Stop your whining

I've turned into one of those people. Recently, I've been complaining - a lot. It's annoying to me and those around me. I say "Not now, I'm tired." and "Maybe later, when my head hurts less." Or the one I think I should use more frequently "After I have a nap." Whine, whine, whine.

If we have learnt anything over the last 19 months it is that my head hurts less when I get enough sleep and when I take my migraine med. We also know that stress and lack of sleep can make me a banshee difficult to live with. Thankfully apart from the Easter Weekend I have been feeling quite a bit better than last year.

Dr Jesse was away recently so I saw another doctor at the same practice. He is also good looking but more in a baby faced way. For anonymity we shall refer to him as Dr Chase. Check out the representation below:

Image from: http://www.fox.com/_photos/shows/house/extras/season_7/

Yes, he does look like Dr Jesse. There may be a bit of a family resemblance there. Dr Chase is nice but he delivered some unwelcome news. The migraine med which I have used since mid last year is less available than it has been. Apparently it is highly addictive and the government doesn't want it to be so easy to get anymore. So, despite the Neurologist saying I have to take it and my preventative every day until I have had no pain for 4 to 5 weeks, I have gone from having enough for one a day to only having 8 tablets over 8 weeks.

Because of this, Dr Chase started me on another preventative medication to add to the one I've been on since mid last year. It can take up to 6 weeks to work and I get to take it morning and night. I've also seen Dr Jesse on the meantime and my other preventer medication dose was put up as well.

My night time meds last week (plus some pain relief)

Some days I feel like I rattle. I take 4 tablets to 'prevent' my headache (or in reality just make it less annoying). On good days, the pain is only mild so I only take them and maybe a couple of paracetamol. On other days, if a drink or a shower is too hot or cold then the pain escalates and doesn't subside for long time. I guess that's why I have 4 different pain relievers.

But hey, I'm grateful that there is nothing really wrong with me. I read blogs where other people (or their family and friends) are facing or have faced life threatening illnesses and really, I have nothing to complain about.

I read about Megan (who got sick from the meds helping her fight leukemia and ended up with a liver transplant due to liver failure), Ashlea and her family (her dad donated a kidney to her and ended up in ICU) and Nicola (who is 4 and in pain from cancer). These blogs are mostly happy and upbeat.

I need to take a leaf from their books and stop my whining.

Edited to add:

Nicola got her angel wings on Saturday 27 October 2012. My thoughts go out to her family, friends and everyone touched by her life. R.I.P. Nicola.

 

Thankful Thursday: Friends!

In 2009, when we were looking at high schools for Boy Child, there were a few we considered including the local one where probably 75 per cent of his peer group would end up at. But the school that we felt met his academic needs was one out of our local area. He was very angry with us for not letting him attend the local high school where all his 'friends' were going.

Now, given he was rarely invited anywhere and only really talked about doing things with 4 kids (he has read this post and said he had lots of friends) I was a little curious about who these friends actually were. It turned out that by 'friends' he meant kids who knew him. So not really friends in the sense that I would use the term but probably quite normal use for an Aspie.

He got over his anger about being sent to an out of area high school and we are now nearing the end of the second year there. Academically, he is flourishing. While he often talks about his friends but we haven't met many of them. I had wondered if perhaps his friends were of a similar nature to his friends in primary school.

It turns out they aren't! The day school holidays started a few kids got together straight after school and went for pizza. Over the holidays he has had a few things on as well. He has been to a sleep over at one house, been to someone else's birthday and went to the movies with a couple of girls as well.

I am very thankful that he has friends, real friends who want to spent time with him. I'm linking up with Kate for Thankful Thursday. Why not drop by and join in?

What are you thankful for this week?

Reinventing myself

As part of my Cert IV in Education Support, I have to do 60 hours of practical work experience in a school. Which is fine except that the school where i will be doing my work experience has a no denim rule.  Oh, and shirts have to be slogan free and meet the Sun Protection Policy.  The Policy recommendeds Loose fitting, closely woven cotton fabrics and shirts with a collar and longer sleeves and longer skirts and shorts.

