Exercise class

Karen and I decided to start exercising - now to see if we can keep it up!

NONsunset!

Karen and I decided to go for a walk and watch the sunset over the mountains - only problem is - we missed it!!!

Jackson is 4

Happy Birthday to little Jackson who is a whole 4! He thouht he was pretty good wearing poppy's hat.

At the front steps

It's good to be home!

After a busy busy week at work it's great to be home on a Friday afternoon!

Back in the driver's seat.........!

Mark is mobile again. He had to get both Dr and Physio clearance to drive but is only allowed to drive an auto for obvious reasons! His dad has given him his car - insured and registered, serviced and new tyres. Right at this moment he has gone to pick Stewie up from work, and it is raining (not much thank goodness) .......... now to see how good my nerves really are??!!!

Jill and the Task Master

Today Mark had his review with the skin graft surgeon, then afterwards we went up to ICU. When he left ICU in March and said thank you, they said that the best thanks would be to see him actually walk in there one day. So today was that day. They were all really excited to see him. His memories were very vague so it was good for him to see ICU. He recognised people by their voices and remebered things they had said. These people were amazing and saved his life.

This is Jill - the nurse Mark liked the most and wanted to trade me for her!!!! That was Marks bed directly in front of the nurses station just behind Jill.
This is Alecia the head of the ICU high dependency ward. Mark called her the Task Master because she made him get out of bed and sit in a chair for the first time and kept yelling at him to breath for the first few days. She was laughing at him today cause he would get upset at her and take a deep breath to stop her yelling at him - and she said 'see look at you standing there -it worked didn't it'.
They talked to him a lot about his memories and how he felt - if he had been anxious and what things he rememberd most. Alecia said it was great because when she talks to the nurses these are the things she tries to tell them so having him there was really good. It was good for Mark too - not so much for me - it was the worst time of my life -except it is over.

The parting words from all of them - 'we never want to see you back here again!' you don't often hear those words said meaning something nice - but they were nice words.

Kooka Season

It must be kookaburra season! I got a couple of great pics of this fella sitting on a branch out the front and then this one as he flew away - not as clear but an ok shot.

Some flowers for Lee

Thinking lots about my little brother and wishing I could be with him and Robyn and Remy. So here is one of my favourite flowers for him, until I am able to see him.

Barton Highway Disaster

The bridge collapse on the Barton Highway.

Check out the sign in the top photo - 'Left Lane Ends' - yep it SURE DOES!!!!!

Election Night in Canberra

Mark and I went to the National Tallyroom tonight.

No Bed Room

With two boys, teddies and a dog there sure wasn't room for me!!!!

It's windy!

My baby magpie is snuggling up against the cold and wind - mainly the wind I think! Isn't he cute!

A Yummy dinner!

Kookaburra

This afternoon just before I left work two gorgeous big kookaburras came into the courtyard outside my office window. They stayed quite a while - and were very noisy especially being as it echoed around the courtyard!

Colouring Dragon Wings

Trying out a new tecnique with my craft stuff.

Clean up time

Mark had a party last night with all his good mates to celebrate being alive and finally now well on the way to starting to regain some of his life and freedom even with limitations it is far better than the alternative. It was a good night and they were all really nice kids and the night went very smoothly. This morning the fire was still smouldering even after the rain last night.

Soccer Morning

Today I went to watch Sam and Lucy playing soccer. It was the first time I have been able to watch Sam playing. He was fantastic and Lucy played really well, her team is playing so much better than when I saw them last year.

Colouring my home

I received a gorgeous bunch of flowers and a magnificent chocolate cake from Andy at work today to say thank you.

Red Wattle Bird

I have been missing taking photos and watching the birds out the front so when I got home from work I went for a short walk. It was a bit windy for the little birds to be out and about too much so I took a photo of a wattle bird. They make an awful noise!

Night Reserve

I have been playing with my exposure..... this was late at night in the rain and the reserve was pitch black.

Sam

Sammy has new sheets and a new pedometer which he loves.

My First day back at work

I woke up in time - how amazing is that! Check out the shirt I had sitting on my computer and had to wear all day! I have said I will wear it all week (but definitely not with a red jumper)!

Setting the alarm

Yeah ..... SURE I am going to get up in the morning!

The Gym

Chris and Kees brought over and assembled the gym for Mark today - it fits in quite nicely with plenty of room to spare - The bed is safe!

PS - please note the room is all nice and tidy and clean after the last pic of it!!!

The Craft Fair

I went to the craft fair today. this is one of the stands I always enjoy.

Thorny weed

This is one of the reasons Max has to have his hair short when we go for walks.

A Great Day

I received a book in the post from mum yesterday and read a couple of pages. Then this morning when I had my morning cuppa I read a little more. The result.................. I sat all day and read my book until it was finished and managed to do absolutley NOTHING for the whole day! I did try to put it down but kept sneaking back for just another page. In the end I gave up and just read.

Thank you mum - it was a great read - reminded me a lot of kids I have worked with and parents I have come across.

It's definitely August

The first daphne flowers are open - always quite significant to me!

Bob's poster

While cleaning the spare room I found a poster for Bob's house!

Moving furniture

I decided to empty out the old games cupboard and move it out of the spare room and move all the furniture around. Mark is being given a home gym in a couple of weeks so it will have to go in the spare room - (hopefully there is room!) and it can just move against the wall and be covered up when we have guests. Then eventually it can go out into the garage.