Posted by clikchic on Jan 16, 2010 in
Family Scraps,
Uncategorised It has been a while since I have done an update so I thought it was time to post a blog post on how things are going with us. So much has changed since last time I wrote.
We are nicely settled into our new home. That is we are moved in and comfortable! I still have lots of boxes in the garage that need unpacking that I will do as time permits. Our old house sold fairly quickly after our third contract on it! It sold quick but the first two contracts fell through, but we were third time lucky. Unfortunately the bank wanted more of our equity than we expected so we don't have as much left over as we were hoping.
We were planning on using some of it to buy a new car, since our old one has died.. the engine is kaput and it is still sitting in the back yard. We need to get it to the wreckers but we haven't got to that yet. We got lucky because my brother bought a new one, and didn't need his old one any more and it wasn't worth selling so he let us have it. It will do just fine for the time being especially since….I am no longer working outside the home!!
That's right, if you haven't already heard, I am no longer working as an Admin Manager. After 3yrs in an accounting firm as the admin manager where I did payroll, in house accounts amongst other things, it was time for me to start putting my health first. My health was making it very difficult for me to maintain my work standards and I was finding it harder and harder to manage working full time with set hours.
So what now?? Well since I already have the best job in the world designing for DSP, which I was already doing on the side, I am now doing it full time, well full time with the added benefit of working when I am well and taking it easy when I am not. My hours are as flexible as they can get, I can work at 2am in my jammies, or 9.30am when the kids are at school or 8pm when the kids are in bed, or pretty much any time I feel like it. I love designing and am so lucky to be able to do it as a job now even tho I am unwell. I couldn't have a more suitable job for my illness which at this stage still looks to be Mixed Connective Tissue disease according to my Rheumatologist.
I have symptoms of several Auto-Immune diseases which may later develop into a specific one or may remain overlapping. Auto-immune diseases are notoriously difficult to diagnose even when the symptoms are clear but in the meantime at least I am being treated and now that I am no longer working outside the home, I can put my health first instead of my job but still earn money while doing so! YEAH!
The kids are doing great. Jasmine is about to turn 8 and is such a lovely young lady! She just got her ear's pierced today as an early birthday present. She is starting year 3 this year… boy it goes fast!! Kyan (my baby!!!) is starting prep this year! It will be good to have them in the one place instead of one at school and one at daycare. Although for the first time they have both been enjoying the entire Christmas break at home, and getting to know the kids in our new neighbourhood. I love that I can work even while they are home from school! Although maybe not as efficiently!!!
I think that is pretty much all of it. We had a lovely Christmas and new year and the kids are looking forward to going to school. I am loving spending more time designing although I think it will be easier when the kids are at school! I get so many interruptions at the moment while they are home, which is fine of course, I am enjoying spending so much time with them at the moment.
Oh nearly forgot! Dean has moved the workshop to home now and is now working at home which works well because if he wants to work extra hours, he can do so without feeling like he can't see the kids while he is gone. And now we don't have to waste rent on a shed and can put that money towards our house instead! We still in the process of organising curtains. We have some roman blinds on layby for the family room and have ordered some fabric for the kids rooms and will have them made very soon. Ours will be next after those I think. Yes, we just have sheets on the windows at the moment! It will take time to get it all done but it will happen bit by bit.
We need to get a ride on mower too because we don't have a mower and our block is an acre, so it is a bit expensive to have someone else mow each time! So that is on the priority list as well at the moment.
Anyway, so lots of changes for us, but hopefully all for the better! I think life will be a lot less stressful and much simpler now, and hopefully Dean won't have to work too many extra hours!! How else will he fit all that triathlon training in???
Tags: mctd, new house, Update
Posted by clikchic on Oct 11, 2009 in
Family Scraps The old house went on the market this week. Signed the papers with the agent on Monday. They took some awesome photos.
The kitchen was great, compact but plenty of bench space and storage.
The wonder of wide angle lenses! The bathroom is so not that big!
The backyard was that big, was great for the kids.. mind you our new one is 4 times the size!
Anyway, the email newsletter ad and internet ad went online Friday night, newspaper ad went in Saturday morning and there was an open house Saturday morning. We had two offers one of which was 10k under the asking price and wouldn’t budge, then we got another which we were happy with so it is SOLD!!!
