Kaz's Journey

Soap Animals

2012-02-13T21:10:00.001+10:30

Butterfly – Green Berry

Dragonfly – Green Berry

Peppermint Salt Soap

2012-02-07T22:28:00.000+10:30

Made with 100% coconut oil, with an excess of 20% oil, to ensure they are not drying. These soaps have fine grain salt, essential oil and soap safe colour added.

These bars make lovely luscious, bubbles and have a slight exfoliating effect due to the salt. They gently remove dead skin cells and leave your skin feeling soft and smooth.

I use regular table salt due to the size of the granules being very fine. This means the soap is much less abrasive.

Salt soap cakes are great for all skin types and especially kind on mature aged skin and they make great facial cleaners.

Lilac

2012-01-23T21:00:00.000+10:30

Made with olive oil, coconut oil, rice bran oil, castor oil and cocoa butter. These soaps have lilac fragrance oil and soap safe colour added to them.

A good lilac can be elusive, but this one’s the real deal. A beautiful luxurious lilac fragrance.

Earth Spirit

2012-01-13T22:03:00.000+10:30

Made with olive, coconut, rice bran and castor oils and cocoa butter. These soaps have sandalwood and vanilla fragrance oils and soap safe colour.

This soap is creamy and nurturing, the way the earth wants to be. In this soap, the smell of the earth is sweetened by a vanilla sun.

Tea Tree Salt Soap

2012-01-09T21:30:00.000+10:30

Made with 100% coconut oil, with an excess of 20% oil, to ensure they are not drying. These soaps have fine grain salt, essential oil and soap safe colour added.

These bars make lovely luscious bubbles and have a slight exfoliating effect due to the salt. They gently remove dead skin cells and leave your skin feeling soft and smooth.

I use regular table salt due to the fine size of the granules. This means the soap is much less abrasive.

Salt soap cakes are great for all skin types and especially kind on mature aged skin and they make great facial cleaners.

Aussie Christmas Swap 2011

2012-01-02T22:20:00.000+10:30

I volunteered to be the ‘host’ of a swap, on an international soap forum I’m active on. The theme was ‘christmas’ and after a few signed up and pulled out, we were left with eight soap makers keen to swap and receive new soaps to review and enjoy.

Wilson Guarding the Soaps – Before they’re repacked

Packed

My soaps from the swap … glorious chrissie present!

Olive Oil - Sensitive Soul Soap

2012-01-02T00:28:00.000+10:30

A castile soap made from 100% olive oil.

Sensitive Soul is fragrance free and colour free, making it ideal for sensitive skin.

Castile soap is a name used in English speaking countries for olive oil based soap made in a style similar to that originating in the Castilla region of Spain.

Castile soap is known as the purest, mildest soap available and most suitable soap for sensitive skin. It contains no animal fats or synthetic detergents.

Some people describe castile soap as feeling slimy, while other as smooth and creamy. Just know that the lather is different from other home made soaps. Olive oil soap is conditioning and exceptionally mild with a low lather.

Sensitive Soul soap is 100% olive oil – free from colour and fragrance.

Christmas Soaps

2011-12-20T23:26:00.001+10:30

Christmas Spice

Made with olive, coconut, rice bran and castor oils and cocoa butter. These soaps have Christmas spice fragrance oils and colourings added to them.

This seasonal blend is a mix of wood and sweet spice notes. Ripe strawberries meld with touches of green apple and pineapple. Next the spices, cloves, cinnamon, pimento and cardamom blend with a hint of rose, leading to hints of sweet vanilla and balsam fir.

Christmas Time

Made with olive, coconut, rice bran and castor oils and cocoa butter. These soaps have cranberry fig fragrance oil and colourings added to them.

A wonderful summery fragrance! The tart bite of cranberries and the sweet, mild allure of figs are made even more striking in this mix by adding a smattering of tangy orange and pink grapefruit.

Christmas Star

Made with olive, coconut, rice bran and castor oils and cocoa butter. These soaps have mandarin myrrh fragrance oil and colourings added to them.

This seasonal blend is sophisticated and romantic. Mandarin orange, meyer lemon and tangerine zest tangle with the freshness of basil, sweet clove bud and star jasmine before being brought to the grounding earth with patchouli, Indian myrrh, golden amber and Egyptian musk.

Tailem Bend Market

2011-12-20T22:50:00.000+10:30

Table

Centre

Mannum Market

2011-12-14T22:58:00.001+10:30

Table

Murray Bridge Rotary Market

2011-12-12T21:15:00.000+10:30

Table Front

Christmas Soaps

Baskets of Soap

Wistow Markets - Adelaide Hills

2011-12-11T20:15:00.000+10:30

Table Front

Centre Tray

Christmas Soaps

Salt Bars

Murray Bridge Showground Market

2011-12-10T21:56:00.000+10:30

Table Front

Soap Saks

Beer Soaps

Soap Tray

Aussie Myrtle Soap

2011-12-02T23:01:00.000+10:30

Made with olive, coconut, rice bran and castor oils and cocoa butter. These soaps have lemon myrtle essential oil and colourings added to them.

A spicy lemon soap, that is refreshing, uplifting and invigorating. Ideal for dry and sensitive skin.

SoapTravel

2011-11-29T22:21:00.000+10:30

I'm excited ... I've registered with Cocobong to be a member of the SoapTravel Project!

If you want to find out more, please read SoapTravel and SoapTravel Project.

More soapers are welcome to join this Project!

Make Your Own Owl Calendar!

2011-11-23T22:45:00.000+10:30

My daughter loves Owls!

This looks like a great idea, plus this site is fantastic for anyone who loves owls.

Good Morning - Coffee Soap

2011-11-18T21:28:00.001+10:30

Instead of distilled water, this soap is make from a strongly brewed coffee. The coffee smells strong after it's made, so I leave the coffee maker jug outside to smell for the neigbourhood while it cools. Then after measuring the amount of liquid I need, the coffee is put in the freezer until it's semi frozen. This allows for it to be used safely and without any ghastly smell caused by the 'extreme' heating that results when the caustic soda comes into contact with the coffee.

The top of the coffee soap has some colouring swirled in it and a small amount of the coffee grounds added to exfoliate. After the caustic soda has 'made' soap, all the smell from the coffee water is gone. To get a coffee smell a coffee fragrant oil is added.

Good Morning Coffee Soap – 48 hours after unmoulding

Good Morning Coffee – after a few weeks of curing! Lovely colour!

Frugally Sustainable: Homemade Probiotic Deodorant - That Really Works!

2011-11-13T12:58:00.000+10:30

Frugally Sustainable: Homemade Probiotic Deodorant - That Really Works!: Probiotics. A buzzword within the natural health community. And rightfully so! Most health conscious individuals understand the positive ...

Cool Wave

2011-10-30T21:18:00.000+10:30

Made with olive, coconut, rice bran and castor oils and cocoa butter. These soaps have Cool Water fragrant oil and colourings.

A wonderful, rich and complex sea blend, based on the popular men's fragance by Davidoff - 'Cool Water'. This perfect men's fragrance has a crisp scent that is also adored by women.Top notes of lavender, rosemary and menthe are freshened by bergamot. Middle notes of jasmine, geranium, sandalwood, iris and oakmoss lead to a manly bottom of musk and ambergris.

This fragrance is like navigating a kayak through icy waters - brisk and fresh but casual enough not to overwhelm the senses.

In the mould

Bars

No Calories

2011-09-30T23:20:00.002+09:30

No Calories is a Chocolate Soap

I took part in a swap on the ‘Soap Making Forum’. It was an Aussie Autumn Swap … and my first soap swap. It was so exciting and I loved all the soaps I received. One of them was scented with ‘Italian Spiced Chocolate’ and looked like an iced mud cake. I contacted the person who made it and asked if it was ok for me to make soap the same … and she said yes!

Here is my take on a chocolate soap, which is called No Calories, as even though it smells divinely of chocolate, it can't be eaten! Damn!

The bottom of this soap has dark chocolate added … and the colour is amazing.

The Italian spiced chocolate fragrance oil is divine and provides a great showering experience!

Lavender Salt Soap

2011-09-27T23:07:00.000+09:30

I love using salt in oil to clean my hands and remove dry skin and I was curious to find out how salt soap worked.

After considerable research, I decided to make a coconut oil soap with a high superfat. I chose to add 70% table salt and a swirl of colour. Plus ... the night before, I added colour to some sea salt and let that dry, to add decoration to the top of my soap.

Making the soap was straight forward, but it set quickly and about four hours after putting the salt soap in the moulds I removed it (still warm) to cut it. The bars didn't cut smoothly, but the salt soaps in the muffin moulds looked great ... note to self ... in future make salt soap in individual moulds, to prevent the need to 'watch' it so closely.

Beer Soap

2011-08-26T21:11:00.000+09:30

I’m a regular on a soap forum and was reading posts from people who were making soap using beer. This was interesting, as I’m sure if my husband was still alive he’d ‘boo boo’ that idea, as beer was for drinking, not soaping!

I researched more and decided that beer soap would be a great idea for Father’s Day … so decided it was time to give it a go.

A friend gave me bottles of beer that were brewed by her husband. First I took the lids off two bottles and poured them into a jug. Then left it in the fridge for a few days, so that it would go completely flat. Next I put it in the freezer for a few hours and used it when it was half frozen. The reason for this, is that the lye heats liquid quickly and the lye would ‘burn’ the beer if it wasn’t at least chilled. Apparently the smell of ‘burned’ beer is disgusting! Making sure the beer is flat is also important, as otherwise the lye and beer could result in a volcano. So it’s important to be a little more careful when making soap using beer.

