Blood Tests all clear......

Today was my third day off work due to tiredness and not feeling well at all.  As I mentioned on Tuesday I had blood and urine tests to ensure that nothing awful was going on in this body of mine. 

 

 

So off to the Doctor's I went......  The results had returned today and although I was sitting there feeling sorry for myself out of tiredness and stress the results were actually quite good.  Thyroid all good, no signs of any infections, cholesteral perfect, yes perfect, my blood sugars are way too high. 

 

Needless to say that it was quite a relief hearing that I wasn't facing anything life threatening except for a DIET to help lower my blood sugars without changing my current Diabetes medication. 

 

Some things in life need to change a little for this member of the House of Murray.

Sick is not a choice I normally make....

Months and months of long hours and burning the candle at both ends has finally taken it's toll I fear....... I have found myself feeling tired every morning when I get out of bed and of late have had a general feeling of being unwell.

I deided to bite the bullet and go see the doctor to explain how I felt in hope there would be an explanation allowing me to get some "you-bute" medication that would be a wonder cure.

Instead I was told a full blood test would be in order........ bloody fantastic!!  I hate blood tests.  It's not the fear of the needle as needles do not bother me at all. Believe it or not it is actually the few days waiting for the results. 

The waiting makes my mind wander, imagine, and presume that all the tests will come back showing some horrendous disease...... yes I am my own worse enemy!!

So the wait begins...........

It's beginning to feel a bit like Christmas....

Not too many days left now before the jolly fat man in the red suit comes to visit all the good little girls and boys..... and boy are my two kids getting excited.

Mam arrived safely on Friday afternoon and as usual it's great to see her! The kids came to the bus stop to pick her up and I love seeing her face when she gets of the bus and looks at the children, assessing how both of them have grown and changed since last time.

Saturday Mam came to work with me, yes she arrived just in time for my work breakup and as in Harkaway tradition we had a spit roast and some salads on site. Not an overly exciting breakup but hey, that's what was organised, it was free so no complaining should be done!

Jamie brought the boys over for dinner on Saturday night and for Grandma's all important catch up with the boys.... she was really pleased to see them. Although, in true kid fashion, they played together most of the night and didn't really bother with any of the adults, I am sure she had fun and was grateful to see them considering what has happened this year.

Yesterday, we went shopping and I can proudly say we are almost done with the Christmas shopping. Most presents are wrapped also which is a fantastic thing with only a few more that we brought on Sunday to go. So I have gone from being VERY disorganised to almost on top of it!! Woohoo!! We also went out for dinner to Quality Wok, in Frankston, Mam's treat - so once again no complaints!!

Noel took Mam to the doctors today as she needed to get a Victorian referal to MIA (Melbourne Imaging Association) as she needs to have an ultrasound on her liver. I am quite concerned with this and I am praying that it's nothing serious........ she is having the ultrasound in the morning and should be able to access the results on Thursday.

I am off to Weight Watchers tonight so it should be interesting what the recent food fest I attended shows up on the scales!!! Oh well it is the silly season..... lol!!!

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Frankston.....

As you know the other day Alex and I spent the day at the Frankston Foreshore after her doctor's appointment. It was great to walk along the pier, along the beach and even paddle our feet in the water.

It was a beautiful day, both getting a slight redness from not wearing any sunscreen but it was enjoyable and relaxing.....

Alex holding jelly fish not the dangerous sort - sausage looking sort!!

Looking up the beach towards Seaford.

I really like this picture... of course underneath the pier.

This is looking towards Oliver's Hill and Mount Eliza.

The 2 Murray girls are good....

Thankfully today's visits to the doctors had a positive outcome!!
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Alex went back to the hospital today for the 3rd x-ray on her arm and another visit to the bone specialist. Today, we were told that the bone hadn't moved and that there was no need for further surgery!! This means that she will now stay in plaster for another 4 weeks, have the plaster removed, another visit to the bone specialist and she should be deemed as good as normal. I cannot tell you how happy I was!!
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So, the two Murray girls headed off and had a girly lunch together at Sophia's in Frankston. We just shared a plate of calamari, salad and chips. We followed lunch with a walk along the pier and a paddle in the water (which I might just add was bloody freezing!!)



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Then it was my turn to go to the doctors - I was only getting my blood pressure checked! I wasn't sure what my BP reading was going to be considering everything that has gone on in the last month but it's something that I have to religiously do, so today was the day. Sitting there, nervous and worried as usual, I was completely surprise when the reading was 121/76!! Bloody hell - that's the best it has been for almost 40 weeks!!
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Definately celebrations in the house tonight.....