WAHOO! Basically sold in one day from when it was advertised, how cool is that?? Such a relief, paying two mortgages not fun!
Posted by clikchic on Oct 1, 2009 in
Family Scraps It is our 15th wedding anniversary today!! How cool is that!
My hubby is my rock, my best friend and takes such great care of me and the kids when I am not feeling well. What would I do without him???
Love you honey!
Tags: 15th Wedding Anniversary, Anniversary
Posted by clikchic on Sep 26, 2009 in
Family Scraps The dust storms in Australia have apparently made world news and I managed to take some very orange looking photos a few days ago…
Yup, this is the sun...not the moon.
Just when we thought it was over, we started having what looked like overcast weather, but was actually dust. Today it started getting worse again and we are now in the midst of another dust storm. Not the pretty orange colour this time, but still rather nasty looking!!
Eerie huh!
I ended up with a bit of asthma at the end of the day from the last one, hopefully I don’t get the same again today. We have that awful dusty smell inside again.. so annoying!!! Oh and that box, I have no idea where it came from.. it blew there with all the wind we have been having! It can stay there till the dust storm is over.
Posted by clikchic on Aug 20, 2009 in
Auto Immune,
Family Scraps I stumbled across The Spoon Theory and it is such a wonderful way to explain dealing with my Auto-Immune issues. I don’t think mine are QUITE as severe as hers, but fairly close.
So many people don’t get that I am sick because apart from looking pale at times, I don’t really look sick, and it is really hard to explain. I have on countless occasions knocked back a social event because I just wasn’t feeling up to it. I feel at my worst in the mornings after I get up and in the evenings after work and while somewhat better during the day, if I overdo things I pay for it later.
Now most of the time, if I start to feel it I just stop as I know it will only get worse later if I push through it. Sometimes (like at work) I have to do it anyway because it has to get done and I do pay for it later.
Anyway, enough rambling, I thought this was a great way to explain things. Have a read…
The Spoon Theory by by Christine Miserandino www.butyoudontlooksick.com
Tags: Auto Immune, lupus, Spoon Theory
Posted by clikchic on Jul 27, 2009 in
Family Scraps
Here it is, our new home finished at last. Ok, I admit I cheated a little and photoshopped the grass as it is brown not green, but it will be green eventually! He he Especially if Dean retains his enthusiasm for watering it. He went over at 5am this morning to water it.
We will also need to do some seeding because we only got turf for the area immediately around the house. There is no way we could possibly turf an acre block unfortunately. I dread to think how much that will cost!
There are LOTS of weeds in the rest of the block so we will need to do something about that as well. I think we should hire someone to seed and spray as we have no idea what we are doing.
Oh and we need to buy a ride on mower. Better sell our old house quick so we can actually afford one. Oh wait that means we have to actually get it ready to go on the market! We have decided to just sell it as is. We don’t have the time, inclination or money to do the finishing touches. It really only needs some paint and touch up work and a new laundry tub. It will sell quick regardless because it fits into the first home owners market which is in high demand at the moment here.
The cleaners are over there at the moment cleaning away ready for the handover tomorrow. Wonder if they will pick up all the crap the workmen have left outside. Old drink bottles and cigarette buts all over the yard. I suspect they will only do the windows outside. Oooh which reminds me, must organise bins from the council!!!
Tags: new house
Posted by clikchic on Jul 24, 2009 in
Family Scraps YAY! Finally it is close to the time we have been waiting for. Our house is being finished today and will be cleaned on Monday and Tuesday we get to move in! WAHOO!
Jasmine is so excited and couldn’t wait to tell her friends. Kyan is mostly concerned about whether we would still be able to find Sizzlers and his ‘Preschool’. He is having a little trouble getting his head around the whole concept and thinks we are moving to Brisbane. ROFL He KNOWS where the house is, and apparently it is in Brisbane. Anything that is more than 2 mins out of town is apparently Brisbane. LOL
Our turf is a little sad looking at the moment but hopefully will pick up once we get a chance to water it some more. Fingers crossed it doesn’t die on us!
