Happenings

I have been working in different units the past two weeks. Last week it was the Short Stay Unit and then Plastic surgery slash Trauma slash Maxillo Facial Units...this week it was Cardio Thoracics Unit. I have to say that Plastics/Trauma and Cardio Thoracics are by far the busiest places to work..besides emergency itself. You get the full range of patients on these floors. Every single day I get to learn new things. It is great.
The kids have bee having a great time at school. It is wind down time with end of year activities..and yes, lots of money being thrown in all directions for different outings... Tomas' year level had a fundraiser "spider" drink day ..moneys from that go towards a restaurant outing for the graduating grade sixes. At $2.50 a spider, I might start selling them too!
Driving home from work tonight I spied a few places already done up with the Christmas lights. Unreal! Leave it until December guys. I haven't even finished my shopping for it yet. And..and, my birthday comes first, haha.
Anyway, I hope all is well with everyone. I have the weekend off and tomorrow there is a party for Sarah to go to... fun fun fun.

Sunday..a day off..and a fun on at that.

I took the kids to Science works and we arrived there at about Midday. Et our packed lunches and off we went to have a play. There was a great exhibit about water..water molecules and some nifty experiments played out in front of us with some cute volunteers up front.

It rained fair bit and it was welcome..a nice relief from the hot weather we have had. Some toddlers were spotted jumping in puddles and one bent down repeatedly to try and sip some of the water from the puddle he was standing in. It was funny to see the horrified face of his posh-ish Mum..haha. Thing is, these kids have not seen a good rain, or maybe not even seen a shower in their life time!

I had to explain to my Mia how rain is formed..I know I have done so before, but it is always good to re iterate things.

We drove for a while after Science works. We went down Williamstown Rd, there was a massive flooded area and we had fun making a shower over our vehicle going through that.."Do that again mum!"

I took a picture of Cherry Lake in Altona..that was flooded out to the car park..more showers f water from puddles over the car :)

It was a nice day and I don't want it to be Monday tomorrow :(

I spied some great old buildings on the way home, ones that have a bit of history not just in the sense they are old buildings, but that I used to go to them as a kid with my grandparents... the light was dimming so I will return to take pics and blog about them this week :)

Lots to say... un like me!

Well, we have been very busy this past month. Working and keeping up with the children's social activities, as well as our own. The hot weather has been un believable, and the kids have taken ages to settle into it I think. It was hot and humid and stormy yesterday.
It was parents night at the High School Wednesday night, and Tomas came along with me. Back up to the night before, Tomas had his right big toe nail wedge resected. He has had an in grown toe nail since the age of 3. I have managed it, but it got out of control. It does not help his shoe size has gone from an 8 men's to that of an 11 men's now! The toe nail was always going to have to be resected. So he had a day off of school. That did not make him happy. He loves school, and he missed his girlfriend...oops, girl that is a friend.. (right!).
So, forward to the parents night. I had not imagined it would cost so much for a child to begin High School. Sure the uniform and bag and excursion fees..but not the books! Boy, I am glad I am working a bit more now. But that was to allow us to get in front and save money to go on trips with our four wheel drive. So much for Public Education presumably being low cost.
I am going to go to the second hand book store for a look.. I believe they will have the texts Tom needs. He said "No way Mum" at first..and then I explained to him that it would be like going to the library.. even, recycling. He agrees. Thank the gummy Mary!
Yesterday I worked in an acute setting within the hospital. I was flat out working. I enjoyed it but the heat has been knocking me about a bit too so I was tired when I got home. Today I worked on the Trauma/ Plastics Unit. Another wonderful team of colleagues to work with. I enjoyed that too. Tomorrow is a day off for me. I am so pleased about that :)
I am trying to catch up on every one's blogs, but it is slow-go. Ahhh, I am so pleased we have some relief from the hot weather right now.