Beer does not add any fragrance, so you need to add some EO’s or FO’s or a mix of both. In my soap I use Bramble Berry’s Oatmeal Stout FO and added a little oat bran for some soothing qualities.

Beery Oats – freshly out of the moulds

Home brewed beer that was used for this soap

Beery Oats – 48 hours after unmoulding

Beery Oats – after a few weeks of curing! Love the colour!

Wordle

2011-08-24T20:27:00.010+09:30

Found this interesting program being use on Celine's blog 'I am Handmade'.

Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text.

Soap philosophies can change

2011-08-15T20:22:00.000+09:30

I started buying homemade soap many years ago and as a purest I only bought soap fragranced with essential oils.

When I started making soap it was important to me to follow my philosophy of using only essential oils, natural colourings, no animal products and no palm oil, even if it’s from a sustainable source.

These ideals lasted for about a year, the ‘no animal products’ and ‘no palm oil’ haven’t changed, but I kept seeing pictures of beautiful soaps with amazing colours and read about some amazing fragrances … and these helped me to experience with colours and fragrances.

Soaping is loads more fun now that my ‘no no’ list has reduced and my soap is as good if not better than it was when I followed the ‘no no’ list.

Blue Wave ... just out of the moulds

Dragon's Spirit

2011-08-06T22:25:00.001+09:30

Made with olive, coconut, rice bran and castor oils and cocoa butter. These soaps have Dragon Blood fragrant oil and colourings.

A mysterious, alluring blend with warming notes of amber, incense, Madagascar vanilla and patchouli. Followed by the romantic notes of rose, jasmine and lilac. Finally this blend is topped off with light touches of blood orange and grapefruit.

This soap will continue to darken in colour due to the vanilla in the fragrance.

Nature's Bloom

2011-08-03T21:32:00.000+09:30

Made with olive, coconut, rice bran and castor oils and cocoa butter. These soaps have Nature's Blush fragrant oil and colourings.

This floral fragrance has hints of rose petals, peony blossoms and lilac. There is also a faint presence of fir balsam entwined with ylang ylang.

I used two micas and a liquid soap dye to colour this soap. The colour is achieved by a simple 'in the post swirl' and saving most of the colour to decorate the top.

A sprinkling of 'faerie dust' (soap glitter) has been added to the top for some *bling*.

Green Berry

2011-07-31T22:56:00.000+09:30

Made with olive, coconut, rice bran and castor oils and cocoa butter. These soaps have Blackberry Sage fragrant oil and colourings.

This delicious, strong fruity fragrance has top notes of blackberries, a touch of orange zest and a base of fresh green sage leaves.

A perfect blend of juicy blackberries tempered with the cleaness of sage.

I used three different micas to add colour to this soap, two of them pop micas and one a lustre mica. A little of the colours was added to my soap pot for an 'in the pot swirl', but most was kept to decorate the top.

The smell is divine!

My Dad

2011-07-31T22:48:00.001+09:30

My Dad has been taken to Timaru hospital and his kidneys are failing!

I want to fly home ... NOW ... but I can't and it's hard.

I know my Mum and Merv will be with my Dad as he prepares for his final journey ... and I hope I can get home in time to talk to him in person one more time. I will phone the hospital tomorrow and hopefull I can talk to him.

I usually phone my Dad (in Waimate) at least twice a week and last week I could tell he wasn't well. He was finding talking difficult and he thought he had another lung infection. X-rays at the hospital show his lungs are clear ... most unexpected, but his kidneys aren't processing the fluid in his body ... and that's what was affecting his breathing.

I love my Dad! X

Why are you soaping?

2011-07-28T22:38:00.001+09:30

I have allowed my beatiful dog Wilson to be my 'at home' best buddy, since my wonderful hubby died on the last day of Summer 2009 (28 February 2009) ... and then I wonder why he looks at me the way he does, as he watches me get my soaping gear organised.

His look tells me he knows that shortly the laundry door will close ... blocking his access to his freedom, his dog flap in the outside laundry door. Then he'll have to watch me go out the sliding doors to 'our' favourite deck area ... with my box ... alone. Return, then go back out with two bowls and a stirrer ... alone. Return, then go back out onto 'our' deck and bring the box back in ... all while he's being praised for not following, for staying where he is ... like he has a choice, his access to his door is blocked and he watches me disappear out to 'our' deck, closing the sliding door behind me each time.

I try to involve Wilson in my soapmaking, by telling him what I'm doing and telling him why I'm choosing certain colours and this or that design. Sadly he never seems interested.

Saturday ... busy as ...

2011-07-23T23:02:00.001+09:30

What a fun day!

Made my first batch of 'No Calorie' chocolate soap. It's made with my favourite recipe of Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Rice Bran Oil, Castor Oil and Cocoa Butter. The fragrance is 'Italian Spiced Chocolate', so added a little melted dark chocolate to the mix. Smells divine!

Then I made my first batch of whipped soap. I think I melted the hard oils too much, as it took ages to thicken, but it was exciting when it did. I only have a hand held beater ... so I was starting to get over the idea when finally it thickened and the excitement returned.

When the soap was ready, the batch was split and one lot coloured with grape pop mica. The coloured part was put in silicon cup cakes moulds and then came the fun of learning how to pipe happened! I'm going to need loads of practise, but I was quite happy with the outcome.

Now the wait ... I'm looking forward to trying this again!

Adelaide's Giant Pandas

2011-07-19T21:03:00.003+09:30

Have finally been to see the Giant Pandas ... and they're gorgeous!

There was a great Keeper in the area and he told us heaps about Funi and Wang Wang. It's sad to be told there are only about 1,600 of these beautiful animals in the wild!

Funi and Wang Wang are considered a fantastic genetic pairing for the global Giant Panda breeding program. Any cubs Wang Wang and Funi have will be valuable additions to the Giant Panda population. The Keeper did share with us that so far Funi doesn't care much for Wang Wang, so they've moved them into each other's enclosures, in the hope that this may arouse some interest.

Funi ("Lucky Girl")

Born: 23 August 2006 at Wolong Giant Panda Research Centre, China

Personality: She is very active and playful and often makes excited mewing vocalisations at feeding time. She is also very intelligent, curious and loves to explore.

Wang Wang ("Net Net")
Born: 31 August 2005 at Wolong Giant Panda Research Centre, China

Personality: He is a very laid-back and placid boy. Like all Giant Pandas, he loves to snooze but can usually roused by a fresh stalk of bamboo.

Jandal Slippers!

2011-07-15T22:00:00.001+09:30

Look at what my daughter bought me ... purple jandal slippers!

This Kiwi's in love ...

I love warm feet ...
I love wearing jandals ...
and my favourite colour ...
so these make me very happy!

Drive responsibly

2011-07-09T01:12:00.002+09:30

Wilson watching me!

Too Much ...

2011-07-08T23:52:00.000+09:30

Sometimes the ache in my heart is ... too much!
Sometimes I miss you ... too much!
Sometimes my tears are ... too much!
Sometimes I need you ... too much!
Sometimes I want to scream and yell ... too much!
Sometimes the pain in my chest is ... too much!
Sometimes I ace for your touch ... too much!
Sometimes I hurt for you ... too much!

But my love for you will never be ... too much!

I will miss you always and I have learned that just because you died, I haven't stopped loving you!

Love in my vegie patch

2011-07-04T21:28:00.005+09:30

I love dragonflies ... dragons flying! This day in my garden was really special. I think this photo was taken in late summer, early spring.

Purple Carrot Juice

2011-06-26T12:53:00.002+09:30

While my kids were staying I made them fresh vegie juice ... purple carrots, celery, carrot and ginger. The colour the purple carrots gave the juice was amazing! Plus the taste ... unreal!

My son Andy ... looks like he really enjoyed the fresh vegie juice ...

A Thought ...

2011-06-25T02:22:00.000+09:30

Support bacteria, it's the only culture some people have.

Some things should remain secret ...

2011-06-24T23:23:00.002+09:30

February 2011

While my kids were visiting from Sydney we cleaned up an area that had a few pieces of timber stacked one on top of the other.

When we removed the last piece of timber ... there was a snake skin ... and ghee it was long! It was quite scary to realise a snake had been there, as this area is at the bottom of the steps Wilson and I use to get down to my vegie garden ... and we go down and up these steps at least twice a day during the week and more often during weekends. I wonder how close we got to Mr Snake? ... Did Wilson sense he was there? ... Where is Mr Snake staying for autumn/winter? ... Is it true that snakes are territorial and return to the same area year after year? ... What can I do to make sure we all remain safe when the weather gets warmer ... that includes Mr Snake?

Deep down I have this feeling of ... why didn't this remain a secret ... there are some things I'd rather not know about ... and this is one of those!

Merv's second anniversary - 29 February 2011!

2011-06-18T23:32:00.001+09:30

Where has time gone ... it's two years already and yet I seem to remember every detail as if it's still happening. A couple of the biggest things I've learned is that when a person dies you don't stop loving them ... and when your heart is breaking there is a real physical pain!

I think of Merv with every breath I take ... I miss him more than I thought was possible!

This year we decided to repeat letting the environmental friendly balloons go, with messages written on them for Merv. We chose colours for special reasons - Blue and Gold to represent Otago and Taieri. We lived in Otago on the Taieri plains and Merv played for the Taieri Hockey Club and represented Otago at all levels in hockey and coached both the Taieri Hockey Club and the Otago U21 Mens and Otago Senior Mens hockey teams. Next we chose black and silver for New Zealand ... for all top sports teams in New Zealand. Finally I chose purple, as Merv called me his Purple Dragon ... and I loved that name!