So this weekend is going to be rather busy packing etc. The gas bottle doesn’t get installed till Wednesday so the first night we will be without hot water and gas for cooktop but we still have a gas bottle on our BBQ so will be able to cook dinner on that the first night.. or maybe even go to Sizzlers just to reassure Kyan! LOL
It is SO exciting after all this time to finally have a new house with space.
I will go out and take photos on the weekend. The driveway looks fabulous with the stencilling, it really finishes the place off. I may have to photoshop the rather brown looking turf tho! LOL
Tags: moving, new house
Posted by clikchic on Jun 29, 2009 in
Family Scraps We were hoping to be in the house by now but there are a few things that need finishing off still and then we have to wait for the certificate of occupancy before we are allowed to move in. We do however have some more photos. We had another inspection last week and I took some photos while I was there.
Front of the House
Front - We have a driveway - still to be stenciled
We have a Mailbox! No number yet tho...
We are really happy with the front door, the concrete in the entry is to be stenciled as well.
Family Room - Aircon is in and lights.
Family Room from Dining Area side.
Kitchen is Finished! I LOVE our kitchen!
Gas Hot Plates and hot water controller
All appliances are stainless steel, pity our fridge is white!
Hallway, they put in the wrong lights, and the door handles have since been put in throughout the house.
Jasmines Room - note the pretty pink light, Kyan's was meant to be a soccer ball light but they put in the wrong one, hopefully they will fix it soon.
Kids bathroom.. you can see the missing tiles above the bath. They must have run out or something...
Shower in the kids bathroom. I love these tiles, they look great!
Our bedroom, the carpet colour isn't right on the photo, it is more of a mocha brown.
Our WIR..it's soo huge! We don't have near enough clothes to fill it!
The spa now has it's glass.. so hanging to try out the spa!
Our very own toilet.. no more kids walking in on us.. yeah right!
Main Toilet, they put in the wrong darn light again! Was meant to be an Oyster light.
Great afternoon light in the laundry, and we now have a new washing machine for it, because our old one kicked the bucket.
Bad Photo of the Lounge room - there are bifold doors
Nearly forgot, LOVE the outdoor lights on the garage...
And on our patio.. the concrete will be stamped here too.
Got in trouble for not including an inside photo of the entry, so here it is.
Tags: new house
Posted by clikchic on Jun 24, 2009 in
Family Scraps Well I got the results for my MRI yesterday when I saw my rheumatologist. All was clear apart from a disc protrusion which I already suspected I had. So that is good. I didn’t think it would show anything but it was good to have just to be sure.
The plaquenil doesn’t seem to be working however he still wants me to stay on it, perhaps it might start working in time. I have my doubts tho! He said I definitely have an autoimmune & inflammatory condition but at this stage he just can’t put a label on it yet. He said in time as it progresses he will probably be able to.
I still have my money on lupus as that seems to be what I have the most symptoms of. It seems to fit the most, but it isn’t showing the positive ANA in my blood work yet, but for now still no firm label.
He wants me to try an immune suppressant, which I am quite happy to do, anything that might help I am willing to try just to improve quality of life. Unfortunately he said it probably won’t help the exhaustion and sore & weak muscles I get from minor amounts of exertion. I asked him about exercise as I want to ty and lose some weight and he said I will have to take it very easy and gently, but it is a good idea to do. I mentioned that I hoped loosing weight would help improve my symptoms, but he said it would have no bearing on this disease, it makes no difference whether I am overweight 6okgs or a child. But of course it is still a good idea to try and loose weight to help my heart and joints.
I asked him to go off the cortisone and now he wants me to stay on it!! DARNIT!!! He did let me decrease my dosage to 5mg tho so hopefully that will be better. At least I am not gaining weight like I was before and hopefully at 5mg that will have even less of an effect. I had forgotten my afternoon dosage yesterday so may as well make that change from yesterday! LOL
I start my new medication today.. I have to wait for the Chemist to order it in as they didn’t have any yesterday. I just have to take one tablet a week and Folic Acid on the other days. Fingers crossed there aren’t too many side effects and it makes me feel like a new woman…. one can only hope!
Posted by clikchic on Jun 19, 2009 in
Family Scraps We have no idea how this possum got in a very small section of our roof. Our only guess is that it was still young when it first got in there because it is way too big to fit into the tiny access hole that it had. But then how on earth did it survive in there for so long? It must be 12mths ago that we had the possums removed from our roof.