A successful trip to the doctors.....

Yesterday both Alex and I had to go to the doctors.

Hooray for the second appointment in a row I was deemed "NORMAL" - correction my BP was.
Yesterday's reading was 130/80 so both the doctor and I were very happy. I don't have another appointment now until the 23rd December!! Frankly that should be interesting because by then I am sure that my BP will be sky high stressing over Christmas lunch (at our house) two days later!! hehehehe Still on the same tablets so I guess I will just have to remain calm and relaxed... HA as if?!?!?!


Alex was having some day surgery - having a wart removed from the back of her neck! She was so nervous that she was giggling and that in itself was very funny. All was good until she had the needed for the local! She screamed and screamed and burst into tears. Once I had her calm and she had no feeling in her neck the rest of the "operation" went really well. Today she is sporting 3 stitches, a large dressing and a huge smile as today she has "show and tell"!!

Tonight is the school concert, so I will be rushing home from work, picking up the kids from school, buying them McDonalds for dinner (yes I promised) and then getting back down the school for around 6.30pm. Noel's working overtime so he will come straight from work. Should be a really interesting night - I know that I am looking forward to it.

December is becoming a blur.....

December is becoming a blur… no faster am I doing things, getting organised and prepared than they are getting done or happening and then that’s them over, mostly with no evidence of the effort put into them.

Plus on the down side I am still quite consumed with my sister and our issues, she hasn’t made contact with me and to be totally honest I actually expect that she won’t. As I said the other day I just need to move on, accept was has happened and don’t hold my breath of a miracle happening in the near future!

However, I finally got time to sit down and send a quick email to Nea, in New Zealand. She probably thinks that I had disappeared into a crack somewhere but as I did try to explain to her it’s just that at the moment we have been so, so busy. I felt so bad for not writing to her sooner! Sorry, Nea!!

Speaking of time (or lack of) I have been that overwhelmed that I haven’t even written my Christmas Cards – in fact I haven’t even thought of doing them. Might have to send out “Happy New Year” cards – lol!! So sorry to any of you out there reading this…..

This week sees me back at the doctor’s tomorrow night for my fortnightly BP check-up! Alexandria also has an appointment for a little bit of day surgery (having a wart removed from the back of her neck – it’s in her hair line and bothers her quite a lot). Cross fingers that she won’t scream the doctor’s surgery down like she did when we got her cast removed from her leg!

Thursday night is the school’s Christmas Concert at 7pm. Should be an interesting evening, it normally is. The school go to quite some effort. This year, if the weather remains nice, the concert will take place in the Sherlock Courtyard and not in the stuffy hall! Each class sings 2 – 3 songs, there are raffles for Christmas Hampers and of course, Santa comes and brings all the kids a bag of lollies and an icypole. Nana and Grandad attend every year also, which makes the kids feel so special and of course, excited.

Saturday is our special day. The 13th of December is the day our family always puts up the Christmas tree … signalling the 12 days of Christmas. (We take it down on the 6th January – another 12 days). Just the mere thought of putting up the Christmas Tree makes me feel that Christmas is officially on its way.

To be honest I don’t really get that excited about Christmas when the decorations first appear in the shops as all the special holidays (Christmas and Easter especially) are becoming too commercialised not to mention too early but when Noel puts all the lights up outside, we start baking and menu planning Christmas lunch, organising special presents, etc - it all just seems to bring that inner feeling of excitement – you know that feeling you get when you are a kid and something exciting is about to happen?

Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights so far we have not a thing firmly planned except of course for the usual grocery shopping and at some stage I must pull my finger out and get some Christmas Present shopping done. Thankfully the majority of it is already on layby but then there are quite of few of the “little” things still to organise. (At the moment it just all seems never ending).

There are Christmas Carols up at Casey Fields on Saturday night, which I wouldn’t mind attending (they even have fireworks) but would much prefer to go to a Carols in Frankston but I haven’t seen any advertised – must keep looking. Will have to check with Alison if she knows of any happening locally.

Mind you saying that we have nothing planned doesn’t mean that they are our final plans for the weekend (everyone who knows us is witness to our “spur of the moment” planning hehehe) - there are so many people we need/want to catch up with before the whirlwind of Christmas consumes us completely, and I am trying to plan it so we do catch up with them even if it’s only for a quick drink.

Better go as I said, lots to do…..

Tuesday is nearly over....

What a long day it has been - the kids and I left the house at 7am this morning only to return at 6.45pm. My poor little cherubs yawned all through dinner and it didn't take long for them to go to sleep once in bed.