Amie and Andy came to stay

2011-06-18T22:59:00.005+09:30

In February 2011 both Amie and Andy came to stay. It was lovely having them home with me and we did many fun things together.

We went to my favourite cafe in Strathalbyn ... Argus House!

I love their chai and the way they serve it. It's spicy rather than sweet and you can see whole spices in the teapot ... divine!

This is their lentil, curry and kumara pie ... to die for!

Amie's T-Shit

2011-06-17T23:29:00.002+09:30

This was one of Merv's favourite songs, sung by one of his favourites - Dave Dobbyn.

We played this song at his farewell! What a great t-shirt!

Gift from those I work with

2011-06-14T23:58:00.001+09:30

Moth Orchid

... the orchid my colleagues gave me when I returned from New Zealand was beautiful. It's continued to flower for four months. I'm hoping it will have a new flowering spike next season.

Farewell

2011-06-14T23:52:00.001+09:30

My Dad

An emotional farewell to my precious Dad and it was time to head to Christchurch to catch a flight to Adelaide via Melbourne.

My Next Car ...

2011-06-14T23:47:00.001+09:30

Sweet as ...

A drive to Dunedin to see some friends and family is never complete without a visit to the home of Speights.

South Island Beauty

2011-06-14T23:41:00.001+09:30

Birth at Moeraki

While visiting my girlfriend we celebrated a birth. Such a beauty.

Earthquake

2011-06-12T01:43:00.000+09:30

A foot bridge in Christchurch. Showing a little of what one of the big earthquakes has done.

While I was home, my girlfriend drove me to Christchurch. It was confronting.

A couple of days after I flew out of Christchurch, another huge aftershock hit and now the damage is much worse.

Victoria Park, Waimate

2011-06-12T01:32:00.000+09:30

Reflection in the park

The kids and I explored places we used to visit when we lived in New Zealand. a great way to appreciate things you have left behind.

Mum died while we were visiting

2011-06-12T01:24:00.000+09:30

My sister-in-law, Karen, had been caring for both my parents and sitting with Mum for a few days when we arrived. ... And a few hours after getting to the nursing home, Mum passed.

Been absent and much has happened

2011-06-12T01:14:00.000+09:30

Mum was dying so I took my kids home. Here they are standing at the corner of the street I used to live on. The main street of my little village is behind them. January 2011

Lemon Tea Soap

2011-01-26T13:29:00.003+10:30

My seventh batch of soap was my first play using cosmetic colours approved for use with soap. I recently bought some mica from here, they're also used in mineral makeup.

I decided to use two essential oils - Lemon and Tea Tree ... and the smell is divine.

I put three heaped scoops of grape pop mica, lemon pop mica and red oxide into three plastic cups. I mixed the red oxide with a little water to make sure there were no lumps ... and I should have mixed the mica with a little oil ... so have made a note to do that next time. At light trace I added unscented soap to each of these cups and mixed them well. Then poured each one into a sauce bottle.

Next I added the EO to the main soap and stick blended. Here's were things happened quicker than I expected and I let the soap get to thick trace ... instead of pouring in to the mould at medium trace.

I squirted a few lines of the three colours on the base and sides of the moulds and then gently poured the soap in.

The soap was too thick, so when I started to make 'flower' patterns, the lightly traced coloured soap appeared to 'roll' off the bumps on top of the heavy trace soap. At this point I decided to change the plan and to make lines and patterns with the three colours.

I don't like this looks, but the smell is divine!

Unmoulded logs

Bars up close ... still don't like this look ... but am loving the smell!

Lavender Oats Soap

2011-01-21T22:11:00.002+10:30

My sixth batch of soap was my first attempt at layers and I got the idea from a soap I'd seen shared by another member of Soap Making Forum.

I decided to use olive oil and coconut oil, lavender essential oil, pale blue clay to colour the bottom layer, oatbran to mix into the top layer and cocoa powder to sprinkle on top of the first layer, before putting the top layer on ... so there'd be an obvious line. I also chose to add some pearl mica to the top of one mould and to sprinkle some oatmeal on the top of the other mould ... just for something different.

I was careful adding the second layer, by pouring it gently over the back of a spatula, as I'd read this would help prevent the layers mixing. I was so curious during the 'gel' stage ... as I really wanted to see how the layers were working.

I was thrilled when I took the soap out of the moulds about 24 hours later.

I'd read a hint about cutting layered soap and soap with lines in it. Turn the soap on it's side and to cut the soap across the layers, so that you are less likely to affect the layered look. I'm thrilled with how the bars look.

I think I prefer the natual look of the oatbran sprinkled on top, although the pearl mica does have a soft glitter in the light.

The pale blue clay is good for all skin types ... especially mature skin and the oatbran will gently exfoliate the skin.

I love with how this soap looks!

Nag Champa Soap

2011-01-15T12:43:00.003+10:30

My fifth batch of soap was my first one for 2011. I was keen to get back to soapmaking after having spent a couple of weeks away on holiday ... plus I was keen to try the Nag Champa FO that I bought from Aussie Soap Supplies. Nag Champa is one of my all time favourite incense flavours.

This was the first time I trialled a recipe I 'made up'. I decided on this one, after more research and reading in a few places, that coconut oil should be no more than 20% of the total oils. I know opinions vary on this, but it was worth trying.

My Nag Champa soap is made of olive oil, rice bran oil and coconut oil. I added 33 gm of Nag Champa FO when the soap mix was 'light trace'. Then I removed about 200 gm and added 8 gm of black oxide (that I'd mixed with a little water) to that. I poured the soap into two silicon moulds, then poured half the 'black soap' down the centre of each. One I mixed it in the top half quite a bit, and the other I barely mixed ... just a few gently swirls.

I covered the moulds with cling and then wrapped them in towels.

24 hours later ... they're still quite soft and I couldn't unmould them due to feeling that my finger would go into the soap. It's hot and humid ... wonder if this is affecting the soaps ability to set.

48 hours later ... the soap is still soft, but I unmoulded it. I left the blocks sitting for a few hours then cut them. The cutting was a bit messy ... I think due to the soap still being too soft.

The smell and the look ... I love them both!

Soapmaking - some things I've learned

2011-01-12T21:00:00.004+10:30

Trace

Trace is when there is a 'trace (memory)' of the soap left showing, after some of the mix has been dripped from the mixer ... or you can see a 'drag' mark as the mixer is moved through the soap mix. A light trace is when this is barely visable ... a medium trace is when you can see it clearly but the mix will still pour easily ... and a thick trace is when the soap mix is almost peaking like a meringe mix. I personally have found that if I go to thick trace ... there's a chance the mix won't be so good when I have to spoon it into the moulds ... but it can be done. Thick trace sometimes happens by accident ... an accident known as 'seizing'. This is when you add something, like essential and/or fragrance oils, and the mixtures turns from a light pudding type mix to concrete is a second. It's scary ... but if you can manage to beat this a little to mix whatever it was you were adding, spoon it into moulds, smooth it out, wrap it well ... and hopefully the next day it won't look so bad. Sometimes you may have to toss this mix ... especially if the lye hasn't mixed properly. By checking the ph, you can tell if the lye has mixed properly ... soap when cured should have a ph of 9 or less. If you use your tongue to do the 'zap' test ... 9 or less will result in no zap!

Trace can happen very quickly ... in less than a minute ... or it can take many minutes. Relax and try not to stress ... although be confident you will for the first few batches you make.

After adding the lye mix to the oil mix, mix with a had beater for a minute or two, then stir for a minute or two ... now check if getting to a light trace. If it is ... now might be the time to add your oils (essential and/or fragrance). Light trace is often a good time to remove some soap to add colours. Soap is easy to play with at a light trace, but remember it can become thick very quickly when things are added, or it might still require quite a bit of mixing ... this is dependent on what you're adding and using ... and the temp you mixed at ... and the temp of the day ... so best to relax and work out these things as you go along.

Some people add the essential and/or fragrance oils to the oils before the lye mix is added ... others add them at light trace ... others at medium trace ... and some when the soap mix is a thick trace. What you decide to do, will depend on what you experience ... so keep making soap to you're happy with what you're doing ... and then enjoy it ever more.

Moulds
Make sure your moulds are wrapped up well with towels and/or rugs, after you've put the soap mix in them ... the soap needs a few hours to gel and during that time it gets quite warm (this is the lye working on the oils and making soap ... so make sure the moulds ar on something that won't be damaged by heat. I use a oven rack and have the towels going under the rack, up and over the moulds and tuck in the sides to prevent any draughts. Be careful not to move the moulds, so that the mix moves and sets unbalanced.

Cover the moulds with cling wrap ... before wrapping towels around them. This helps keep the heat in.

I've found the silicon moulds are the easiest to use, as they don't require lining with anything! I like the log silicon mould and have bought a couple on ebay.

I've learned heaps more than this ... and will add more posts like this about essential and/or fragrance oils, colourings etc.

Orange Poppy Seed and Oat Bran Soap

2010-12-19T18:29:00.005+10:30

My fourth batch of soap ... and another recipe to try. I'm learning heaps from a forum called 'The Soap Makers' forum and have learned about 'soap calculators' ... places you can enter the quantities of oils you're planning to use and it will tell you how much lye and how much water you need for those oils.

This time I thought about a soap for hands ... with poppy seeds to exfoliate and oat bran to soothe. I've read that orange essential oil won't last due to it being a 'top note' oil, so I used patchouli essential oil to 'anchor' it.

I also mixed about a 1/2 cup of the soap mix with some turmeric to get a golden orange colour. I then mixed this into the top 1/4 of the soaps when they were in the moulds. The colour looks like it might fade, but it was fun trying something different and I like how it looks.