Anyway, here is the little culprit.. or rather not so little!
Dean trying to get a look at it and what it is up to.
We thought at first it had moved into the main section of the roof, but I heard it the smaller section earlier so it might just have moved up further in the small section. We are hoping it will leave once it gets dark. Fingers crossed, Dean is going to have another look tonight and close it up if we think it is gone.
Tags: Possum
Posted by clikchic on Jun 19, 2009 in
Family Scraps I have been nagging dh for ages, to put a trap in the ceiling because we thought we had a rat up there, it was in a small section where the roof and ceiling are both attached to the beams, so he says he can’t get in there to put a trap in there.. so has been putting it off.
Anyway, it was making lots of noise so I went over to the spot with the broom to bang on the ceiling to try and make it go away. And I look at the ceiling and there is a huge 3x1cm (about 1.1x0.3”) hole in it, with what looked like grey fur! I thought no, couldn’t be fur, must be just some discoloured insulation. I poked at it gently and it didn’t move.
So I ring Dean to tell him he needs to do something ASAP because there is now a hole in the ceiling. He comes home and pokes it harder and it moves! It can’t be a rat because the fur is way to fluffy for that. It seems we have our possum problem back. How on earth a possum could get in the teeny hole it got into I have no idea, it must be a really young one or something. So we have to do something NOW before the darn thing falls straight through the ceiling and onto our kitchen bench! Who knows how thin that dry wall is!
So Dean has gone back to work to pick up some tools to lift the tin on the roof to try and get the darn thing out of it, and then fix up the hole in the facing where it must be getting in.
We have had possums in the ceiling before and I ended up calling a possum catcher to get rid of them, and he sealed up the roof for us so no more possums could get in, looks like this little one found a small gap it could still fit into. ARRRGGHHH!!! Well I am not forking out the cash again for something Dean can just as easily handle. No possum trap is going to fit into that teeny tiny space.
So now that is another thing that needs repairing before we sell the house…darnit!!!
Tags: Possum
Posted by clikchic on May 27, 2009 in
Family Scraps We are just waiting on our RACQ inspection at the moment, but hopefully by next week this will be Dean’s new work van.
It is in great condition considering it’s age, low km’s and a reasonable price so fingers crossed all goes well. It will be a load of our minds that is for sure.
Two fabulous things… it has aircon and…… it is NOT army green and full of rust. He he
Posted by clikchic on May 17, 2009 in
Family Scraps I haven’t updated on my health for a while so I thought I would post another update.
Going to the Gold Coast crop weekend before last, took a lot out of me as it was pretty full on and it has really worn me out this past week! I had a wonderful time however so it was totally worth it! I took a sick day on Friday and took it pretty easy the entire weekend and I am still exhausted.
What I wouldn’t give to work from home right now, to be able to work when I am well and rest when I am not, would be wonderful, as I am really struggling with having to go to work every day right now. As awful for my health as the cortisone is, it is days like I have been having this past week that make me wish I was back on the higher dosage.
I have started having new symptoms the last few weeks. I am currently on 7.5mg of cortisone which I was to have down to zero by the time I saw my rheumatologist next month. However with some new symptoms appearing he wants me to stay on the current dosage till I see him.
I have started having occasional hand tremors which last for an hour or so before going away. And the past couple of weeks I have also started having numbness, pain and tingling in my right leg. I have also been having lower back pain which is different than usual so it is most likely sciatica, however my rheumatologist wants to be thorough and wants me to have an MRI to confirm the diagnosis and also to rule out MS which is also an autoimmune disorder. They are scanning two regions (brain and spine) which means it will cost over $500 out of pocket! I really don’t understand why they won’t cover MRI’s with medicare. You would think it was a pretty important medical proceedure a lot of the time. Oh well.. at this point I don’t care how much it costs, I just want answers.
My bet is that I have sciatica, since I have had lower back problems for years (just never involving nerves) and that the hand tremours are just related to my autoimmune issues. Wish me luck for the MRI Monday week, I want to have the all clear on MS. I don’t really want to have that one!!! I have always wanted an MRI on my lower back, so it will be good to know exactly what is going on there, since I have always had issues with it.