Alex attending swimming today with her class - she loves to be in the water (both she and Oliver do). She only has a few more sessions left this term.

I went to head office today in Doncaster to attend the EBA (Enterprise Bargaining Agreement) meeting as I am the EBA rep for Harkaway Site. Not a job I put my hand up for but one that I am enjoying as time has gone on. The EBA meeting dragged on as usual and I left Doncaster at 5pm only to get stuck in traffic big time!!

Noel went for the ultrasound on his liver this morning and should get the results on Friday. He has an appointment booked with the doctors at 4pm. He said that there was nothing wrong tonight but he was quiet and a little snappy. Thankfully he is in bed now also.

Speaking of bed - I must head that way myself. I have a really busy week ahead at work and I am so tired already.

~*JO*~

I'm back!!

Hi World!!

Wow cannot believe that it has been 4 months since I last posted. Unfortunately it has been a case of "I'll do it after", "I'll have more time tommorrow" etc etc. But as we all know - tommorrow never comes and now it is nearly the end of May!

I don't know where to begin - so much has happened since January.

Alex has settled into preps really well. She has a love of school that I hope she retains for the next 12 years. Her teacher, Mrs Bailey, is really happy with her progress and has commented that she is doing exceptionally well.

Oliver is also doing well at school, although I was called to pick him up early today due to a stomach ache that disappeared as soon as we left the school yard. Not sure what the underlying reason behind this is but I am sure it will come out eventually. He is enjoying grade 3 and also likes his teacher, Mrs Matthews.

As far as Noel and I are going - we are still coping with what life is dealing (although it is more bad than good). It is wonderful that at night we can still lie there, tell each other "I love you" and go to sleep with those last words floating in our head.

Weight wise - Noel and I both really need to change and change big time!! Noel is having an ultrasound tommorrow morning on his liver as the last series of blood tests he has recently had shows that there may be a problem. Cross fingers for him on this one. I do believe this scare has jolted Noel a little and he is taking life a little more seriously this last week. Needless to say that as of this morning we have both promised to try and change our lifestyle not just for us but mainly for our kids.

We have just found out that my sister is pregnant on her 4th children. (No one else in my family knows.) She is praying for another boy as she has already had 3 but secretly I am hoping she has a girl. Terrible on me I know but I know how much she adores Alex so I think she deserves a little princess of her own.

Speaking of Claire, she is flying up to see Mam this Wednesday. I am really jealous but would never tell her although I am sure from the body language she knows. It is only a flying visit and she will be telling Mam her exciting news. I am sure Mam will be very surprised!!!

Our League 10 Pin Bowling season is drawing to an end with only two weeks left. It has been fun - especially spending one on one time with Claire. I chose my bowling ball and it has been ordered so I am looking forward to getting that. It is part of our league that we recieve a bowling ball at the end of the season. I can't wait to see it - the colour I chose is called blackberry - a mixture of black and red with sparkles. Hopefully it will look as good as it did on the internet.

On the Murray front - all hell broke loose a few weekends ago with Vicky unleashing her views and thoughts about the family on the mother in law. Ouch it hurt and it hurt big time. I will honestly say that the family will never be the same - even I was dragged under and am quite disappointed in her as a person!! I really feel sorry for Sean (Noel's brother) on so many levels!!

Work has been going really well for me. I have been doing some training off site and my latest trip saw me at Kilmore on Friday. This Friday I am off to Wollert and Diggers Rest the Friday after.... I hate driving... LOL!!!! Noel's work has been fairly quiet and has only started doing overtime again last week. The bank balance is looking wonderful anymore but hey shit happens and we just have to get on with it.

I am starting to ramble now - so I will close and wish you all goodnight!!

~*JO*~

Missing two front teeth!

Wow what a day yesterday turned out to be.

Oliver came home from school missing his other front tooth! Now both are missing and everyone is singing "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" to him.

Kerry rang and we chatted regarding the upcoming trip down to Melbourne to meet each other. I am getting a little excited about meeting both Stace and her so cross fingers that will all go well.

Had a really good phone conversation with my sister, Claire, regarding Christmas and Mam coming down to Melbourne. Sadly we have managed to organise her whole trip with babysitting requirements, Christmas functions, etc. But she will enjoy spending the time with the grandkids and go with the flow.

