Age improving every day

Just a quick note to thank everyone who has called and visited Adrian while he is in hospital. He may be there sometime both healing and rehabilitating. While he is off the dreaded drips, he is still heavily medicated - which we have both agreed is not optimal - but necessary for recovery at the moment.

He enjoys the short visits - and his attention span is still only a few mins - the effort of talking really takes it out of him.

His physio is merciless - and we joke with him every day about all the training he is doing.  Adrian is bloody minded and if anyone is going to start running round the wards, it will be him. His presence and humour brightens the ward - even in his state.  I know the nurses will miss him when he (finally) gets discharged.

I'll post new info as it comes to hand - so if there isn't anything - there simply is no new news... as frustrating as that is...

Neither Age or I are under the impression that the next few months will be easy. Notwithstanding the emotional rollercoaster this episode has taken out on both of us, the ripples from Europe and decisions made there still need to be addressed. We are confident together we will be able to work it out and ask for support and understanding while we go through the processes necessary - for both of us.

Our wonderful home for the next month

I know I keep saying it.. But things really do happen for a reason. Though Gympie was not on our list of areas we wanted to check out on our search for somewhere to settle when we got back to Australia after our travels.... this house sitting job came up and it was hard to say no to the cutest cat around...


Mr Darcy is a ragdoll cat - who is obviously adored by his owner - and just as loved immediately by Morgan and Lilly.

The house sits on 20 acres of land - overlooking a creek and fields of pasture all round. ( they have cows and horses in there usually - but they are in different paddocks at the moment)

Its peaceful and very quiet - normally anyway. Though on the road to Tin Can Bay - there are only a few timber trucks which go through during the day and not much other traffic otherwise.

With a gorgeous wide verandah overlooking the gardens and lawns, we are looking forward to lazing our winter days away and soaking up the sun as it peeps out.

We do have our work cut out for us, with Mr Darcy, the cat to look after, a very energetic 10 month old puppy, Murphy - who is enjoying eating all the shoes and the couch out on the verandah, thee pens of chooks, a peahen, two peacocks and two parrots.... phew!! but its going to be great for the kids -who have emphatically said they want lots of pets... well... here goes - all at once.

Morgan has bonded immedialty with Murphy and is busy teaching him to fetch, sit and lay down.  Lilly just wants to spend all her time with the cat....oh no.. the chooks... no.. the parrots... darn it - everything!!

I love the enthusiasm they both have with the chooks and collecting eggs.  We had better start eating a bunch of them everyday is all I think!

Below is a picture of Peter, one of the owners before they left - showing the kids how to get the eggs and change the litter tray etc from the bantums chook tractor.

The kids have a bedroom each - such a luxury!! and I have a huge bed... all to myself.. not so great on long nights.

We will be homeschooling while we are here - and see how we go with the rest of travels around.

I've done up a schedule of things the kids need to do every day (5 days a week) and its up to them to ensure its done before 4 pm every day.  I have covered the main things - handwriting, English (stuff on grammar, word building, sentence structure etc) Science, Maths and reading. They have to reseach on the internet and blog about what they have learnt in many of the subjects and the science program I have even has little tests to complete..  I've looked into some web based maths and english stuff too.

On top of this - they have 30 mins of wii fit to do every day - and as much wii games as they want to afterwards... whats not to love about homeshooling?  They get to munch away on nuts and dried fruit as they go, stop for a wii game, pat the dog or brush the cat whenever they want.

I'm pretty confident that they won't be missing much from 'school'..

anyways - keep an eye out on their blogs... 

As for me... I'm just going to hang ten. breathe and get up every day. I don't think I have much else I can handle at the moment.

Update on Age.. Thursday

Not much to report over the last 24 hours- well a few bit...But to be fair he has improved every day. Its going to be a long road to recovery.. But if there is one person pig headed and stubborn enough to undertake it... Its Age.

He had a minor set back yesterday when all the intro lines were finally taken out. They had forgotten to give him his anti  seizure meds.. Id harassed them in ICU about it every time the alarm went off on his phone, and always been assured it was   taken care of.... An oversight in the wards, but caused Age to collapse and have a bit if a set back in recovery    .

He has had physio and speech therapy every day. He can now get up out if bed and walk the three steps to his chair and sit unaided.  

Tonight, he walked to the shower on his own ( about ten steps) all small victories

He tires very easily and any visitors or phone callers need to know he only has a ten min MAX ability to stay awAke and focus.

The kids and I drive down from Gympie today to see him. Nearly three hours there and three back ..  Kids got to tell him about the chooks and dog ..( more on our house sit place in another post)

I had a few mins alone with him, but he faded quickly.

We will go and see him again on Saturday  afternoon.. I'll leave any other updates till then, unless there are significant alterations

Thank you so much to all who have called left messages and visited. A huge shout out to mate Justyn who flew from Geelong today yo visit.  So grateful.

 

Age is overwhelmed with the support and love he is getting..  Thanks. Everyone.