Peppermint with Ground Pumice Soap

2010-12-19T18:23:00.005+10:30

For my third batch I used a different combination of oils and this time added a french green clay ... for a hint of colour and it's good for your skin. I used peppermint essential oil and ground pumice stone. I was thinking that this one might be good for Gardener's or for use on dry skin, like around your feet.

I felt much more relaxed making this batch ... think I'm coping better with the 'lye monster'.

The smell is divine ... but I've noted not to use so much essential oil next time!

Cinnamon and Patchouli Soap

2010-12-19T18:06:00.009+10:30

I chose to make a second batch, using a slightly different recipe and this time using cinnamon and patchouli essential oils and ground cinnamon to make a swirl ... or to try to make one.

These are the ingredients for this soap.

This soap went to a thick trace much sooner than I expected ... it seemed like it happened after only a few minutes of using the stick blender. I still added the cinnamon and patchouli essential oils. Plus I removed about half a cup of the soap mix and stirred the ground cinnamon into it. Then I returned this to the main mix and stirred it through carefully with some chopsticks. Then put the mix into moulds with a large stainless steel spoon. The mix was too thick to pour in.

24 hours later I unmoulded this soap ... it smelled beautiful, but looks a bit rough.

Next I cut it and decided it doesn't look so bad. Maybe after it's cured for six weeks, it will be an ok batch. Have to remember that cinnamon is not good for people with sensitive skin.

My first batch - Lavender Soap - 27 November 2010

2010-12-19T18:00:00.005+10:30

My soap unmould after 24 hours. I sliced the bar from the silicone mould into six pieces.

Up close with the bars of lavender soap

Up close with the muffins of lavender soap

Now I have to wait six weeks to try my first patch! Damn!

Soapmaking Process

2010-12-19T17:32:00.014+10:30

Put apron on!
Measured the olive oil in the measuring jug, then into the large saucepan
Measure the coconut oil in the measure jug, then into the large saucepan
Placed the large saucepan on an element, to heat later
Measured the water in a 2 cup pyrex measuring jug

Put gloves on!
These stayed on until after everything was washed up!
Weighed a small glass bowl, then added the lye to this bowl

Took the pyrex measuring jug with the water outside and put it in a cardboard box on my deck
Took the stainless steel mixing spoon and thermometer outside and put them in the cardboard box

Put on my goggles and paper filter face mask!
Carefully carried the glass bowl with the lye outside to my deck and slowly and carefully poured it into the water. You must add the lye to the water, as the reaction of doing it the other way can cause major health risk. Gently stir it with the mixing spoon. I couldn’t smell or feel any fumes, which was a great relief!

NOTE – the lye reacts with the water and will become very hot and fumy, so make sure you and the area around you is protected. Also this is not the time to have children or animals around. Make sure they are safely in bed or inside the house.

I put the thermometer in the lye mixture and it was about 80 C, now you have to wait, until it gets down to 50 C

While waiting I prepared some moulds. I had no idea how many to use, so I had more than I needed, including a mix of plastic, cooking ‘rubbery’ ones, cardboard shoe box, ceramic bowls, glass and pyrex bowls. Also I had wax paper and spray cooking oil.

Next I turned my element on to low to slowly heat the oils

I kept checking on the lye mix to see how the temperature was dropping ... I’ve read that you can cool this down in a sink/bowl of cold water if you need to.

When the temperature of the lye mix was 50 C and the oils 50 C, I added the lye mix to the oils (I had the saucepan with the oils in my sink, ready for this). The colour of the oils became slightly cloudy, but the smell was fine. I think all I could smell was the beautiful coconut oil.

I started to blend with the stick blender. Mix carefully as this mixture remains caustic until the soap has cured. The mixture will be runny to begin with and then slowly it will thicken.

At around the 10 minute mark I recognised that the mixture had thickened and I’m not sure, but it may have already been at ‘trace’.

I added 1 tsp of lavender essential oil and the heads from some lavender flowers

I mixed a little further and I was sure the mixture was now ‘trace’, as I could clearly see ripples on the top and when I removed the blender marks remained on the surface. Plus drops of liquid from the blender left a ‘trace’ on the mixture when they dropped. I suspect my mixture was a little too thick ... but I’m hoping that it will still make great soap.

I now poured this mixture into the moulds I prepared. I had to use a spatula to complete this, due to the mixture being thicker than necessary.

I wrapped the moulds with towels so they won’t cool too quickly and put them on a tray. Now I have to leave them to set ... this is the ‘not so good’ part!

I’ve read to leave the moulds for between 15 hours and a day or two ...

First Batch - Lavender Soap

2010-12-19T17:10:00.007+10:30

Here's the protective equipment I used -

Here's the containers and other bits and pieces I need to use -

Here's the moulds I might use ... haven't really decided which ones I'll need, as I have no idea how much soap the recipe will make -

And here's the ingredients for the recipe I'm trialling -

Soapmaking

2010-12-18T22:46:00.003+10:30

Four weeks ago I finally found the courage to make my first batch of soap. I'd researched this subject for years and was always a bit scared of the 'lye monster' ... in fact I didn't want to believe that I had to use such a caustic ingredient as potassium hydroxide ... it just seems all wrong to use the main ingredient in drain cleaner when I'm trying to change my lifestyle to be as chemical free as possible.

Finally I did more research and learned about the scientific process that oils and lye go through, and how soap is actually made ... and what happens to that nasty 'lye monster'.

So with that knowledge I got myself the necessary protective equipment ... goggles, paper filter mask, heavy duty gloves and apron ... and made sure all the bits and pieces I wanted to use were either stainless steel, pyrex or plastic ... no other metals.

Then it was about gathering the ingredients, measuring precisely ... making sure the laundry door was shut, so my dog couldn't get outside ... as I decided to mix the water and lye outside ... to keep all 'chemical fall out' away from the inside of my house.

I decided my first soap would be lavender and that I'd keep the mix smallish ... as I really had no idea what would happen.

To be continued ...

11 Days - with 7 elastics

2010-04-12T22:35:00.002+09:30

It's incredible ... except when I have to eat, I don't remember I have all these elastics.

My daily wear doesn't vary much, which I'm hoping is good -
- 4 hours on Thursday- 19 hours (10 hr, 9 hr) on Friday
- 19 hours (9 hr, 10 hr) on Saturday
- 22 hours (19 hr, 3 hr) on Sunday
- 21 hours - 18 x 7 (12 hr, 4 hr, 2 hr) + 3 x 4 on Monday
- 21 hours - 9 x 7 (7 hr, 2 hr) + 12 x 4 on Tuesday
- 21 hours - 9 x 7 (7 hr, 2 hr) + 12 x 4 on Wednesday
- 20 hours - 9 x 7 (7 hr, 2 hr) + 11 x 4 on Thursday
- 21 hours - 9 x 7 (7 hr, 2 hr) + 12 x 4 on Friday
- 22 hours - 19 hr + 3 x 4 (when I had visitors) on Saturday
- 22 hours - (18 hr + 4 hr) on Sunday
- 21 hours - 11 x 7 (8 hr, 3 hr ) + 10 x 4 on Monday

I'm changing my diet to raw, although sometimes I've found chewing a challenge, but I'm loving the changes I'm learning about. I'm also having one green smoothie a day ... and they're amazing!

My favourite green smoothie so far is -
- 200 gm silverbeet
- 3 bananas
- 1 handful of strawberries
- 1 cup water

Blend ... and enjoy!

Thursday - 1 Week with 7 elastics

2010-04-08T21:12:00.002+09:30

Apart from not being able to eat with these elastics in, things feel as comfortable as they usually do. Often I go to put something in my mouth and then realise I can't. This is a reminder why I don't like the thought of invisalign and why I'm grateful it was never an option for me.

My daily wear hasn't varied much -
... so far -
- 4 hours on Thursday
- 19 hours (10 hr, 9 hr) on Friday
- 19 hours (9 hr, 10 hr) on Saturday
- 22 hours (19 hr, 3 hr) on Sunday
- 21 hours - 18 x 7 (12 hr, 4 hr, 2 hr) + 3 x 4 on Monday
- 21 hours - 9 x 7 (7 hr, 2 hr) + 12 x 4 on Tuesday
- 21 hours - 9 x 7 (7 hr, 2 hr) + 12 x 4 on Wednesday
- 20 hours - 8 x 7 (7 hr, 2 hr) + 11 x 4 on Thursday

I now think it'll be weekends that will be the challenge, as this weekend I have several activities and they will grately reduce my x 7 elastic wear ... but I'm coping well with x 4 wear, so here's to that making progress.

Tueday - Day 5 with 7 elastics

2010-04-06T22:36:00.002+09:30

First day at work since my new elastics and although I only have to wear four at work, I feel they hold as tightly as the seven do. The best part is, with four I can talk ... although I still can't eat 'real' food.

My ortho was pleased with the times I've been managing and still wants me to work hard at wearing the seven elastics as much as possible.

... so far -

- 4 hours on Thursday

- 19 hours (10 hr, 9 hr) on Friday

- 19 hours (9 hr, 10 hr) on Saturday

- 22 hours (19 hr, 3 hr) on Sunday

- 21 hours - 18 x 7 (12 hr, 4 hr, 2 hr) + 3 x 4 on Monday

- 21 hours - 9 x 7 (7 hr, 2 hr) + 12 x 4 on Tuesday

I can't see me being able to decrease the hours wearing four elastics, due to that being from when I got ready to leave home till I took them out for tea. Here's to there being some progress soon. My ortho has warned me, that with my history, it's possible that my teeth will not move as desired ... but I'm hoping they'll prove him wRoNg!

