigh*

SPOTLIGHT!!!   Oh how I miss thee.

Today has certainly picked up.  Mum is doing really well... Ron's Daughter Diane came up and did her finger nails after lunch.  We 3 girls had a good yak (well Mum mostly listened) and now Mum is sound asleep again.

The sun is shining, the wind is just a nice steady breeze and it's blissful.

I'm going to have a quiet time now, and then prepare dinner.

Tonight we are having hot corned beef, (it's in the crock pot as we speak); with mashed potatoes and hot peas; cauliflower and a cheese sauce.

8.45 pm: Dinner was lovely.  The evening has been 'mixed'.  Some good moments, some not so good.  Mum has taken a while to settle tonight, but hopefully she's now set for the night.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRYLEE!

 Today our 'bonus' daughter turns TWENTY!

OMG how the hell did that happen?

TWENTY years since we took on our first born grandchild.  TWENTY years watching you grow from a scrawny, teeny little scrap of a baby into the gorgeous girl you are today.

WE LOVE YOU BRY BRY, STICK-IT... face.  😂😆😏  

I hope you have a wonderful day with ya Dad, and family tonight.  

ABOVE:  I managed to nip out yesterday and get this cute top for you. The front has crystals on it.  Sorry it's not FIVE SECONDS OF SUMMER!

If I see one I will get it for you, promise.

ABOVE:  A very cute section of the garden... clearly Mum's handy work. 

ABOVE:  I don't know what these flowers are ... but they are popping up all over the place.  So pretty.

Hoping for a good day today... with a few less up's and down's.

ONWARD...

A rough night... but we are slowly coming right.

Lovely day here in Coffs Harbour... not too hot.

ABOVE: Stew took Brylee shopping for her birthday.  Three new tops... they are just lovely.

ABOVE: They went to lunch too.  Brylee cut off her Dad's head... but oh well.  She will improve eventually!  lol

11 am and we have finally got our morning 'jobs' done.  Mum and her bed is all fresh and dandy.... set for the day.

My back is managing.... at least for now!  Quite sore, but not all the time.

Soon it will be time to think about some lunch.  We are having a salad sandwich most days, or cheese and crackers with a bit of ham or mild salami.  Mum's not too fussed on the salami!

More for me and Ron 😊.

ABOVE:  Lacy went to Paeroa this morning to pick up Griffin so he can spend today with his Sister.  Awww how nice is that?

They are posing in front of the 'Famous' Lemon and Paeroa bottle.

It's  a drink peculiar to New Zealand, and Paeroa in particular.   It's a light coloured fizzy drink similar to Lemonade.

ABOVE:  Dante and Archer, all dressed up ready to go to Brylee's birthday dinner.  I wonder where they are going?

Oh and the other pic is of Archer and his favourite 'humans'... the dogs! 💜💚💙

Thank You Magpie.  It is indeed good news.  It means Stew can join me much easier, and see Mum.  It will be wonderful!

Well... I have dinner on. We are having chicken kebabs, onion rings and veges.  Should be nice.

Well... dinner was OK. Nothing as nice as what the family had tonight. The buggers went to Lone Star... and had the bloody cheek to send me photos of their meals.  The shits.

Mum has spent today sleeping, getting over a restless night.  Hopefully she will rally tomorrow and give us a hard time again.

SHOPPING?

 Well... The OLD MOO is certainly coming along well since last week's little dip!

Last night she was having a right bitch about not being able to go shopping.  In fact, she tried blaming Ron and me!

It was all our fault apparently.

So... I do wonder if she will try and get us to take her out today?

If we do, we will have to go to a mall and use a loaner wheelchair, to get her in and out of the shops.

I must admit I am dying to check out the shops.  I walked past quite a few in the mall a couple of days ago on my way to the supermarket.

There were some really LOVELY clothing shops... I was virtually drooling! 😂😉😊

I'm sure I've not mentioned this yet?  I LOST 5 kilos while in Quarantine!!!

5 KILOS.  Sure proves I was starved in there.  Even if I ate everything that came through that door, I would have still lost weight, I'm sure.

Probably the only positive thing about Quarantine was:  it kick started me into eating less.  And I've certainly carried that on since I arrived here at Mum and Ron's.

When I saw the Doctor the other day she said I was to stop my diabetes medication, as I was having too many lows.  Which meant I didn't need the medication while following a very low carb, no sugar diet.

I'm happy about that.

So anyway, back to today.  We MIGHT end up going shopping with Mum, if at all possible.  If not, I will take a couple of hours 'time out', and go on my own.  As long as Ron's OK with that.

ONWARD...

9.29 pm:  Well there's not been any talk to shopping so far today. Mum woke for her breakfast and is now napping again.

We had forecast rain, and it arrived!

ABOVE:  LOL, ya probably can't even tell it's raining by the photos, but it sure is!  Quite heavy too.  And it's gotten cold!  Brrrrr.  Got me jacket back on. 

ABOVE:  Saw it on Facebook, had to laugh.  Reminded me of the chicken and the road ... and we still don't know why it crossed the road!  😂😆😏

I got out to the mall after lunch.  I was only out for one hour exactly, so that I didn't leave Ron alone with Mum too long.

I managed to find something for Brylee's birthday tomorrow.  She will just have to wait for it to arrive in the post though.

ABOVE:  Ya know you're in another country when ya see this!  lol  We sure don't have Koala's in New Zealand.

After getting home from the shops.... it's been rough.

I don't even want to talk about how confronting it's been today. 😟😞😒

I just wanted to cry this afternoon.  And go home.

6.34 pm:  did some editing. Thanks *** CRANKY ***.

Ron cooked dinner tonight. We had roast chicken drumsticks, roast potatoes and veges.  So yummy.  I smeared Whitlocks Caramelised Onion on top of mine.  Evil shit that is!!!

I'm signing off early again... cos I'm just over today!