Hi girls.

Today, FIL had an appointment with the Opthalmologist for his 2nd catarract operation next week. While we were getting him in the car (that took from 2pm to 3.10pm by the way) he mentioned that perhaps he should stay next door for a while.

Next door being the Private Hospital.

I said "not a bad idea really .. bit of a tune up before the operation .. not a silly idea"

Like I've been telling him for 2.5 weeks AT LEAST he needs to be in there ... but anyway ............... (insert brick wall here).....................

so a few words later to the right people, and within 45 minutes, I had a private room for him. Darn I'm good .. LOL LOL LOL

So we came home to pack his bag and get his supplies, and told MIL that the doctor recommended FIL stay's in hospital. Her only word was "oh".

I think she's glad to see the back of him really .... LOL ..he's so demanding and so pushy and everything she tries to do is greeted with a correction or loud words ...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~

She's SO QUIET at the moment .... she's so HAPPY .. she's having naps during the day, she giggles, she's HAPPY .... it's SUCH A CHANGE!! The rage has disappeared (yeah .. for now .. I'm still wary) Is it the pills? Is it the disease? WHO CARES????????? She's happy for the moment. . . and that was BEFORE FIL went into hospital !!! lol

So with FIL in hospital, although our days will be a little busier, our NIGHTS will be relaxing. tonight we ate dinner, washed up and went upstairs. Except for one or two little checks .. that's it .. no running up and downstairs until 11pm for him ......

R & R ? Yesssssssss ............ I've even suggested we might go CAMPING this weekend while we can !!!!!!!!!! Friday afternoon/night, all day Saturday, come home Sunday afternoon .. a nice couple of days away ...... I'll see if I can swing it.

We also dropped into the Club tonight for a few drinks (naughty people .. whilst the cat's away the mice do play) .. and BIL turned up too. I mentioned to him that NOW is the perfect time to approach father. NOW is the time to get the assessment done .. HE'S STUCK in one room ... he can't back out ... it's TIME to happen ........ he's ringing ACAT tomorrow and try and get them to get a wiggle on.

I also told him I want to go away in June for a few weeks. (Being the first anniversary of my Dad's death, my 44th Birthday, and the first anniversary of a very good friends death) .... I don't want phone calls, I don't want reminiscing .. I just want to get away. BIL is talking about putting BOTH parents in respite .. to let them get a 'taste' of how bad it WON'T be ... so I've given him my dates ..... we'll see if he does something concrete ...

And no, I'm not holding my breath .. LOL

Well ....... that's the latest on this front .........

Hugs

Sally

Good for you Sally, keep on remnding them of the dates. Now not 'potential dates' but the dates you WILL be away. Ask, what have you made out for the days I am away? Not, can I go? That's the only way with people who prefer dealing with things "later on, soon ..."

Go camping! Let us know what exotic animals you saw! In Miami we saw a lot of iguanas at the Botanical Garden .. in colors so bright you would think they were painted plastic!! We also saw a red striped snake, called a yellow rat snake altough red. We did all the outdoor things in late afternoon, and in spite of that I did get some sunburn, being overly sensitive and as white as the proverbial bedsheet after a long winter. Have fun! we all need a break!

Love,

Martha

Yes, a break is definately required .. that's for sure.

Exotic animals .. hmmm ....

My Canadian friend bought herself a frilled neck lizard .. she paid HUNDREDS for it LOL ... it has it's own aquarium, get's lots of yeast infections, and she's spend HUNDREDS of hours at the vet .. looking after this precious mini dinosaur .........

we shoo the blessed things off the road here .. hahahahahahahahaha ... damn nuisance they can be!!

Goanna's are our usual local attraction. They are lizards that can grow up to and over 8 feet long .. they climb a BIG tree in seconds .. and can bite .. and take off digits without thinking ...... they are big, they are definately ugly, but you can't help but stand still and stare.

Of course, if they're onto a charge ...... they WILL and DO climb up and over you. They're claws are 6" long ... and yes, you know they've been around.

Last year, we went camping at Easter and did an Easter Egg hunt. My son woke up in the morning, and all his chocolate eggs had been eaten .. with big claw marks ALL around his tent ...........

Goanna's like chocolate, and can peel off the foil .. LOL

Foil comes out in droppings ...... LOL

Kookaburra's gang up and hijack your BBQ .. if they want a sausage GIVE IT TO THEM, they WILL AND CAN take it out of your mouths .. LOL

You want wildlife stories .. I gotta million ........... ok .. maybe only a thousand ......

LOL

I'm in a good mood .............. I wonder why?

Hugs
Sally

Oh .. latest 'why we shouldn't go camping this weekend"

Is because it's cold.

Tonight ... it's going to hit 14 Celcius.

Big sooks ............

We camped last year (not the easter one, a few months later, June .. our mid winter) and we hit -3 celcius ..

Yes ..that was cold.

hahaha .. just had to add that

Hugs
Sally

Hi Sally!

YAhoooo!! Respite is welcome in whatever form it takes! So FIL is in hospital and MIL is strangely happy. Maybe things are about to really change? We've thought that before, but there's hope! What did China BIL write??

Methinks you're more than welcome to keep your critters there. Chocolate-loving creatures with 6" claws and chunky birds that take food from your mouth???? Shades of Alfred Hitchcock!!

By the way....BIL is thinking of respite care sampling for FIL and MIL in JUNE?????????????? Nay, this will not do. It is time now. Sample the respite care now and the permanent move-in date will be May 1st!! Does BIL have his head in the sand like those ostriches we see in cartoons?? Give me a break - no, give Sally a break!! Smack BIL upside the head for me please. He can set timetables if he lives in the house with the elders and not until then. Alan and Sally call the shots!

Gotta run to meet an new friend, an Aussie expat from somewhere an hour north of Sydney, for lunch. How about that? Wish you could join us!!

Sending hugs - Barbara :)

An hour north of sydney? That would be the Central Coast area .. that's where my Mum lives !!!! That's where my oldest friends Mum lives .....

Say G'day! (although I've probably missed the opportunity with the time difference).

BIL is ringing ACAT today. I will push from this end for a 2 week respite AFTER FIL's operation .. that'll give us a month (he will be in hospital for 2 weeks at least this time), if we get 2 weeks respite after that ... that will be the end of April ... that gives everybody 4 weeks to impress upon him how much easier it is on EVERYBODY including HIM that he has his 24/7

Well, theory #1784379834 anyway .. lol

Hugs
Sally

Hey MISSY! Stick to your guns. Plan that holiday in June and don't take no for an answer. That's an order your mum would agree with. :)

I'm still waiting to hear from the social worker and I'm starting to get a bit aggitated. They've only seen the patient Barb. I'm about ready to open a can of whoop a$$ on 'em! Maybe I'll bottle the stench coming from dad's bedroom and present it to the doctor. Do ya think they'll get it then? :D

Glad to hear your FIL came around and you're getting at least some relax time.

Love, Barb

Hi Sally -

I did have a lovely time with Robbie - lunch, a quilt shop (we're quilters and fabriholics), and plant nursery, and lots of talk.

Hope everyone's social workers, ACAT teams, and such get a move on so all patients can get helpful treatment (wish there WAS a really helpful tx.), and caregivers can have breathing time and space.

Hugs to all - Barbara :)