People.

They are amazing, intimate, intricate beings.

When I started this blog, I felt very alone in the world. I thought of the blog as my online diary to get my thoughts out into the open, instead of keeping them tucked up inside.

I think I was about six months in when I discovered this blog, (which I still love) that had a ‘community’ and I wanted that, so I followed links to places I had never heard of and joined up.

Soon I met some Aussie bloggers and my circle started to widen.

Today I recieved a parcel… from my friend XBox. I can’t remember how I stumbled across his blog but it is one of my favourites and I have been reading for almost a year. Inside this parcel was a heartfelt card, so simple but so meaningful and it made me feel so wonderfully good to know that I had a friend.

There have been others too,

Kim sent me some beautiful ceramic pieces to make mobiles with the kids. I had a post ready to go up but the mobiles did not get done in the school holidays because Ivy was unwell.  They are gorgeous, handmade butterflies, hearts, doves and stars. Her note, and how she saw each piece representing one of my children was so touching and I cried when I received it because I felt as though I had someone walking along with me as I travelled.

We can’t forget my gorgeous Lou and the Tootsie Rolls. A day that will go down in history for our family and be remembered always.

Kate and Suze have offered to pimp my blog.

Veronica checks up on us to see how things are going, makes sure we are fairing ok and there are others too, some have been where I am, some just want to let me know they are with me in spirit, new friends and old… all of you.

Amazing.

 Ivy is so very unwell again. She has not recovered well from the last bout of sickness, both she and Noah now  have  croup and we think Thursday’s visit with the paed (yes, Jayne in his lunch hour) will bring with it a hospital admission. He thinks she will not be able to kick this infection without IV antibiotics. He said to pack a bag and we all know what that means.

The croup is just a little viral kick in the teeth, an upping of the evil Prednisone, when all we want to do is reduce it. Noah is certainly enjoying his superkid powers whilst on it.

And of course, we have blisters.

When I went to Uni to study Psychology,(fresh out of school) one of the first things I learnt about was tangentiality. Something I am very good at it seems…

Anyway, back to the point of my post.

Thank you.

Each and every one of you.

You help me through all the terrible days, you make me laugh and cry, you help me to feel human.

My community is not big but to me it means the world.

I can call you that, can’t I? After the outpouring of care and love that I have just had the honour to read, I think I can definitely call you all friend.

Firstly; Thank you.

After a few days cooped up in the hospital cage…er… I mean, room, I am a little rusty with my words but I can say thanks.

Secondly and obviously we are home.

Ivy actually had gate leave on Monday so I could take Imogen to the orthodontist and made it through the day without oxygen, so we have been discharged.

Her methaemoglobin levels are down to 6.3, which is fantastic news for the little girl.

Dapsone is the enemy and will never enter the house again. I officially hate Dapsone.

In fact, I think I always hated it.

The paed has been banned from saying anything that infers that side effects won’t happen, that they are rare.

He has definitely been banned from saying  ‘unbelievable’ and ‘one in a million’ when describing these rare side effects that seem to love my daughter.

In fact, all doctors are banned from telling me how they have never met anyone like Ivy in their careers and they are also banned from talking about journal articles and that she is an interesting case.

Ivy does rare, ok?

She just does.

And she is not a case.

She’s a little girl.

Anyway, we’re home.

Onwards and upwards, my friends, onwards and upwards.

Ivy finally stable and waiting admission to the ward.

It was so scary on Wednesday morning.

I couldn’t wake her up.

Two febrile convulsions and I knew she was really sick.

We had been chugging along at half health for a couple of weeks and then things went curly.

Bacteraemia. In old terms: blood sepsis.

She did not wake for 24 hours. Doctor’s came and poked her with needles and looked her over and she didn’t open her eyes. When they dripped her, she grizzled a bit but only while the canula was piercing the skin. After that, she was gone again.

She was so puffy, her skin tight with infection.

It was all so fast.

The doctors and nurses in the Emergency room were brilliant.

Efficient, kind and caring for my girl. Even the paed came to the ER, with his purple power shirt and matching power tie. Concerned, was he. Worried.

Is it wrong to love IV antibiotics?

Within 24 hours we saw a difference. Another 24 and she was sitting up.

Everyone was so lovely. The dream hospital admission. The nurses so, so wonderful.

Especially lovely was one nurse who caught me crying, questioning and double guessing my abilities. She soothed my frazzled, raw nerves with empathy and understanding.

Her name was Pippa.

Thank you Pippa, I won’t forget.

My Mum brought me food and shampoo and calmed the big kids after school. David’s Mum looked after the baby boy. He came home with five new songs.

I’ll have to ring her for the words, so I can sing them for him.

Three good friends - Mary, Tracey and Trish. Thank you. I wish I could bottle your love. I would make millions.

Thank you to everyone of you out there too, who sent their wishes. It meant the world.

She’s home and happy.

The honest truth is, I didn’t feel much.

Anger springs to mind.

Hurt, betrayal, yes but anger was definitely the predominant feeling for the day.

He treated me badly in life and in death, it is no different.

This could be the post where I tell you about my Evil Step Mother (ESM) and poo poo her name, the solicitors who represented her (for want of being sued myself) and my father for being such an idiot as to trust such a manipulative, greedy woman but it’s not going to be.

Instead this is a post of restored faith in humanity…

Some of you may have found Lou’s blog. If you haven’t go and look. He is well worth it.  This post is for him.