Now for the result of my "second opinion". I came out of the doctors with a better understanding of my situation and must admit feel quite relieved. But I do not have gallstones (thanks for the first diagnosis, Doc!) I actually have an inflamed gallbladder. The doctor I saw yesterday, one that I like, said that the surgeon will discuss all options with me and I would not necessarily end up in hospital by the time of the appointment. Which funny enough was one of my fears. He also said that there may be a good chance of conservative healing but this would only happen if I was prepared to diet, exercise and reduce my alcohol intake. Something I am trying to do to lose weight anyway!! So I am now prepared to go to the appointment with the surgeon - open minded - on the 12th December.

Better fly as I need to get off to work and get the kids to school.

At least I am smiling a little this morning!! :)

Getting a second opinion?

Well as you can all probably tell I have had other things on my mind and have been missing my blogs quite regularly. Sorry.

I visited the doctor the other day as posted and found out I have gallstones. Well now that this great news great news has sunk in and mentally I am learning to live with the idea that an operation may be the only way to fix it - I can't help thinking that there might be another form of treatment rather than surgery to remove my gallbladder. Both Noel and I have heard that there are other options but the doctor seemed very adament that the surgeon would remove my gallbladder!

Needless to say I am having an RDO today and I am off to get a second opinion before my appointment with the surgeon on 12th December.

Yes the 12th December - what a wonderful Christmas present!!

Will post again later and let you know the outcome!

A Rostered Day Off!!

Well today I have a rostered day off but I can tell you right now there will be no relaxing for this little chick!

The washing is already on the go, the herbs and plants have been watered, the kids are still snoozing so they must have needed the extra sleep.

What else is in store for today?

I have to take Oliver to school and then I am off to the doctors. I am going to get the results of my Glucose Tolerance Test today. Not sure if I am anxious or not at the moment. But I have decided not to stress about it until I am at least sitting in the waiting room.

Alex has her final orientation session at the primary school and that is 12.30 - 1.30pm. She is soooooo excited about going - hasn't stopped nattering about it all week.

5 o'clock this afternoon I am picking my aunty up as she is coming for dinner. Aunty Maggie is down from QLD for a couple of weeks so it will be great to catch up. The kids are looking forward to it also. Roast lamb and all the trimming (low fat version of course) is on the menu.

So needless to say inbetween the doctors and school and school and Aunty Maggie coming I need to do some serious cleaning around the house - yes that mini hurricane has been through again!! LOL!!

By the way isn't the new prince of Denmark absolutely cute... and Mary well she looks radiant and calm - I am not one bit envious of the sleepless nights ahead! Mind you I am sure she has plenty of hired help.... unlike the real mother's of the world.

Got to fly now... busy busy busy.

A visit to the doctors! What now?

Noel and I went to the doctor's yesterday. Noel was getting his test results back from last week's visit to the doctor and I required a new prescription for my blood pressure tablets.

All was going well - Noel's results were very good and most were well within the good range (you know cholesteral, blood sugars, kidneys etc.) which is excellent news.

My turn!! Got my prescription and had my blood pressure checked. It has gone up! ?! 135/90 - maybe I was stressing about Noel's results, who knows!! Next the doctor decided to have a look at my last blood test results and notices my glucose (blood sugars) were to high!! "Great " I thought to myself.

Needless to say I have been fasting since last night and I am off to pathology this morning for a two hour GTT (Glucose Tolerance Test). If you have been pregnant you know about this test. Firstly you need to drink this full bottle of sickly sweet horrible lime tasting liquid and then you wait for an hour. Boredom sets in after about 30 minutes!! The first blood test is taken after an hour is up then back to the waiting room for another hour before they take the second blood sample.

Better go and find a good book to take with me.....

I am sooo excited about today! Hopefully something good will happen that I can post about tonight.

Seaford Weight Watchers has closed.

Tonight was the last Weight Watchers meeting to be held at Seaford.

According to Weight Watchers they will review it again in January but that seems so far away. Although I am sadden by the closure and the fact that I won't have the regular contact with the members I am looking forward to the new beginning.... I am going to become a paying member again and start making myself accountable for each week. Needless to say I am going to tag along with Vicki to the Thursday night meeting at Frankston and I am sure that having a buddy to go with will do me the world of good..... are you ready for a tag team effort Vicki? LOL!!

I actually showed a loss of 0.1kgs this week - yeah.... I honestly haven't been good and as for my will power - it's gone into hiding and although I have searched high and low haven't been able to find it. Tomorrow is another day and a NEW day.

Noel and I are off to the doctors in the morning... Noel's blood test results will be back and I just want a new blood pressure tablet prescription and a check up. Noel went to the doctor's last week for peace of mind and asked for a blood test to check all the usual - cholesteral, blood sugars etc. I am sure that he will be fine.

Off to bed now... have a great night all.