Only 15?

Only 15 days to go before Christmas and even though I had this great list, other things got int the way, and I am a little behind with getting all my gorgeous blokes unpacked and around the house.  Stay tuned people, I am on it.  Baking done though so that is one thing I have ticked on the list of TO DO.  Illness continues to dog our home, and I will be so glad to get this year behind us healthwise. Our two little Princes continue to grow and give us so much JOY, and I really am looking forward to some time off over Christmas to do a bit of scrapbooking of them and of course our beautiful Julie-anne and Ben's wedding with a difference.   So, dear blog, I will return, hopefully with some photos of the house decorating and maybe a recipe to share.      HO HO HO..........

c-r-a-z-y

The title of this post about sums up life since I posted last.  I have had severe blog block - tried a few times to get into the groove, but honestly,couldn't get to it.  There always seemed to be something else to do, or I had no writing mojo, or any other type of mojo and a myriad of things to deal with.  Truly, everything seemed very difficult to achieve these past few months.

My surgery went well, but of course true to form my recovery was all over the place and I stayed longer in hospital than was planned as my clacium levels continued to challenge my great medical support team.  This and my thyroxin level flucuations continued for some months and for the first time (ever I think) I felt very overwhlemed and absolutley shattered at days end.  It was not unusual for me to be in bed by 9pm, and for  those of you who know me well, will be saying What the???

Lots more blood work, simply the most wonderful supportive GP combined with a new approach to lifestyle through the help of a Chinese Medicine regime and here we are some 6 months on, I am feeling better, levels are improving and I actually feel like I can get passed 9pm at night (though not every day).   

I have thoroughly enjoyed my new role at Breast Cancer Care WA.  This is the MOST amazing place to work, such a wonderfully supportive group of women to work with and to be making a difference to the lives of other women and their families is a bonus indeed.     I am so blessed to have found this opportunity.  To start a new job, 3 days after surgery, when I was not on my game, was a huge task, made the easier by the team I work with, especially my boss, and the wonderful man I am married to.    

The store had its annual camp in May - much smaller than usual, (to say I am hugely disappointed in some people would be an understatement) but you know it was a GREAT weekend, and all the better for being smaller, so much so that Bob  I think we will keep them to this more intimate size.  The themed dinner is staying as everyone is wanting this so we look forward to next May, plans are already underway.

My creative side has taken a hammering and I have not had the inspiration or motiviation to get anything done. I continue to collect ideas, and have lots of lovely things filed away on Pinterest, so I suppose that is something.     I was thrilled that I could get away for 3 days with my bestie and lots of other scrapminded great chicks just recenly and create. A special friend has her onlydaughter getting married soon and I wanted to make something for her. It was a double joy for me this project as it was the first time I felt like creating at all. So to Lis and her lovely daughter Sarah-Jane, may the wedding on October 31 be fab! Here are some pictures of the project (the album is approximately 8x7, and is hanging on a Chatterbox album stand) It is a collection of all the brides in the family, starting with Lis' parents, then her siblings, onto her nieces & nephews and finally a page for ready for Sarah-Jane & Neel.  It was a suprise so I had to source the photos from her sister Susan, who is an accomplished scrapbooker as well, so special thanks are needed there.  (I think I need to brush up on my photo taking skills for the blog though :)

 

So it is Monday morning, I am back to work after a week off with lots of lovely things that have happened, including our own family  wedding, but more on that later, Lordy knows what the traffic is like.  Toodles.

 

Friday night - phew got here!

It seemed like a long week, even though it was short - I know blame that logic in my Irish heritage!   I am thoroughly enjoying being back at work, the girls I work with are great, and they have been very welcoming and the work is varied, and with just enough to save me from the cookie jar.   It seemed l-o-n-g because my drug  therapy since the removal of the thyroid is still not right, so it has been back to the Drs, more blood work and patience is needed - so NOT my strong suit.  I am not used to the traffic issues that come with driving to West Perth, and this was the first week of the school holidays so traffic was lighter than usual - think I will do the train and walk thing at least a few days a week.