Posted by clikchic on Apr 15, 2009 in
Family Scraps I haven’t posted anything on my health for a while so I thought I would post an update on how things are going with my health.
I am still in the process of reducing my prednisone dosage which is knocking me around a fair bit. Every time I reduce my dosage even by as little as 1mg, I get lots of facial and neck swelling which restricts my breathing a little and makes me snore! I have never snored in my life unless I have had a cold. I think Dean secretly enjoys that I am snoring for once because it is normally me who is waking him up and telling him to roll over because he is snoring and keeping me awake.
One of the first time I reduced my dosage the swelling around my neck was that bad that I woke up gasping for breath. Off to my gp I went and she ordered a scan of my thyroid which came up clear. It turns out the swelling happens every time I reduce my dosage but it seems to be less and less severe as my dosage decreases.
Each time I reduce my dose I also experience a flare up of symptoms. If it coincides with a change in weather it seems to be twice as bad. The last flare was over the Easter break. Easter Saturday I had three naps in one day and was STILL tired! Dean said you could see in my face how tired I was. I still needed a nap again on Sunday and thankfully Monday I got through the whole day without one. Wahoo! I guess I should be thankful it happened during my days off work so I didn’t need to use up more of my nearly non existant sick days!
I have been working through lunch breaks at work so that I have a bit of extra time up my sleeve for such occasions as I am constantly running out of sick days.
I was hoping to get two kits done over the Easter break but because I was so crook ( joint pain was really bad too) I only manged to do one on Monday when I was feeling a fair bit better. When I am having a flare I have trouble concentrating and focusing on anything so that is not great for the designing mojo!
I am down to 10mg/day of the prednisone now as of today, so am expecting another flare by the weekend. I am trying to get off the prednisone as soon as I can because I think I have gained about 10kg’s now on it which is scaring me silly. I so do not need any more extra weight! I am running out of clothes that fit and do not want to buy any bigger sizes! I hope I will be able to loose it all ok once I am off the prednisone. Fingers crossed that once I am off it I do not revert back to my previous symptoms making it impossible to do any excercise. Fingers crossed that by the time I am off the prednisone the plaquenil will start to kick in and I will start getting better again!
I hope that the prednisone weight is not too hard to loose once I am off it. Wish me luck, I think I will need it!
Tags: Autoimmune, Cortisone, Joint pain, Prednisone
Posted by clikchic on Apr 10, 2009 in
Family Scraps,
new house It is just getting more and more exciting and I can’t believe how quick it is going. One of my work mates had just finished telling me yesterday that the brick work is often one of the last things done because brickies are so hard to come by and we go and see the house today and they have started! She was saying that one of our other work mates had the kitchen in and everything before they even started the bricks! Well not so in our case!
We have half a wall of bricks and we are both really happy with how it looks, so that is good! We are loving the colour choices so far and glad we spent the teeny bit extra to get the teeny bit nicer version of the bricks we chose. These ones have slightly flattened edges on them, the cheaper ones didn’t. But over the cost of the house it didn’t make a huge amount of difference so we went with the nicer dearer ones.
Anyway, some more pics for you…
The insulation has been installed in all the walls, & Jaz with her Barbie car.
The cornices have been delivered also, you can sdee them on the floor there.
Front of house, gyprock delivered in garage and brickwork on side.
The start of the brickwork, a whole half a wall... almost
More photos of bricks..
First wall taken from rear of house
Tags: new house
Posted by clikchic on Apr 7, 2009 in
Family Scraps I was running late for work this morning, got the kids in the car and hopped in the drivers seat. I looked up at the rear vision mirror and it was GONE!!! Yes GONE!
WHAT THE! The first thing that crossed my mind is that someone was playing a prank, then thought, maybe it has fallen off and started looking around the car, on the floor etc.
Finally when I start to get cranky Kyan pipes up, have a look in there Mummy (pointing at the glove box). I open the glove box and lo and behold there is the rear vision mirror!
WHAT THE!!!
Then I remember seeing Kyan walking inside with Dean’s car keys. Dean had let him take the keys out to the car so he could get something out of it… and the penny drops.
Kyan LOVES playing in the car and pretending to drive it.. no more letting him get things out of the car on his own, that is for sure!!!