The Great Ocean Road

We went on a day trip along the Great Ocean Road..which is so gorgeous and we are so lucky to have it in our bckyard here in Victoria. Pictured are the four kids playing at Cumberland River. Mia caught a fih with her bare hands just sconds after I took this image.

This is the image I took of us descending from the mountains just above a lovely cove alon the great ocean road. We were four wheel driving in a national park and I could not help but take an image of what we could see... and I wish I could bring you the sounds of the birds around us as well as the smell of the lovely trees and flowers..mixed with the ocean.

The kids are still tired, as are us parents, from our trip along some notorious beaches. Anglesea, Torquay, Lorne and Cumberland... breath taking anda must see if you are comin to Victoria.

Tomorrow is set to be 36 degrees celcius, I dare say it will be warmer than that by mid afternoon.

Days off..

Today is the first of five days off for hubby and I. Well, if you can count today as a day off. Hubby got home from work at about 3am today..and so has had to sleep half of it. So I got up, got the kids off to school and went for bike ride before the Sun got too hot. Actually, I also took our lovely Au Pair to the train station so she could go to one of our most favourite places, The Grampians. She is so lucky, she will stay there for her 5 days off. I cannot wait to see the pictures she takes.
Tonight, when it cooled down, hubby and I did some back yard tidying up. The rose bushes were out of control and the grass beside the fence was too. That is because we put our washing rinse water onto the lawn and it is growing madly out there. Better to have grass than have dirt and the dirt comes in on my white tiles in the laundry..ick! Bain of my existence.
Things are going along so fast. every time I write the date on top of my hand over sheet at work I say "Wow, closer to December every day!" I am usually ready for the event that shall not be named..ahh, I will name it..Christmas....but I am not ready at all. I have not bought more than 5 things so far for the kids. Some books and some clothes that is it. They do not get much, but what we get them comes with alot of love.
The trampoline mat is needing replacement, that or a larger trampoline is in store. It is now 5 years old and is the most favourite of all their equipment so far. I also wanted to get a Volleyball set for the whole family, We can take it on picnics with the family and all join in on it. We already have a totum tennis set.
Then there are school fees and books and uniforms to think about for next year. Next week we have a meeting for tom;s High School to speak about fees and book lists, I am bracing myself for that. Anyway.. it is all exciting that Tom starts High School. He is just so big now and so gorgeous :)
I cut Sarah, Mia and Nick's hair tonight, it was getting on my got a bit. They sat on the trampoline out in the cool air one by one and let me fuss over them, Mia went crook at me when I stopped, she wanted me to fuss some more, so I did..but I did not chop at her hair like she did not so long ago..haha.
Enough said for now..nigh night :)

Flat out like a lizzard drinkin' in the Sun!

Few and far between are my posts here..but never the less... my days are jam packed with things that have kept me busy. I have worked... a few mornings, I am too tired to count them right now.
I worked on the Open Heart Surgery Ward a few times (Cardiothoracics)..... on the Renal Ward (Renal Transplants and Dialysis), Diabetic Foot Unit and Endocrinology Units...and also on the Colorectal/Hepatobiliary Units. The people I have worked with have been exceptional team players. This earlier-than-usual heatwave Melbourne has been experiencing has not been missed by us in the hospital. Visitors bring in the heat, it radiates from their bodies. Today I was ferrying water to visitors for fears they would otherwise collapse. When I got home from work I had a bit of a headache, I was drinking water..maybe not enough?

Tomorrow is my last morning, and then I will have 5 days off. I cannot wait. I get to spend time with my hubby and kids. Yippee!!!

I have added in some pictures from a party I took the girls to ths Saturday gone. It was an awesome old style party. In a hall, with fairy lights, music and good old fashioned dancing. We all had such a great time too!

Mia at the school fete last Friday.

A Great Read...

I have read a fabulous book about a surgeon who is Sydney based..Dr Charlie Teo. I am a bit tired from working three am shifts in a row. Two on cardiothoracics (Open heart sugery) and one on Renal (Kidney's).
Dr Charles Teo also has a great website..it is very informative.