Well, first things first and I apologise for posting a year-on update rather than about Paul’s health – so here goes…..The operation took place last Tuesday (Halloween) and I don’t think I can remember seeing Paul that nervous! He was really worried about it. We all went to the hospital with him (and made him more stressed than he was about the op! At least the kid’s behaviour took his mind off the worry and he was just glad to see the back of us, I think! Although I don’t know why he was getting upset at Adam trying to strangle the anaesthetist with a stethoscope (only joking! – I’d already nobbled him with a ‘drugged’ jelly baby!). We left the hospital about 8am and Paul was due down to surgery at 9 – he was the first on the list. I took the kids to Hungry Jacks for brekkie and said they could have the day off school as long as they were quiet whilst I looked after the phones and tried not to ruin us (business-wise) whilst Paul was incapacitated. They spent the day lounging around, winding each other up and colouring things in for Halloween. They were pretty good on the whole! I promised them pizza for dinner, so we whizzed to Dominos and then waited for the trick or treaters…..
Good grief! It certainly wasn’t like WGC. The kids came in bright sunlight and were dressed in the strangest of costumes – mostly nothing to do with witches, devils or suchlike. My personal favourite was two girls wearing hula skirts and bikini tops??? No – I’ve no idea either! The kids were happy though and dished out the lollies before admitting defeat at 7.30. They’d been awake since 5.15am, so they did well.
Scary, aren't they?
Isn't it sad that we can only afford one sandal between the three of them!
Anyhow – back to Paul…… Can’t stay on topic, can I? I phoned the hospital at 12 noon and he was back on the ward. Drowsy, but OK. Then the man himself phoned me at 4pm and sounded like he was speaking to me from the inside of a wheelie bin. His oxygen levels kept dropping, so he had to spend the night in an oxygen mask, hence sounding like he was speaking to me through a bucket. We spoke again in the evening and he sounded OK. Then on Wednesday morning, he phoned to say they were releasing him at 9.30am! I dropped the kids off at school and whizzed up the freeway, only to have him phone me to say they’d delayed it to 12.30 – oh, what a shame – I’ll have to go shopping!
He did the ‘man’ thing – telling everyone who would listen that he was fine and OK to go home; ‘no, the pain’s fine!’ – and then was in agony for the next 24 hours! I picked up his prescription the following day and even the pharmacist warned me that they were ‘very strong’ pain killers. Well, that was it; he was comatose for the next day and a half. I don’t think it was a bad thing though and it made his rest and sleep to repair the damage. He’s got a check up with the Consultant tomorrow, so we’ll find out them what exactly he extracted from Paul’s nose. The amazing thing is, there has been absolutely NO bruising whatsoever. I’d braced myself for the worst – too much reality TV where they have nose jobs and look as though they’ve been punched in the face by Mike Tyson! The Consultant did do a ward round after his op, but of course, Paul was in no state to question him over how the procedure went, so it will be interesting to hear tomorrow what he did and what was achieved! He’s been in quite a lot of pain, but can actually breathe out of his left nostril now whereas he couldn’t get any air through the left one at all before. I shall update you when I hear the news…. (unless of course I forget, but have something more important like a new pair of shoes I bought (o: )
Apart from that stress, the kids are now practising their Christmas songs etc for the end of term. I had to let you have the words for Sam’s song; it’s so sweet!
Christmas where the gum trees grow.
Chorus
Christmas where the gum trees grow
There is no frost and there is no snow
Christmas in Australia’s hot
Cold and frosty’s what it’s not
When the bloom of the Jacaranda tree is here
Christmas time is near
Verse 1
From England came our Christmas fare
They even said what Santa should wear
But here down under for summer’s cool
Santa should dip in a swimming pool
Verse 2
Santa rides in a sleigh on snow
But down here where the gum trees grow
Santa should wear some water skis
And glide around Australia with ease
Verse 3
To ride around the bush where it’s dry
To cart all the presents piled so high
A red nosed reindeer would never do –
Santa should jump on a kangaroo!
Next week they start school swimming. I think they are more excited about the thought of going on the coach there and back – rush to sit on the back seat….! They’ll be even more grouchy and knackered than usual – oh, can’t wait for that one! We’ve also got the Red Bull Air Race coming up soon the weekend after next. I think it’s the last race in the series and best of all….. it’s free! None of this going into a draw for tickets and then having to pay a fortune to park, we can just turn up with a picnic, sit on the banks of the Swan River and watch the excitement! Paul says he’s got me a job as a co-pilot with the German pilot. I said as long as I get an ‘appearance fee/vomit fee’ and it goes towards our turn over, I’d give it a go!
Three weeks tomorrow and Mum’s due to take to the air. It’s all very exciting and I’ve still managed to keep it a surprise from the kids! Don’t know quite how I’ve managed – we’ve had a few hiccups, but I don’t think they suspect. The kid’s then break up for Christmas on 7th December and we’ve got a few things organised for the hols.
Mum – by the way, I’ve booked the Kylie tickets, so either you’re on babysitting duty for Mr Cheese, or you can keep your earplugs from the plane and come with us!
I’ll post an update on the house. They haven’t done a great deal more. The T bars have held them up unfortunately! We now have bricks over the balcony and the alf(resco), so it’s starting to look quite, well, housey! It’s looking quite large now and our neighbours are commenting even more on our fantastic views and how they’re going to lose theirs – ;o)
The crane placing our balcony girder in position
Bob does some welding on site - shame Dad couldn't have inspected his work!
Will try and add a quick update on Paul’s hooter when I can. Oh and you will be disgusted to know that we had to bring the air conditioning units out of retirement today. How can you go from being freezing one month, to sweating your bits off the next? Amazing! Hope you all enjoyed the fireworks and if anyone went to Burnham Green – bah humbug, I’m not jealous!
View from the front door - the pillar will hold the balcony up. That's the golf course to the front.
Coming together, isn't it?