So, the tale of the Tootsie Rolls goes like this;

I was looking around Julie’s blog and I read that she was addicted to Tootsie Rolls. I asked her what a Tootsie Roll was and before I could close the comments window, a message flew into my mailbox.

It was from Lou.

You don’t know what a Tootsie roll is? Let me send you some and you will die and go to heaven. (Paraphrasing, ok?)

His only ask?

Photos of the kids enjoying their first ever Tootsie Roll.

They arrived yesterday.

Before I give you all a glimpse into our new heaven, I just want to say to Lou;

Thank You.

At a time when I was feeling very spare about the good of the human race, you have not only introduced and addicted my children (ok and David and I too) to the chocolatey goodness that is the TR but you brought, to me, a reminder that there are so many good people on this earth.

You sir, are one of them.

A simple gesture to some but for me, last week it meant so much.

On with the show…

We opened the parcel and this is what we saw.

Maddy waited patiently while everyone else finished dinner.  That first bite!

Heaven…

is a Tootsie Roll after a shower…

She has her mouth full and I can still see a wisp of a smile.

Even the boy agreed to have his photo taken, he was enjoying it that much.

The building pile. 

Ivy had to make good with gluten free dairy free chocolate. If you could call anything of that description chocolate. Anyway, she enjoyed the TR party,  just without the TR.

. 

Noah was  mortified when I packed them away! Thank you Lou!

My Parents in Law came up to visit yesterday and made me feel as though I was a partially competent parent.

My children were all ecstatic to be spending time with them.

We had a roast lamb ( with gluten free gravy).

Ivy had her first (almost) solid poo since…well, I don’t remember really… September 07, I think.

I had  a private party because the toddlers didn’t understand why I was dancing around the house and the big kids thought I was gross and David thought that I had finally lost the plot, when I described, in intimate detail, the consistency of said poo. Either that or he thought I had a very sad life, such was his facial expression! Ok, so maybe it was a little sad and maybe I just didn’t care what anyone else thought, I was par - tay - ing baby! It was just one semi - solid poo amongst the sludge but, hey, it’s a start, wouldn’t you say?

David said I could use some of the fortnight’s income to start stacking up on Winter clothes for the children. Oh I do love me some clothes shopping! Especially for the toddlers.

Two gorgeous friends made my day! (Trish, Mary, please stand up and take a bow).

The bad;

Noah was briefly possessed by my father and proceeded to rant, rave and bark orders towards anyone who cared to walk in his general direction. When he was reprimanded, I’m sure I could hear him mutter under his breath.

Sleep is for the weak and obviously I am not considered weak enough yet.

Four out of my five asthmatics have acute asthma. Crazy, crazy weather that we are having at the moment.

The ugly;

Anyone remember this? The round about way that we had to get an appointment with the derm clinic that turned out to be this Friday coming and not last Friday because the paed was ‘misled’ by the dermatologist.

 *SIGH*

I love living in the boonies. (Sarcasm becomes no one, Tiff).

The dermatology clinic called last night (in the witching hour, of course) to ask us if we had made an appointment at all because Ivy’s name was not on the list! I explained that, yes, we had an appointment, that we had made it two weeks ago!

They proceeded to tell me that because we had no appointment and the dermatologist insisted on seeing us we would just have to come at 8:30 and wait until they could ’slot’ us in!

Despite the fact that we. did. make. an.  appointment!!!!!!

I was told that we should expect a long wait.

With two toddlers.

R  I  G  H  T.

Obviously, this lowly resident did not have children, nor did he have the experience of twin two year old toddlers, who wait for nothing.

Not even a hoity - toity -  la -  dee -  da dermatologist.

The question now is, do we go?

Ivy really needs a review of her medications but waiting around, possibly all day to see this guy who may or may not do that seems… just… dumb.

What would you do?

Immy (singing): ” … Halfway up the stairs isn’t up and isn’t down. It isn’t in the nursery, it isn’t in the town …”

Noah (interjecting): “Is it in the driveway?”

then later…

Noah: “Up the roosters”!

Immy: “No, up the ballet, down the football”!

Noah: “No! I like the football, it’s up the driveway”!

At dinner time…

David attempts to feed Noah another mouthful of pasta…

Oh Playgroups mom! Oh XBox man!

I read your words whenever I can.

Oh Childlife and Oh the Joys!

I think I am your biggest fan.

Serve the Queens, Sarcastic Mom, Chicken & Cheese, Triplets plus 1!

I read you all with such delight, into the hours of the night.

Oh Pediascribe I love to read

and ER nursey and MamaLee

Group writing project with Jordan,

Mummy stories with Alex.com.

Scribbit with her great ideas, Slouching Mom’s laughter and tears.

 I love you all, know you’ll be terse but I have to add another verse!

Oh Fat Doctor and Dr Rob

Tiny Mantras and The Goon Squad!

Summer and Ordinary Mom

Your blogginess is just the bomb!

Wrapped Emotions and The Wink, Blog Antagonist - they make you think

Adventures in Juggling, another circus in the ring!

Oh McDowell triplets, Chaos of twins,

I can relate to all you write.

Sweet & Salty Kate, I found you late,

your word just helps my heart take flight.

Oh blogging friends I hope you know

Your musings keep me on the go!

My wish for you is that Christmas sees

you all with happy memories!