I've still been reading, started the Girl with the Dragon tattoo series, finished the 1st two now onto number 3.  My friend Coralie tells me the next instalment in the Brotherhood books I really enjoy is terrific, she is reading it on her Kindle, but of course I am a paper and ink girl all the way, so I have to wait to get it in my hands - so after teaching my Double Year in Review workshop tomorrow I might just mosey on down to Dymocks.        

All the kids are good, Poppa has had some Prince time this week, this is something I really miss, so I hope to sneak in Princely cuddles with both Finn and Miller this weekend.   Prince Finn is at  the giggly stage and has a smoochy tickle spot near his right ear that this Nannie can find easily.     So that is about all for this black Friday.  Thanks for dropping by.

Tuesday musings

I was very saddened to hear that Jim Stynes died today, an inspiration to us all and taken from his family way to young at age 45. 

I am off to Hollywood tomorrow, would be nice if it was the 20 hour plane trip one, but its the 45minute car trip one tomorrow where a lovely Surgeon I have had the pleasure of working with before is going to remove the rest of my thyroid and hopefully get me feeling 100% again.  It was a a whirlwind of tests etc following an abnormal blood test and in the space of a few days I was booked in for surgery. I am hoping to convince the theatre staff to take some photos for me - wish me luck!    The best news though came on the same day as the surgery news, I have a new job!  I am going to be working with Breast Cancer Care WA as an admin officer/receptionist. I am beyond Excited - just absolutely stoked to be working with this fantastic group of people - the plus side for me is their corporate colours are purple, you know this group they are the 'purple Bra Day' people that I have had fun scrapping days before when we had the store.  Did I say I was beyond excited?   I got the phone call driving home on the freeway after having an ultrasound for the thyroid, nearly ran off the road with excitement, and was to start tomorrow, but then the following morning the surgeon rings and says I have booked you for surgery next Wednesday - bugger !  Had to call my new boss and say, mmmm, maybe I can't start now, and she was amazing and now I will start next Monday after coming home from hospital on Friday, I know crazy huh? but truly, so exciting, did I mention I was beyond excited to have this great opportunity?

Prince Miller turned 3 last week, and Sunday we had a Disney Cars themed party - my beautiful Lyndall did an exceptional job, and when I can get the sd card to play nicely I will upload some photos.  The Cake she made was fantastic and she is so into creating beautiful parties and memories for her children - can't imagine where she gets that from,lol. Our wee prince was so chuffed that finally we were singing Happy Birthday to him, his little face was full of wonder and joy - days like this make me thank the Lord for the gift of love and family I have been blessed with.   Of course the big UP for me was taking Finn off her hands for a few hours  for about 3 days in a row - oh yeah baby, Nannie heaven!  The other plus? My big sister and her man joined us from Melbourne for a weeks holiday as well, and it was just the best time for me to have family around, especially as James and Nicola came up from down south as well.  A happy Mamma indeed.    

So now I need to go pack a bag for my trip to Hollywood, so see you on the other side.

A new blog needs a new design

So, I am off on the new blog journey, and have enlisted the help of the very talented Karen Valentine to help me. Together we are creating a blog design that reflects the things that make me, well Miss Ruth.  My love of Christmas, and definitely my passion for scrapbooking and craft.  It should be ready to launch March 30th, so I hope you will come back and check it out.  

I have had all the kids home for a few days, that was terrific to have them altogether again for a few days. Hopefully with James only being a few hours away and Julie-anne back from Melbourne we will have lots more days this year to make wonderful memories with.  

James played the the country cup at South Perth Sunday/Monday, they made the final but sadly lost in the last over - he played really well and got some good figures.  As cricket was definitely in the air, an impromptu game of backyard cricket took place early Sunday evening while we waited for dinner to cook on the BBQ.  Poppa and James are teaching Miller the finer points of the game.   I have just got some photos back, so will share a layout with you soon. 

Be kind to yourself this week

Miss Ruth has arrived

On my list of goals for 2012 -  (I gave up calling them resolutions a long time ago) was to create a personal blog, somewhere for me to capture the little joys in my life, the things I love to do, and to share some bits and pieces of my hobbies.  The shop blog seems like work and although I do enjoy it I wanted a space to create and share.  If you have found me here, welcome.  I have to learn a new platform in blogger rather than using Typepad.  I hope to post tips and techniques and some of my layouts, and cakes and cooking, the family and all things that are special to me.