The Zantvoorts! 

Working Hoist - At Last!

I'm pleased to be able to report that the backdoor hoist is fully operational! Yes, we can now get the wheelchair out the back door. Christopher has trialed it and approves of the whole thing. The builder is currently tackling the toilet, so here's hoping we'll avoid any sticky situations.....

Both kids have been sick. Lots of fun! It's strange to see Garry dealing with vomit-soaked bed quilts and the like. Hopefully things will be back to normal with mediation coming up next week. Garry and I are back on the emotional rollercoaster leading up to next Wednesday. It will be good to get past that milestone.

Bizarre Wedding Photo

This is a genuine photo, taken at Brad and Linda's wedding. The kids were blowing bubbles, and as you can see, two bubbles happened to be exactly in front of Brad's eyes when the photo was taken!

Click on the photo to enlarge!

Christopher's Blog

I've added a link to Christopher's blog. It's all his own work, but linked to my account for now. That's why the profile is mine rather than his. He has plans for the blog, so keep checking it out!

Yes or No?

Here is a suggestion I read about for creating more "family fun". What do you think?

"unless it is absolutely impossible to do so, say yes. That may sound like a funny statement until you think it through. The average parental reaction is no. Regardless of the question kids ask, most parents think no more often than yes. So my wife and I developed a policy early on that we'd think yes ... and only when we found ourselves absolutely unable to say yes would we be forced to say no."

The writer goes on to give some examples: "Can we sleep outside tonight?", "Can we sleep in our clothes?" and "Can we have a party?" I have to admit my immediate reaction was to think no to each of those! What about you?

I can see that the kids might have more fun if parents were mostly saying yes to their requests! Interesting idea, anyway.

Date and Nut Bars

Something I Love...

Something I love...

Having the time to bake date and nut bars, including shelling the fresh pecan nuts!

Something I hate...

Cleaning up after cooking date and nut bars :(

Something I ate...

Guess!! :)

Cooking Lessons

The results of Catherine's first cooking lesson with Granny: a potato bake and a platter of butterfly cakes. The results were very much enjoyed by all!

One of the gift certificates Catherine got from Granny for her birthday last June.

Love, Hate, Something you Ate

Something I Love....

Curling up by the fire with a good book, glass of red wine, and a Lindt chocolate.

Something I Hate....

Diabetes.

Something I Ate....

Chinese style fried rice, as taught to us by John (our Chinese homestay student) - delicious!

Newspaper Article

A recent newspaper article.

A Few Photos

Here are a few recent photos!

Opa and Christopher dancing at the wedding

Christopher's Sushi Party

Joel enjoying himself at the wedding

Catherine and Emma all dressed up

Small Steps

I read somewhere that if you are passionate about something (anything), you should try to do one little thing each and every day towards that passion. Whatever it is, ask yourself:

1. What specific thing can I do today?
2. How does this contribute to my dream in the long term?
3. Why am I doing this? Is it for selfish or selfless reasons?
4. When will I do this? (Obviously it would be sometime today)
5. Where? Wherever you are!
6. Who will do this? If I don't do it, who will? (no-one).

So plan something in the morning, execute your plan that day, then assess the results that night.

For example, if I wanted to "be a better mother", it's a goal that's very difficult to define. But if I broke it down into "What can I do today to be a better mother?", then it's much easier to achieve. I might choose to read a book with the kids, or whatever. The same process applies to any goal - even world peace! So why not resurrect some dreams and give this a try with me....

Hills Family Motto

Our family motto should be "Nothing Is Ever Simple".

Everything we try to do is complicated by all sorts of factors. Take the backdoor project. It started about one year ago and has so far included the following:

• organising an occupational therapist visit to assess the back door and toilet for wheelchair accessibility;
• getting a builder in to do a quote;
• sending the OT report and quote to the funding agency;
• pestering the funding agency for 6 months;
• funding agency announces they can no longer provide funds for children under 18;
• making phone calls to see if anyone else can fund the project - which they can't;
• getting back to original funding agency to say we have no alternatives;
• funding finally approved and builder contacted;
• builder arranges to begin project - does one week's work;
• builder away;
• builder returns and cuts a hole in the lounge room wall;
• new glass door SHATTERS! Need to get replacement door and fit it before nightfall;
• hoist motor - which was working perfectly one year ago when the whole saga began - is no longer working;
• builder disappears with hoist and desperately tries to get someone to fix motor;

And that's where we are at today. At least we do have a door and landing, but I am wondering what can possibly go wrong when the builder begins to work on the toilet!!! Visions of broken pipes and sewerage are beginning to haunt me already.

University Woes

Time to complain about uni already. Three subjects: two nursing, one communications. To my surprise, the communications subject is my favourite! I do have good reason for this though. One of the nursing subjects involves complicated mathematical calculations, and requires 100% for a pass. Fair enough considering that a small error might cost someone their life!

The second nursing subject is certainly interesting, but has been badly presented (so far). No-one seems to know what is going on, including our tutor. Yesterday was especially difficult for me, as we watched a DVD about a traumatic birth. I was fairly anxious and vulnerable, but managed to get through it quite well, which is a relief.

The communications subject has been very well presented. Today our lecturer took us step-by-step through our first assignment, telling us exactly what we needed to do to get the marks. No wonder I'm feeling so positive about this subject!

So uni has been a mixed bag so far, but if I'm completely honest, I have to say I'm loving every minute of it!

Just for fun, here is a sample medication calculation for you to try out:
Jane is a 6 month old infant weighing 4.6kg. She is to be infused with Fungizone Intravenous (amphotericin B), which is supplied in vials containing 50mg. The manufacturer states that the paediatric dose of this medication is 0.5mg/kg and the infusion should proceed over a 60 minute period. Ward protocols indicate that 10mL of sterile water is to be added to each vial and the reconstituted fungicide is then to be further diluted with 490mL 5% dextrose. A 60 drops per mL IV set will be used. What drip rate is appropriate?

Bits'n'Pieces

Garry and Tamara at the Wedding.

I haven't posted for some time, but that means life has been busy rather than boring. What's been happening? Well, in July we hosted a student from China; Garry took over as fulltime carer/househusband; Tamara began Uni; Brad and Linda got married; Leisa and Joel briefly visited Australia; and work began on the backdoor project. Oh yes, I also celebrated another birthday.


A group photo at the Wedding.

By the way, Pepper Three has joined the family. She escaped within two hours of her arrival, but her close shave with Hermione's claws has made her more cautious. Hopefully she will last a little longer than Peppers One and Two!