Monday - Day 4 with 7 elastics

2010-04-05T21:42:00.002+09:30

Today was a public holiday ... so I've managed 'good times' again ...

I managed to wear them -
- 4 hours on Thursday
- 19 hours (10 hr, 9 hr) on Friday
- 19 hours (9 hr, 10 hr) on Saturday
- 22 hours (19 hr, 3 hr) on Sunday
- 21 hours - 18 + 3 hours (12 hr, 4 hr, 2 hr) + 3 hr of 4 x elastic wear on Monday

I'm now more comfortable with the elastics in than out. That's something I didn't expect.

When I take the five elastics that run across the front of my bite off, there's not a huge difference in feeling, but when I remove elastic one and seven ... the ones on the sides, my jaw feels lost ... it's a huge 'release of pressure' feeling. Interesting ...

Here's some pics of my mouth with 4 x elastics, what I need to wear when I have to talk, for example when I'm at work.

This is much easier to cope with than the 7 elastics, although I can't eat with them in.

Tomorrow I return to work ... it will be interesting!

Sunday - day 3 with 7 elastics

2010-04-04T12:20:00.002+09:30

Today ... Sunday ... my mouth is feeling heaps better ... my jaw isn't achy, which is a huge relief.

Last night I cleaned before going to bed ... around midnight ... and I've not taken these things out since. It's been 13 hours ... and I'm stoked I've done this long. I've been drinking protein shakes (with loads of yummies added - pureed), so I'm not hungry. Have to admit I'm looking forward to tea time ... as I'll definitely be eating big time. Will make sure I have softish food, as my jaw may not be too keen on chewing ... but will see how it feels at the time.

After the protein shakes, I've been brushing the front of my teeth gently and using a mouthrinse. I've not been off my property, so I'm not concerned about odours at this moment ... but if I sense visitors, I'll be in my bathroom asap!

My ortho said he's only ever done this a few times in the past and only with stubborn patients ... I think he meant patients with stubborn teeth ... and I couldn't laugh properly, as I already had the elastics in when he told me!

He has said I only need to wear elastics numbers 1, 2, 3 and 7 during work hours and when I'm public, and if possible number 4. Then add 5 and 6 (the ones that stretch the furthest) when I don't need to talk to people, or eat.

Last night ... after two days of 19 hours ... here's the pics of share relief!

These Elastics are Horrid!

2010-04-03T17:01:00.002+10:30

I managed to wear them -

- 4 hours on Thursday

- 19 hours (10 hr, 9 hr) on Friday

- 19 hours (9 hr, 10 hr) on Saturday

... I'm not counting Thursday ... as that's when I got them, but Friday was a holiday and Saturday's the 'real' weekend ... so both days are short by 3 hours.

I can't work out how I'm going to fit that extra 3 hours in ... plus if I decide to have a life (like go off my property) ... I'm not sure how I'd cope in public with these elastics in, as I can't talk properly, I can't eat and ... whinge, whinge, whinge ...

The frustrating thing is ... I really what my braces off asap ... and this seems like the best way to make this happen. Maybe I need to not work for the next few months ... stay away from friends ... and phones ... and just wear these elastics ... except when I'm eating and cleaning my teeth.

I'm not sure why I'm doing the cheesy metal grin ... as really I'm not smiling on the inside!

A reminder of what's happened in the past 4 1/2 years of treatment

2010-04-03T12:53:00.002+10:30

Wow ... it does make me realise that heaps has changed ... even though it often feels that there's so much that needs doing!

Smiling through seven elastics

2010-04-03T11:58:00.002+10:30

My lastest 'chair time' brought with it a major change in elastics ... in fact more major than I thought possible!

My ortho said he's trying to 'pull' my bite together so I can get my braces off. They've been on far too long (no disagreement from me on that one) ... so something needs to be done. Hopefully if these elastics work ... and for the discomfort, they damn well better ... my teeth will be free this side of christmas. Now that's something to motivate me to do my best to wear them as directed.

Wearing instructions ... as long as possible each day! Break that down further ... try to achieve 15 hours on work days and 22 hours on weekends, holidays etc. Oh my dear Goddess ... those are long hours. My ortho added that I need to try and wear them for long periods ... by that he was meaning, not to put them in, take them out, put them in, take them out ... Think I may try and keep a log on here to see what I achieve ... as I do need to try hard and this may motivate me, if I have to write it down.

My jaw is still a bit achy and there's no way I can eat with the elastics in. Also talking is a challenge, although I'm doing my best. It's a good thing this started the evening before a long weekend ... as that gives me four days to do my best!

Here's the photos ... beware ... these are scary!

Front ... showing my open bite. My upper front teeth are tied together with chord after having IPR to straighten the edges of them, so they meet without a gap.

Left - this shows the seventh elastic, it travels from the hook on my upper canine under the hooks on my lower canine and premolar and back to the upper canine's hook. The bend in the archwire is still working to bring down and align the upper premolar ... but it doesn't seem to want to move.

Right - the beginning of the six elastics to 'pull' my bite across. The cord tied around the brackets on my lateral incisor and first premolar have totally closed the gap where my impacted canine sits in my jaw. That chord is still there and the major bend in the archwire is to bring that premolar down even further ... but like the left one, it's not keen to move. Then there's a bend to try and bring the second premolar into better alignment ... I'm hoping they work ... very soon!

Just for some fun ... I quite like this look, as you can't see all the wear on my front teeth, or all the things that orthodontics alone can't fix without surgery. This photo also shows, that even with the elastics 'pulling' my jaw round, the middle of my upper teeth is way off ... so without surgery, even if my teeth move, my jaw will remain well off centre. This hopefully won't affect my bite in the long term. One thing I love about this photo, is that it makes my upper teeth look to be well in front of my lowers. They're not really that far in front (as the upper two side view show) ... but it looks great compared to where I started, with a class III and edge to edge.

Laughing ... well as best I can with these elastics holding tightly ... I've decided that after having braces for so long, laughing is really the only way to look at my situation.

Change is healthy ... I hope

2009-12-05T23:18:00.004+10:30

Usually I grow three or four sweet bite tomato plants every summer. They have a lovely flavour and they seem to fruit for months and months. I love eating them in many foods ... giving bags of them to friends, and using them instead of bread to dip in dukkah!

This year I've planted four sweet bite tomato plants ... and they're already providing me with tomatoes and growing well ... here's a photo taken a couple of weeks ago ... add a couple of centimetres to them, to image how they look today.

... but this year I've decided to diversify ... and even though Merv has died ... so I'm the only person I'm growing food for, I've added three more plants ... each of them different ... just to see how they grow.

Let me introduce you to ...
One of my heirloom tomatoes - Amish Oxheart

... another heirloom - Green Zebra - a gift from a friend and only planted 12 hours ago

... and a reasonably new tomato - Tomatoberry - it has small fruit on trusses and is advertised as being largely disease resistant. Today I was trimming some of the big leaves away from my tomatoes to allow more air movement around them and I realised that my tomatoberry has nine flowering trusses ... time to get excited

I have so many plans for you ...

2009-12-05T23:09:00.003+10:30

My Queensland blue pumpkins are finally producing female flowers and I can see the beginnings of roast pumpkin, mashed pumpkin, stirfried pumpkin, pumpkin in quiche, pumpkin in lasagne, pumpkin curry, pumpkin soup, pumpkin in vegie stew, pumpkin scones, pumpkin in nearly everything I cook ... I love pumpkin!

I have four Queensland blue pumpkin plants ... two planted in tyres, one either side of my lemon tree, and two planted in one of my raised garden beds ... although I seem to have lost 55 carrot plants and three apple cucumbers ... but hopefully they're still in that same raised garden bed ... somewhere ...

Down to Earth Forum Swap

2009-11-29T21:35:00.002+10:30

I've been involved in the members christmas tree ornament swap ... it was loads of fun.

Here's the goodies that arrived for me from Michelle in America -

I feel very spoilt!

Hair Cut

2009-11-15T13:54:00.006+10:30

Wilson was looking so cute ... but it was becoming obvious that hot weather wasn't far away, so it was time to have another hair cut.

Here's his before and after photos ... I didn't recognise his body ... but his eyes belonged to my gorgous companion.

I keep needing more space for my vegies ...

2009-10-30T23:04:00.002+10:30

I can't stop adding more seeds and seedlings. So I have to keep finding ways to increase my space ... and that's fun. Here's some photos ...

These terracota pots have been sealed and are homes for a bay tree and flat leaf parsley.

A heirloom tomato plant - Amish Oxheart - growing in a bag of potting mix

A Queensland blue pumpkin and a bush cucumber are growing in two tyres.

I have three 'tomato towers' which I'm using to grow climbing beans and peas.

Seven Raised Garden Beds ...

2009-10-30T22:48:00.003+10:30

Finally all the raised garden beds have been built!

It was so exciting to have the final two built, weed mat and soil in place, so I could find more vegies to put in them. It didn't take long to fill them both ... although I'm continuing to look for space to add more seeds and seedlings.

Next the watering options will be added. Each garden will have the choice of the BioCycle, rain water (tank) or mains water. Then the areas around each garden bed will be levelled and covered with weed mat and blue metal. An arch is being built by a friend and it will go between the two garden beds built onto the side of my neighbours and my fence. A bench seat will be below that ... as a place to chill. Not all together necessary, as each garden has a layer of sleepers lying horizontally ... so it's possible to sit anywhere!

Trying to make a signature ...

2009-10-15T21:30:00.000+10:30

Week 208 - Adjustment 25 - Photos

2009-09-06T19:23:00.002+09:30

Front

Left

Right - with gap over the impacted canine nearly closed due to the bracket on the lateral and first pre molar being tied with power-chord

Closer look at the closing of the gap caused by my impacted canine

Open bite

Week 208 - Adjustment 25

2009-07-29T21:14:00.007+09:30

My ortho is keenly trying to get my bite in the best position and to that end he worked on my upper arch this time.