I have been working from home from most of the last 8 years.  My standard mode of dress is jeans with T-shirts (mostly with IT company logos or slogans on them) and runners. There are people I have known for years who have never seen me in anything other than jeans. I’ve been in a bit of a panic so I have been shopping (something that I really don’t enjoy) on quite a few occasions.

This is what I have some up with:

   

3 pairs of 3/4 cuffed pants

An ocean coloured top with gathers on the neck and a cream collared shirt with roll up sleeves

I bought the black shoes. The denim ballet flats I’ve had for a few years but not often worn. 

What do you think?  I have also bought a pair of full length black boot leg pants so I think pants wise I am covered.  In fact, the grey and olive look so similar I was thinking about returning a pair.  I do have some more shirts but I need to have enough decent clothes to wear 2 days a week without looking like I’m wearing the same thing every week. I’m even considering wearing makeup to hopefully make a good impression.

I had thought that I will probably revert back to my normal standard of dress for the 3 days I’m at Tafe but maybe not.  I would actually like to have some decent stylish clothes so I don’t have to panic when I’ve got a work meeting. 

I’ve put on about 5 kilos in the last year so it’s highly probably that some of my shirts don’t fit anymore, plus my previous new clothes are basically T-shirts with long sleeves, so not that great for the warmer weather.  Unfortunately, most of the tops / shirts available in the shops at the moment don’t meet the Sun Protection guidelines.  I’m not too worried about not having a collar but the sheer, lacy and singlet styles are definitely out.

It would be really good if I could get hold of some more tops and even better if I could upgrade from very casual to smart casual at least.  Will two pairs of shoes be enough? Has anyone got any ideas to help expand my wardrobe?  I’m really only looking at pants and tops because I figure I may need to get down on the play a lot and skirts and dresses aren’t really my style suitable. 

I think the just starting the course was a huge step in the reinvention of me.  This next step could just be seen window dressing.  That can be pretty important, too.

A mini break

I may have mentioned that in the space of 33 days during August and September we celebrate all our birthdays and a wedding anniversary. This year things were a bit more exciting as we had a mini break to the Gold Coast in the middle. This was partly because we haven't had a family holiday this year and the dates tied in with a conference Mr E. was attending which started on me turning a  significant age.

After last year when I didn't get cake until a few days after my birthday, this year we had a plan. My sister lives near the Gold Coast and she discovered a place that made a gluten free brownie cake so ordered one for us. With that  important thing sorted, we then had to decide what else to do.

While we were in New Zealand last year Girl, Boy and I went Zorbing. Given rolling down a hill in an inflatable ball was much less scary than I had thought, what adventure could we dream up to celebrate a milestone birthday?

Hot air ballooning seemed like a good thing to do. Unfortunately, at almost $300 per person and a 5 am start, it was just going to be Mr E and I. Mr E organised the balloon ride and more importantly my sister to have our kids overnight. That is how Mr E. and I managed have our first night alone in 6 years.

 

Mr E's photo of the balloon while it was inflating.

The balloon ride was nice, although every time the gas burners were turned on I jumped out of my skin. But when we were just floating along it was very peaceful. The scenery was lovely, too.

Mr E., me and 19 other people floating over the Gold Coast

 

After the balloon ride, Mr E and I had a champagne breakfast before we met up with the family at Movieworld.  That's where we spent the day. I started the day with the Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster and that did it for me. I was suitably nauseated for the next few hours. Mr E spent lots of time getting photos while my nieces, our kids and my sister and her husband  went on ride after ride. Just before Movieworld closed, I summoned up the courage to go on the Looney Tunes roller coaster (yes, the kiddie coaster) with Girl Child. Go, me!

Photographic Proof - (we are in the 3rd car) and I didn't throw up!

When we celebrated my birthday the following evening having dinner with my sister and nieces while my poor brother in law had to work. Wethen had brownie cake with vanilla gelato. We sent some cake and gelato home so my Brother in Law wouldn't miss out.  It was delicious! 

 

 

So that was our mini break. We celebrated with Family, food and fun.  Yummy cake, too.