1. Reading our little one the Christmas Story
2. Decorating our House
3. Enjoying Christmas morning pancakes with friends
4. Sitting among the palms in Johnstone Park on Christmas Eve for Christmas Carols
5. Catching up with friends we haven’t seen for a while
6. Having a nap on Christmas afternoon
7. Managing to have too much rubbish to fit in the bin, when it’s all over
8. Listening to The Spirit of Christmas CD (the sales raise money for the Salvation Army)
9. Visiting the The Myer Christmas Windows (A tradition in Melbourne since 1956)
10. Eating way too much pudding, with lashings of custard (we experimented with a Gluten free version and it’s fabulous)
11. Writing about 60 Christmas Cards
12. Watching our little one’s face as she starts to recognise Christmas
13. Just relax after a busy year!

Wow, this weeks prompt from Writers Island had me stumped for a while but here goes. The prompt ‘Earth’ got me thinking about our lives and the impact we have on each other.
 
My earth is small, a miniscule moment

each one has a part, to play in this script

A pre-written role, or a self driven life?

Could this all just be, one great big show?
 
It would seem to me, that all left to chance

would share in a risk, to great for the end

Would I miss the start, if I hid for a while?

Would the play be complete, if one misses out?
 
For this life sometimes, appears too busy

to give one a rest, and others shelter

Why so busy, when all around

people are dying, from lonliness?
 
I called out for those, who appear in this play

there seems to be mayhem, but others follow

Why missing in action, seems the norm?

When I want to ask, what is the point?
 
Each tangent a path, of self direction

Some see God as the chief director

What directs our paths, in time forgot?

Could history call for different tunes?
 
See here for more thoughts on ‘Earth’

Just to wish you all a fabulous day! It was delightful that my husband and little one came to visit. I was worried that she would hate to leave but she seemed fine (I’m too scared to ring and find out just in case!)
 
Well the treatment this week is much better. I’m able to keep the headache manageable with paracetemol and only have a sore mouth and upset tummy to contend with. The fatigue is pretty amazing however. I slept for 12 hours last night and 2 hours during the day today and will be heading off soon and it’s only 8.30pm.
 
Well I hope that wherever you are in the world, and whether or not you celebrate Christmas, that you have/had a fabulous day!

It’s Monday of the second week of treatment today and I feel much better than I did last week. I have a headache but not the chills that I did at this point last Monday. I’m starting to wonder if I could manage the train home each day????
 
The girls at the Peter Mac Chemotherapy Day Unit are fabulous. I was a bit flat when I was in there to day but they cheered me up nicely. Thanks girls, particularly KW. I see them each Monday. All of my other treatments are here at ‘home’. I have a PICC line now which is like a more permanent IV line. This means that for the next few weeks I do not have to have new IVs and also any blood tests are done through the line also.
 
Staying at my aunts has been wonderful. It’s so special to be cared for like this. I really miss my husband and little one but they will come up tomorrow for Christmas. To be honest I wasn’t sure that I really wanted them to come as it’s hard to say goodbye again, but it’s Christmas so its out of my hands really. It’s really, really hard to be away from home but I just keep thinking that it will all be over soon. The treament continues straight through Christmas Day and New Years Day so that means that this section will all be finished in four weeks. Yeah!

Last Friday we had an appointment with an oncologist from Peter MacCallum Hospital and her recommendation is that I should commence Interferon treatment. This a preventative drug that is given over twelve months. It starts with five days a week of higher doses for four weeks and then three times a week of lower doses for 11 months. aarrgghh! Apparently I will be able to give myself the injections once I am in the lower dose stage.
 
To be honest we were a bit stunned, especially when she said that the optimal time to start is right away! We had been expecting that there were no real options for prevention. I will be starting on the 17th December. That’s tomorrow so we had to cut short our holiday in Noosa to be home tonight.
 
Apparently the side effects can be significant and some can be quite nasty. The intention is that Interferon works by boosting the immune system to prevent reoccurrence of the cancer.
 
Additionally a few days ago we found out that I will need to stay somewhere close to the hospital so that they can visit me ‘at home’. Thankfully I have a fabulous option in my aunt who lives about 25 mins travel away. Thankfully D is able to take carer’s leave to care for ‘Little Miss ‘ for at least the first four weeks. I will also have to add a few days on the end to make up for the public holidays over Christmas.
I have to be at the hospital in the morning to see the oncologist, have blood tests and then start treatment at 3.30pm. From there I will go to my aunts and stay for the rest of the week. After that it depends on how I react to the treatment. Will keep you all posted.

A sign on the road, calls out advice
for life and love, a soul takes care,
Some are optional, others crucial
too many to count, any given day
 
A pick of road, a choice of route
a winding hill, a distant view,
A warning of sorts, or notice of change
a reason to care, or a point to ignore
 
Why signs at all? Why not abandon?
Freedom requires, a laneway of breadth,
Seems way too many, to be much use
when our choices include, driving too fast
 
A line of follow, painted in dashes
gives mixed thought, rain washed over,
A detour appears, and causes distress
darkness comes, to envelop the way
 
For a road of signs, with roles so vital
each message is clear, and shows us the mode,
I don’t intend, to follow the same,
for my path is my lot, with fresh approach
 
Thanks to Totally Optional Prompts for today post!

1. Get lots of rest
2. Sit by the pool (in the shade of course)
3. Spend time together as a family
4. Visit Australia Zoo
5. Enjoy the shops in Hastings Street
6. Visit family
7. Enjoy the warm weather
8. Introduce our daughter to swimming
9. Walk around Eumundi Markets
10. Swim with dolphins
11. Eat at lots of outdoor resturants
12. Take a camel safari
13. Just have fun!

Today’s prompt is from Writers Island. See here for more.
 
A peaceful moment, a thought for today
 
A contract of sorts, a promise of love
 
An unspoken word, a glance o’er the room
 
A word of hope, a fall from grace
 
A day of drama, a night of sorrow
 
A life of pledge, a call of grief
 
A moment of regret, a lifetime of sorrow
 
A month of growth, a year of life
 
A promise remains, a light for the future
 

We finally got the results for S’s gastroscopy. She doesn’t have coeliac disease but some aggravation in her gut from an allergen of some description.  She will have to have allergy tests next. She is still dairy free so it’s not that, but it could be anything. I still believe that we should try a gluten free diet anyway and see if that settles her tummy.

I expect that the referral to the kids hospital will be for the new year.

I visited with a friend today. I was following up on the wellbeing of another friend, when he stumped me with a question. He asked how I was processing my recent health scare and then he asked Who are you? I started to explain that I was a wife, mother, career etc etc when he stopped me. “No” he said, “I didn’t ask you what you did, I asked Who are you?” Hmmm well that stumped me…
 
Who am I? Is it a question of values? or priorities? or beliefs?
 
What does that mean? I’m going to have to ponder that for a while…
 
I’ll get back to you…Have a great day!