He removed the powerchain ... which has been there since my November adjustment. It was amazing to see the powerchain and that it was still totally in tact. It wouldn't be applying pressure to my teeth, but it was preventing them from spreading out, so it was still do a part job ... after all those months - 8 months!

Next he took my top archwire off and adjusted the bends in it and worked more bends into it. The archwire was put back on and I could immediately feel that. Then a new powerchain was put on ... my favourte purple one ... and ghee I could feel that.

Next my ortho got some PC 'power chain' ... which is a type of elastic thread. He threaded that around the brackets of the teeth on either side of the gap where my impacted canine is and then tied it tight ... behind the archwire. Wow ... I could feel those teeth moving ... which was exciting! Tben with some fancy tying, it was secured tightly in place.

A new hook was made for my upper right side elastic and more of those horrible tiny 1/8" elastics were put on. Same as last time -

Left side - a triangle, from upper canine to lower canine and lower premolar

Right side - a triangle from upper first molar to lower canine and lower premolar

My next appointment is in seven weeks and here's to my bite being less open and the gap over my impacted canine finally closed!

Week 202 - Adjustment 24

2009-06-28T00:09:00.002+09:30

It's been a long time since I've been to see my ortho for an appointment, mostly due to me not keeping an appointment while my hubby was in hospital, and after he died ... well my teeth just didn't seem to warrant interest. But ... finally I'm back and realise that my darling man needs me to stay on track, so I'm back to doing things that need to be done!

My ortho was so caring and sweet about my absence, but he still stressed my need to keep on track now, as my time in treatment is getting long ... and don't I know that!

He's concerned that my open bite hasn't shown much improvement and he wonders if this may not be able to be corrected without surgery. He doesn't recommend I have the surgery, so it's about getting my bite to a place where it's as good as it can be.

He changed my elastics to these tiny little 1/8" things ... gray wolf ... they are so tiny and hard to put on. I'm to wear them all day, one on each side in a triangle

Left side - a triangle, from upper canine to lower canine and lower premolar
Right side - a triangle from upper first molar to lower canine and lower premolar

My next appointment is in six weeks and here's to my bite being less open and the gap over my impacted canine closed!

He couldn't stay ...

2009-03-09T02:30:00.002+10:30

The love of my life died on the last day of our Summer ... 28 February 2009.

We spent three weeks in hospital together and then with the help of our Palliative Care nurse, I was able to bring my hubby home for his final few days.

He was doing it hard, but he never stopped smiling and communicating with family and friends.

Early Saturday morning, he had problem breathings, and after administering him his meds at 3 am and 4 am, I phoned our Palliative Care nurse for advice. He talked me through the next hour, and then it was all about waiting ... waiting for our kids to arrive.

My gorgeous man was doing it tough, but he wasn't ready to give up and he kept gasping for breath and doing everything in his power to stay with us. Our kids arrived just before 11 am (they'd flown in around 10 am) and we were by his side till he took his final breath 1 1/2 hours later.

He acheived his goals to be at home and to have the three people he loved the most in this world holding him tight.

Our sadness is so heavy I'm not sure how to survive the weight, but I'm pleased my hubby no longer has to live with this horrible disease!

Thanks to the many bloggers who've been giving me support over the past year ... it was truly appreciated.

Visitors

2009-02-02T10:55:00.003+10:30

We've had family from New Zealand visit and that was good for us both. My hubbies Mum, one of his brothers and his wife came for a week. It was nice to catch up with them and hear stories from home. The hard part is when they leave ... my hubby gets very upset, coz he's left wondering if he'll ever see them again. I think that's why he's not sure if he wants any more family from New Zealand to visit.

Our kids are due back in about seven sleeps ... can't wait! It's tough for them having to leave their jobs and friends, but they both want to spend as much time with their Dad as they can. I can't begin to imagine how tough this is for them.

We're noticed that our local friends don't call as often as they used to. A couple still do ... but it's getting hard for them ... you can see it in their eyes. They love my hubby (and they've all worked for him also) and I think they're finding the sight of him suffering is just too hard ... which it is!

Heat Wave

2009-02-02T10:41:00.003+10:30

Our state, is in the middle of a heat wave, with last weeks temps in the high 40's and this week we're expecting high 30's most days. Sadly many people are dying from this heat ... mostly the elderly, sick, with children and animals are also at risk.

My hubby can't go outside ... he's held up inside, under ceiling fans and with the air con blowing. He needs the cool air blowing on him to help him breathe ... that's even while wearing oxygen. The dry heat exhausts him and makes him gasp for breath. Our fear is a power cut. We have two cylinders of oxygen, so that's the oxygen taken care of ... it's more about how to get cool air moving. Think if that happened, I'd get him in the car ... somehow ... and just keep driving (with the air con blowing full) till the power was back on.

Our doctor has been to our house twice now ... which is so sweet of him, as my hubby wouldn't be able to go to the clinic to see him. He's been through the many pain meds my hubby is on and made adjustments. It really is a personal way to meet with your doctor, instead of in their rooms.

I've realised that a lot of the time I'm feeling numb ...
I think I'm already grieving ...
Grieving for the things my hubby can no longer do ...
Grieving for the amazing life we had ...
Other times my stomach churns till I'm sure I'll be sick ...
But I think this is also a sympton of my grieving ...
I don't like grieving ...

Life now ...

2009-01-15T01:24:00.004+10:30

Things have changed and my hubby is now almost totally dependant on oxygen. The cancer has spread to his lungs and is making inroads into his stomach.

Life now seems to be about managing what we are facing ... damn hard.

My hubby seems to be in pain or discomfort more often than not ... although he is wearing strong 'pain patches' and having regularly doses of oral morphine.

He rarely ventures outside, as the heat upsets his breathing, so he's gone from being an outside person to being confined inside.

His feet, ankles and legs swell to almost bursting ... and this is all part of the this revolting disease, where fluid can no longer be absorbed or passed, as it is with a healthy person.

His shoulder blades poke out like he's been starved ... his arms are so thin I feel scared they might snap. He's thinner than I've ever known him ... and that makes we weep!

He keeps trying to be positive, but it's getting harder and harder.

... but as always there's positives ... and the biggest one for me is that our love is stronger than ever ... but this also makes me cry more, as I can't stand the thought that he won't be a live part of my life for much longer.

I want him

I need him

I love him ...

but cancer is taking him from me

and neither of us know how to stop this!

Happy ...

2009-01-01T00:58:00.003+10:30

Happy 2009!

Thanks to all the people who've given support during the past 12 months. It's incredible to feel the support from so many people I've never met and probably never will! Thanks so much ... it really is appreciated!

Have an awesome 2009!

Family and visitors

2008-12-30T00:38:00.003+10:30

Our kids have been staying for a week or two now and it's been great having them here.

A close friend of my hubbies ... a guy he made friends with while at primary school ... and his wife have been visiting from New Zealand.

Local friends, many of them Kiwi's living in this same area in Australia, visit most days to see how my hubby is doing. It's a tough time, as apart from his time in hospital and his not feeling very well, it's also the time his managers, supervisors and contractors have returned to work ... without him. I can't begin to imagine what that must feel like for a man who really enjoys his job as GM.

We're so lucky to have wonderful kids and wonderful friends.

Hubby home ...

2008-12-29T00:11:00.003+10:30

After much discussion, it was decided that my hubby would have an endoscopy on the Monday and it showed that the tumour had narrowed his esophagus in two places. We then had a discussion with the gastro doc, who was confident that the placement of two stents was the way to go. Other discussions with our oncologoy team, raised areas of concern, but finally my hubby agreed that he would have the two stents put in. This was done on the Tuesday ... and a nervous time it was. Fortunately it all went well and he recovered with no obvious affect to his lungs.

We were still hoping for him to be released on christmas day, but the docs said he had to stay till boxing day, so that he could be guided through the ... clear fluids, full fluids and soft food choices. On christmas day the four of us went out for three hours. We found a fish and chip shop, bought a feed, then found a spot by the sea and enjoyed our dinner. It was horrible to see how quickly my hubby was exhausted by his outing, and we had to return to the hospital, so he could have pain relief.

On boxing day I left home about 7 am, so I would be at the hospital for the doctors rounds. Unfortunately my hubby's docs were on leave, but we still had a good discussion with the doc who saw him. We left with a pile of liquid morphine, morphine patches and other stuff. The letter for our pallative care team about my hubby's need for oxygen wasn't there ... but hopefully that will be followed up this week.

By the time we got home, my hubby was exhausted. Our daughter had the oxygen machine running ... so he sunk into a chair with that and liquid morphine.

That night was a horror. We didn't seem to be able to get on top of the pain, and my hubby became quite distressed. Around 9 am I phoned the emergency pallative care number and our nurse phoned the duty doctor for advice. She organised stronger liquid morphine, to be administered more frequently and a stronger pain patch. This was wonderful, as all we had to do, was collect the script, take it to the pharmacy and pay for the drugs.

The second night, my hubby had a far better rest and although I needed to massage him once through the night, his 'bones' (shoulders and back) didn't seem to ache so much. He also got out of bed and slept in the recliner for a few hours, so that pressure was being distributed differently. My hubby was amazed he'd slept so well ... and his morning was a good one. He sat in the wheelchair on our back deck for a few hours, enjoying the sun and giving our son and a friend who's visiting from NZ, instructions about what needs doing to our back area. We think he may have overdone things ... but it was great to see him enjoying the fresh air, family and friends.