Anyway, so I ask Kyan ‘How do you know it was in there?’. He looks at me and says with perfect innocence, ‘I don’t Know?’.
So I ask him, ‘Did you put it in there?’. With equal perfect innocence he says…’No’.
I tell him I think he did put it in there and he looks at me dumbfounded as if he can’t work out how I could possibly figure it out that he put it in there…at that point I just had to get going so put it back on and I left it at that, explaining to him the importance of the rear vision mirror as we drove on….
Ugh..4 year old boys!!!!
Tags: Cheeky
Posted by clikchic on Apr 5, 2009 in
Family Scraps,
new house So Exciting! I can’t wait to see what the house will look like with the bricks laid. Wonder how long it will take for them to be laid?
We went to have a look at the house again yesterday, so have some more photos!
Front Wide Shot
Left view of front with BRICKS out front!!!
Front Close Up - See the Door is in!
Entry - Loving the wide entry hall!
Kitchen and entry to left and family room - through wall to formal lounge
Kitchen to left, & family room (dining in foreground)
Kitchen taken from family room, dining on left
Kitchen
Kitchen with Dean and Jaz modelling
Pantry with Dean modelling
Jaz dancing in family room
Kyan dancing in family room
Main bathroom
Office/Spare Room - entry to right through wall, garage to left through wall.
Main Bedroom
Main bedroom, ensuite to right
Spa in ensuite - there was a mouse in it! EEEWWWW
Formal Lounge/Theatre Room/Play Room - will be play room to start with
Stitched two photos of the rear of the house in photoshop to make a semi panorama of the rear
Tags: new house
Posted by clikchic on Mar 19, 2009 in
Family Scraps,
new house We had another look at the house yesterday and a large portion of the roof trusses were up. (no idea how to spell that by the way!)
I wanted to go back again today but we just get home so late after work & then going to the block so I might leave it till the weekend to take some more photos.
Anyway, so I thought I would share some more photos..
Front of the house
Lounge on left and entry
Entry, leading into family room
Kitchen from dining area, facing entry
Family room from Kitchen/dining area
Hall from main bedroom, facing front of house
Patio from rear with screen doors to main bedroom on left, and family room on right.
Kids having showers in the ensuite spa!
Tags: new house
Posted by clikchic on Mar 18, 2009 in
Family Scraps,
new house Oh it is so very exciting watching the house progress. I have been hanging for the frame to go up to get a better feel for where everything was going to be and as crazy as it sounds, now that the frame is up it is already starting to feel like home!
We went and had a look yesterday and I took some photos. Apparently the roof trusses are going up today so we will go and have another look this afternoon.
Anyway, here are the pics! 
(clicking on them shows the full size version)
The frames are up!
You can kind of see the hall leading from the garage to the bedrooms in this pic.
This is the lounge room, with the entry to the right.
Jasmine at her bedroom window, apparently she has always wanted a window JUST like this!
Jasmine, apparently 'sitting on the toilet'.
Kyan in his bedroom cupboard.
Kyan looking out his bedroom window.
Our bedroom window - sliding door to left, ensuite & WIR to right
View from screen doors in family room.
Tags: new house
Posted by clikchic on Mar 13, 2009 in
Family Scraps It is not as if we didn’t already know it, but yes our daughter is a major drama queen!
We have this head lice prevention spray as both our kids got a bout of head lice recently thanks to some of Jasmine’s classmates. We got rid of them thankfully and have been using a head lice prevention spray on their hair in the hopes of preventing them from getting another bout of it from other kids at school.
Anyway, it has tea tree oil in it and really gets up your nose when you spray it and so she always carries on a bit when it happens as do I a little as it gets up my nose too.
Anyway, today I sprayed her hair with detangle spray as her hair was wet and tangled and she started carrying on the way she does when I use the head lice spray! Huffing and puffing and screwing up her nose and carrying on.. until I pointed out that it was detangle spray and NOT head lice spray.
So I made some fun of her being a drama queen and she then hammed it up even more. Carrying on and pretending to be offended that I called her a Drama Queen!
I just HAD to take note of this because I so need to do a layout and didn’t want to forget!
Tags: Drama Queen, Jaz