Here's to tonight being similar, or better, than last night!

Hubby still in hospital

2008-12-21T00:30:00.002+10:30

It's three week and my hubby's short visit to hospital continues to drag out. The 80+ km a day drive from home to the hospital and the 80+ km a day drive back is starting to take it's toll, but not as much as my need to have him home ... my need to get him out of that place and back to things that are more familiar to him.

The 'talc' mix was put in his lung last week and the tube removed on Friday. His x-rays showed two small areas with fluid/air in them, but the lung doc is happy with how the scaring has worked.

On Friday a doc from the Gastro department arrived and said he wanted my hubby to have an endoscopy done on Monday, as the problems he's having eating and holding food down (soft, minced food) may mean that the tumour has thickened, and he may benefit from having a stent placed in the esophagus. This all sounded scary, but good, but today my hubby's oxygen levels have dropped ... we're not sure why ... it maybe related to the infection he has at the site where the tube went into his lung ... no one seems too sure. But anyway, due to his oxygen levels being low, he may not be able to have the endoscopy done, as the risks would be too high. I'm not sure where this leaves us with regard to his eating ...

I just want to take him home!

Our daughter arrived last Wednesday and it's been great having her for company during the drives to and from the hospital and at home during the short evening, before we fall exhausted into bed. She brought her dog, Charlie (a moodle - maltese x poodle), with her, and Wilson and him are having a great time! Our son arrives on Monday ... and then our family will be together for christmas ... just gotta get hubby out of the hospital!

15 December 2008 - 29th Wedding Anniversary

2008-12-14T22:48:00.004+10:30

Wow ... tomorrow is our 29th wedding anniversary and I love my man as much now as I did when I met him 30 1/2 years ago!

I wish everyone could have a marriage as wonderful as ours.

We've done so much together, been to many places and experienced so many things.

We have two gorgeous kids, who've grown into the most amazing adults.

We're truly blessed!

Hubby still in Hospital

2008-12-14T22:30:00.002+10:30

Two weeks have passed, and a few things have happened, unfortunately nothing that was really planned.

Last Tuesday a large tube was put in his left lung to drain the fluid. Nearly six litres was removed and this was very painful. The lung doc was pleased with the x-rays, that showed hubbies lung was working hard to expand. My hubby was distressed with the pain, and I've got to be honest, seeing him in pain is something I deal badly with.

Hubby was also coughing a lot and bringing up phlem, which we were told was good. Then he coughed and said it felt like something had 'clicked' in his neck. His face had started to swell and by the time I got a nurse (within a minutes) his neck area was very swollen. This caused a panic and three doctors were called in. Our oncology doc said the tube had to come out, as she was concerned something bad was happening. She quickly removed the tube and then stayed and talked us through many options ... scary stuff. She was worried that my hubby's neck would continue to swell and that his breathing was compromised. She asked us about resuscitation and recommended we mark my hubby's file 'not for resuscitation' ... we had discussed this, but listening to a doctor talking like this was something neither of us coped well with ... and the tears fell. She asked if I wanted to stay the night in my hubby's room, which was nice, as I'd already decided I wasn't going anywhere.

I slept on the reclining chair ... it was comfy and I did get some sleep ... well a little sleep. My poor hubby barely closed his eyes, as he feared they'd not open again. Every time he started to doze, he'd 'jump' as his subconscious woke him agin.

The morning came and his breathing was still good ... a huge relief.

More x-rays and then more problems. It was found he had a pneumothorax, which is when a hole develops in the lung, allowing air to escape into the space between the lung and the chest wall and collapsing the lung. This had to be corrected by another tube being put into the same area to remove the air. Doctors rushed in and after three attempts the tube was in the right place. My poor hubby was exhausted, tearful and in loads of pain. He was so over this whole hospital thing, I was worried he'd discharge himself. The nurses gave him more and more morphine to help him relax and to help his pain. He was given patches and needles.

Over the past three days, his pain levels have decreased a little, and he's trying hard to keep on top of the pain, by asking for morphine rather than waiting till he's already in pain. He's still not sleeping well ... and he's rarely eating ... both worry me heaps.

Now we wait for the hole in his lung to heal. His lung doc is confident this will happen quickly and still wants to do the 'talc' in the pleural space thing, to get this area to scare and therefore prevent fluid buildup. My hubby will allow this, as long as the tube he currently has in, can do the job. Due to the pain caused by these tubes, he's not prepared to have another one ... and I don't blame him!

Week 170 - Adjustment 23

2008-12-08T01:10:00.002+10:30

November 2008

I've been real slack taking photos ... so these are nearly a month late, but hopefully they will record some progress.

Front

Left

Right

Gap closing over impaced canine

Open Bite

The 'openness' of my bite is annoying, but I've been reassured it's part of the 'gets worse before it gets better' stuff.

Hubby still in hospital

2008-12-08T00:52:00.002+10:30

Unfortunately what we'd hoped would only be a couple of days, has turned in to a week ... or more.

My hubby's bone scan came back almost clear. There's two marks behind one eye, but his team don't appear too concerned and have suggested it may just be marks on the scan. The CT scan shows that the tumour has grown ... which we expected, and has moved into the stomach area, but not by a lot. There are swollen glands in the stomach, but they said these weren't to bad. His team were happy to report that his liver is clear at this time. The chest x-ray showed the left lung flooding with fluid and the right lung with a smaller amount of fluid. Fluid removed from the left lung contains cancer cells, but we've not sort clarification of this yet ... will try and be brave enough to talk about this with his team tomorrow. Surgery is not an option, as my hubby's oxygen levels and breathing are not great enough for this. Instead we're to see a 'lung Doctor' on Monday and hopefully s/he will agree to put a tube in the left lung, so that it can be drained more easily.

A stressful time, but if we can achieve easier drainage, then quality of life will be easier to achieve.

I just want my hubby home! To be honest, I want much more than that, but I've got to accept that somethings we just can't have.

Family begin to arrive

2008-11-28T00:48:00.003+10:30

One of my hubby's brother's, and his wife flew in from New Zealand on Tuesday. It's great to see them!

Our daughter flew in on Wednesday. She's exhausted, as hasn't slept since she finished night shift. Sooooooooooooo great to have her here.

We're still not totally in our new house, but Wilson and I slept here on Monday night. Two friends stayed with us, due to my hubby being in hospital. It was strange being in a new place, but I woke up feeling good, which I take to be a positive!

My hubby is breathing better, but has limited energy and seems to be sleeping more and more. It's really hard to know what to do and at times I just have to walk away, as it's breaking my heart to see him change like this.

Our son is in Perth for the next few days with one of his bands, and he flies in on Sunday. Them more relations fly in from New Zealand on Monday. It'll be tough on them, as that's the day my hubby will be admitted to hospital, but hopefully only for a couple of days.

Two litres removed

2008-11-28T00:37:00.003+10:30

My hubby was admitted at 7.30 am on Monday and by 9 am had, had one litre of fluid removed from his left lung. The Intern who did the surgery under the guidance of our Doctor, said the fluid came easily and recommended that if the x-ray was good, my hubby should stay in hospital and have another litre removed the next day.

The x-ray showed fluid around both lungs, but the left lung is still the worst. My hubby showed almost instant improvement with his breathing and general well being, so it was decided that he should stay the night.

The following morning at 7.30 am I was back at the hospital to support my hubby through his third fluid removal surgery. Again it went well and the x-ray showed a tiny improvement.

Later that morning we spoke with our Palliative Care nurse who talked about alternatives to having fluid removed. These included using talc to 'glue' the outside layer and lung layers together or having a tube inserted into the area between the lung and the outer area, that's left in place, so that fluid can be removed more easily.

He followed this discussion with a talk to our Doctor, who phoned the Oncology Department at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and discussed options with them.

We went home that afternoon and our Doctor said he'd phone within two days to let us know what QEH though of the options.

The following day our Doctor phoned to say QEH were prepared to admit my hubby on Monday (the day of his 50th birthday), to do a scan (something we'd planned to not have, due to my hubby being diagnosised as terminal), and then to do the talc or tube ... or something. We will have many visitors from NZ and Oz here, but my hubby was feeling so much better after having two litres removed in two days, that he had no issue deciding going into hospital was his best option.

So here's hoping that the scan will allow something to go ahead! Loads of positive thoughts please!

Second Surgery on Monday

2008-11-22T01:00:00.003+10:30

Our Doc looked worried as soon as we walked into his office on Thursday. My hubby had only walked the short distance from the waiting room to his office and his breathing was heavy. After checking his breathing and the usual 'knocking on his fingers' around his back, our Doc said there's fluid in both lungs, but the left is still the worst and he's prepared to take more fluid from it, if that's what we want. We both agreed it was! He gave us a choice of any day from the Friday, till the end of next week. We chose Monday, coz that means if he decides to take another litre off the following day, it will be all over by the Tuesday, which we think is the day our first visitors arrive from New Zealand.

We're to be at the the local hospital by 7.30 am on Monday morning and our Doc is planning to insert the needle to remove a litre of fluid, around 8 am. He asked my hubby if his Intern could do the job, assisted by himself, and my hubby agreed. Our Doc thinks this would be a good one for his Intern to do, as there's a lot of fluid, which means it's easier to find.

Our Doc said that depending on how my hubby copes with the one litre removal on Monday, he may or may not take another litre on the Tuesday. We're hoping it all goes well and that another litre is taken.

Here's to my hubby coping with the fluid over the weekend, and then finding great relief after the surgery on Monday ... and hopefully again on Tuesday!

My Hubby

2008-11-19T10:58:00.002+10:30

At his Docs appointment last Friday, it was mostly good. His pain meds have been increased from 5mg to 25mg, and are mostly helping, but I'm noticing that now (nearly a week later), they're not taking care of all his pain.

My hubby still isn't able to go to work and I can't help feeling that he may not be able to go back again. This is heartbreaking, but he's better to stay away and feel better, than push himself to go and feel exhausted. A new GM has been appointed, and that's hard for everyone involved, but we have to accept that it's necessary.

Food intake is minimal and although he's always had a fantastic appetite for nearly all types of food, he's totally lost interest in the stuff. Our Doc said this was problem due to toxins being put out by the tumour (or tumours). He's trying to drink to keep some strength ... protein drinks like Ensure Plus and he's making fruit smoothies ... both of which I'm sure do help. I've lost my cook ... she wails in self indulgence ... but she knows that loosing her cook is nothing compared to what the future may hold.

Our doc has agreed to take more fluid from around my hubby's left lung, and may have him stay in hospital overnight, so he can take one litre of fluid on one day and one litre the next day. We're trying to delay this being done for as long as possible, as family and friends from New Zealand begin arriving next week ... and some will be here for around two weeks. Hubby's 50th birthday will be both a fun and challenging time. Great to see so many members of our family and friends, but it will be a big shock for them to see my hubby, coz when we visited them in New Zealand last July/August, he was looking so much healthier. My hubby is going to have to find the strength to disappear to our bedroom for quiet times whenever he needs them. It will be tough ... but we will get through this!

Today my darling man is looking pale, tired, and grey. Not a good look! He's also frustrated, so damn frustrated, coz he wants to be working around our place next door, but even walking over there is exhausting and requires him to sit down. Cancer is so damn cruel!

Our good friend James is still working for us everyday, but we're going to have to let him return to work, as don't want to upset the balance in any way. He's loving working around the house and would happily continue to do it for a few more weeks, but unfortunately we can't afford that luxury. We do know that after James returns to his real job, he will join our many friends who come round to offer help at nights and weekends. We are very lucky people to have so many great friends.

We go to the doc tomorrow and think it'll be time for more decisions re fluid removal. Plus another increase (or change) in pain meds.

Photos

2008-11-14T01:03:00.001+10:30

I've loaded photos of our house and the beautiful Wilson, to an online photo storage site. Here's the addy ...

http://community.webshots.com/user/kiwikaz

Please check them out and let me know what you think.

Week 170 - Adjustment 23

2008-11-08T00:02:00.002+10:30

My ortho is happy that my upper right gap, over the impacted canine is continuing to close.

He's not so happy that my bite is still open and appears to be catching on a back molar, right side.

Powerchains were removed and both archwires removed and more bends put in on the right side.

New purple powerchains and I'm to continue with the same elastic configeration - Size 3/16".

Left side - a triangle, from upper canine to lower canine and lower premolar
Right side - a triangle from upper first molar to lower canine and lower premolar

My ortho brought up the subject of retainers ... wow ... does this mean he can see a light at the end of the tunnel for me ... I'm excited, but I'm still not prepared to ask about time frames. Anyway he said that the cost of my 'plates' has been covered in my original payment, but that he'd also recommend I get upper and lower fixed retainers. He uses a gold wire and they cost $250.00 each. He said in general the fixed retainers do hold the teeth in place more definitely, although you have to be careful with them, as it means never eating very chewy lollies. He said my oral hygiene is excellent and that he'd never recommend a fixed retainer to anyone who didn't have very good oral hygiene.

My right side has a few aches, but in general this was a much easier adjustment than my last one. Here's to my gap being closed when I have more chair time in February 2009 ... it sure is strange typing that!

Friday - Hubby is feeling better!

2008-11-07T23:51:00.006+10:30

A new day and my hubby is feeling better. :-)

It's so good to see him smiling and happy. He's able to walk to our new house (which we built next door to the one we currently live in), without having to stop for breath. He's been worrying terribly that our new house won't be finished before he dies ... I wish I could convince him not to, but I realise he's doing this for me.

We have awesome friends who've spent every weekend (and some evenings after work), this past month, working on the boundaries, preparing retaining walls and the like. Today we 'employed' a friend ... who does work for the business my hubby is GM of, but he's taken two weeks leave to work for us on our new place, preparing the outside so we can move in. We're going to pay him his weekly wage, but it's still such a kind act, as I know he'll achieve heaps and my hubby will feel loads better while that's happening.

This weekend there's more digging (bobcat) needed to 'cut' the land for more retaining walls and getting ready to order the fences and gates. We're going to have to have a meeting with our neighbours who we share boundaries with to organise fences. Our neighbours over the back are close friends and there house is nearly at the 'roof on' stage. They visit most days, so we just have to make a decision with them. The other neighbour, whom we both share a boundary with appears to 'hide' away all weekend when we're out working around our land. Not sure why, but we're going to have to talk to him, coz we need to get these fences organised asap. He's been in his house a few months now, it was built earlier this year, so hope he's allowed money for fencing in his budget. Sadly he's not had any work done around his house, which I'm sure would look really nice with some gardens, paths etc.

Post fluid removal surgery - the following day

2008-11-07T00:19:00.002+10:30

My hubby has not felt well today. His side is bothering him, but we're hoping that's due to where the needle was put in. He still looks a better colour and has a little more energy, but the huge improvement that was obvious yesterday is not so great today.

We are hoping that tomorrow (Friday) will have him feeling better.

He's off to our pharmacy in the morning to get his script for a slow acting endone pain relief med. Hopefully with the use of 'slow release' he will get more pain relief over a longer period of time, without the extreme need to sleep after having meds. I can tell he's not happy about the thought of wasting precious time sleeping due to taking pain meds, but he's also realising that he needs this med. So many conflicting issues!

While we were at the hospital both our doc and a nurse spoke to us about the need to include Yuri (our palliative care nurse) in what's happening. Unfortunatley he's away till Monday, or they'd have organised him to see us while we're still at the hospital. We need to get our head around the idea that palliative care is about 'quality of life while you're living' and not about 'dying' ... this is a tough one for us both! We've only seen Yuri once, when he came to interview us at home. My hubby told him then that he didn't want anything to do with him ... well not him personally, but with palliative care. It really is tough, coz as our doc explained, all he's doing now is palliative ... so there's no real difference. Neither of us had looked at it this way before.

We've been told that Yuri will be able to help us with food to help my hubby when he's not wanting to eat ... which apparantly the toxins released by the cancer often cause. Also if the fluid on my hubby's lungs requires the need for him to have oxygen, Yuri can arrange for us to have a machine that he can use at home, to get the oxygen levels in his blood up, and hopefully to help with his energy levels.

This journey is one I hope none of you evere have to experience!

Surgery went well

2008-11-07T00:05:00.004+10:30

We arrived at the hospital just before 8 am and our doctor was waiting for us.

My hubby was admitted and then the work began to get all equipment ready to removed the fluid from around his lung. This was done in a 'normal' hospital room, so it was important to have everything as sterile as possible.

I was sitting by the bed, and was never asked to leave, so I stayed for the procedure.

Firstly they gave my hubby some meds to relax him, and since he still doesn't take much for his pain, only a few endone here and there, he kinda went cross-eyed for a bit, but luckly he came good.

Next the doc did his sterilisation routine, scrubbed, was growned, gloved etc. There was a nurse, an medical intern and a student present, so quite a busy little room. Numbing stuff was put in the area they were planning to put the needle in, and then a larger needle was put in. They work 'blind', which is kinda scary when you realise they working around the lungs and ribs. After a bit of moving the needle, and considerable discomfort on my poor hubby's face, a good flow was established.

Our doc removed 60 mls at a time, and then it was released, by a separate tap into a container. Two containers were taken to send away for examination. A litre of clear brown fluid was removed and then the needle was removed. An hour or so later we walked to the x-ray section, and he had another x-ray. After that he rested on the hospital bed, until our doc returned from his general practice around 1 pm. He checked the x-rays, and unfortunately they show little improvement, which possibly indicates more fluid had accummulated since the previous x-ray, the day before. Our doc said that depending on how my hubby recovers from this surgery, will help with the decision as to what to do next. They may take more fluid off, but will neveer take more than 1 litre, as it can have a negative affect to take more. It was soooooooooooo disappointing to see so much of the lung still surrounded by fluid, and also a couple of small patches have shown on his right lung.

Hubby is feeling better and is breathing better.

Our doc said to go home, but to take care. He asked to see us in a week. My hubby mentioned he was flying to Brisbane next week for business and was swiftly told that 'no he wasn't'. Then our doc explained that although the x-rays show no air hole in his lungs, he cannot risk going at altitude. Good thing the subject came up before we left.

The improvement in my hubby is incredible! All fingers crossed! :-)

Surgery tomorrow morning

2008-11-05T00:54:00.003+10:30

My hubby is having surgery tomorrow morning to remove fluid from around his left lung.

This past week has been horrid, with his energy levels getting lower and lower. He's been so frustrated by this, as he's not even been able to go to work for any time. His directors are amazing, as they've told him not to worry ... but still he does.

Our doctor is doing the surgery and has been honest with us about what may happen. Best case senario is that the fluid will remove easily, there won't be any 'hole' left in the lung, or infection, and the fluid will not return for a long time. Next best ... same as above, but the fluid will return in a few months/weeks. Next ... same as above, but the fluid will return in days. After that it just gets progressively less desirable ... which includes lung problems from the needle used to drain the fluid, and the risks of infection.

We're aiming for the best, which includes my hubby being able to stay on his feet for an hour or more and being able to breathe with ease. Plus an improvement in appetite would be welcomed.

All positive healing energy is welcome ... thanks!