Three Years - 3 August 2008

When my treatment started, I had no idea it would be lasting this long ... and longer ... Probably a good thing, as I may not have started treatment had I been aware of this!

Three year summary ...

Front

Left Side and Right Side

Upper Arch and Lower Arch

Patience ... Patience ... Patience ...

Dentist and Hygienist Appointments

Had another round of appointments with my dentist and hygienist and received an A1 report from both.

My hygienist calls me her model patient ... and it does feel good, as it makes the extra effort I make during my night cleaning worth while!

Olympic Medals for New Zealand

New Zealand is a very small country, with a population of around 4 million.

We love sport, with our first love being rugby union. We never have a large team to go to the Olympics, but we do dream of medals for our amazing athletes.

Finally today it's happened ...

2 Gold - New Zealander's Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindells have taken the gold in dramatic fashion in the women's double sculls event.

New Zealander Valerie Vili won the Olympic shot put gold at the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing

1 Silver - New Zealand cyclist Hayden Roulston won silver medal in the 4,000 m individual pursuit.

2 Bronze - New Zealander Mahe Drysdale claimed New Zealand's first medal of the Olympic games, in the men's single sculls event.

New Zealand Nathan Twaddle and George Bridgewater came third in the Men's pairs rowing event.

All Blacks Win!

An awesome outcome!

We played South Africa in South Africa and kept them to 19-nil ... amazing. Dan Carter missed a conversion and three penalties and yet we still managed to score the win!

We rained on Percy Montgomery, 100th cap for South Africa ... but are we Kiwi's concerned about that ... not in the least!

We are still in with a chance to take out the Tri Nations!

Maltalier

A Maltalier is a cross between a pure breed Maltese and a pure breed Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Breed Information

Coat - minimal shedding, non allergenic coat that is soft and wavy
Grooming - regular grooming required, this includes brushing daily and clipping regularly
Size - 20-30 cm
Weight - 3-8 kg
Temperament - great house dog, good with people of all ages, easy to train, very intelligent and extremely loyal make a fantastic lap dog, or companion very laid back
Colour - any colour combination except chocolate

I've chosen a blenheim coloured male and here's a pic of the three blenheim coloured males. It was take on 11 August 2008, when the pups were five days old.

I get to collect our puppy on 28 September 2008 at 8 am ... and I can't wait!

New Puppy

With the guidance of the spirit of my beautiful dog Milo, I was lead to the breeders of Maltaliers - Maltese x Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

I made contact with the breeders ... who surprisingly only live about an hours drive away, and they said they were hoping for another litter later in the year. That was about six weeks ago.

When we returned from New Zealand, there was an email to say seven puppies had been born on 6 August 2008 and would I please let them know ASAP if I was still interested. I did, and since then I've seen a photo of these babies and have chosen a blenheim coloured male. I've paid the deposit and now we wait for the puppies to grow strong with their Mum.

We will collect our puppy on the morning of 28 September ... and to say I'm excited is an understatement. I keep wanting to buy things for our new baby. I've already bought six months of flea treatment, a new purple collar, toys, blankets for Milo's bed (which is still in good condition), a small purple hot water bottle, a harness that includes a seat belt connection ... nice and easy to keep your dog safe. Plus toys etc.

Next I plan to buy dry food and freeze chicken necks in single bags, so I can give my new baby one of those a day. Did I mention that I'm very excited.

At the moment I think his name will be Wilsyn ... or at least that's what my daughter and I want. My hubby isn't against this name, or totally for it, but now he's got to try and find another one ... or Wilsyn it will be! When we're sure of the name, I'll get a name tag made for his new collar.

I've also been to my vet and booked him in for Puppy School!

My July Bite ...

How I prefer to bite ...


How I'm supposted to bite ...


And the bite that makes my upper jaw look like it's in class I ...

Planning trip to Darwin

My hubby is feeling good and is eating well ... very important with the type of cancer he has.

So now we're planning our train trip to Darwin, plus organising our kids to fly to Darwin to spend some time with us!

Can't wait to see them both, and as they've not been to Darwin before, I'm sure this will be a fun time for them also.

My hubby is planning to take them fishing and we'll all do the Market thing ...which Darwin is so great at. Plus we'll take them to see the crocodile's jumping ... which is a great trip on the Adelaide River.

We are back

We had a great five days in Sydney with our kids, then it was off to New Zealand.

We arrived at the same time as a storm 'hit' the North Island and there was plenty of 'fat' NZ rain landing on our island ... the South Island.

We flew into Christchurch and spent a night with my hubby's bro and step bro. Then to Ashburton for lunch with an Aunty and Uncle of my hubby. Spent two nights in Waimate visiting my parents, bro and sis. Then to Moeraki to my girlfriends for the night, plus a stop in Oamaru to catch up with a couple of my hubby's Aunties. Next to Mosgiel for four nights with my hubby's Mum.

We had many gatherings with family and friends, including a 'live wake' with around 50 people. Friends organised this, and invited between 20-30 of my hubby's past work and hockey friends. Seems like the news got out and many more made the effort to call in. It was an emotional time, but exciting to see so many friends in one place.

Next we flew from Dunedin to Wellington and spent a night with an awesome couple we met when we lived in Fiji. Then a friend picked us up and drove us to his home in Hastings. Then a day trip to Wairoa to have lunch with the Mum's of two special friends. This was a great time, plus my hubby and I shared our first 'boil up pie' ... and it was good!

Next our friend drove us to Auckland, where a girlfriend of mine from Fiji joined us for tea, for our last night in New Zealand.

Flying Business Class was fun ... loads of leg room, good drinks, food and service!

Planning our Trip Home

It's been 25 days since we were told that my hubby's cancer is terminal. It's consuming and I'm finding that difficult to cope with.

Our daughter has been staying, while she recovers from her back surgery. She's returning home, when we fly to Sydney this Wednesday. I know already that I will miss her something wicked, when we return from NZ.

We have a HUGE few days planned before we fly to New Zealand.

We're flying to Sydney on Wednesday and my hubby is going to a Trade Show on the Thursday. He wasn't going to bother, but he's been getting phone calls from people he's worked with over the years, who want to see him, and this is a good opportunity to do that. Friday and Saturday will be spent with our kids, and that includes going to the Bledisloe Cup Rugby Union game on Saturday to watch our much loved All Blacks play Australia at our favourite sport!

We're staying at our favourite spot, overlooking the harbour ... so hopefully that will allow us time to refuel before our flight across the ocean.

My main wishes at this time are ... that my hubby will enjoy his time back in New Zealand, and that I will become strong and be able to support him better!

Trip to New Zealand

We are booked to fly Sydney to Christchurch on Monday, 28 July 2008.

We will then drive to Dunedin/Mosgiel over four nights. Spending four nights with my hubby's Mum in Mosgiel, before flying to Wellington. We'll be spending one night in Wellington and then a friend will drive us to his place for three nights. We'll then fly to Auckland for one night, before flying back to South Aussie.

We're not looking forward to this trip, but we know it's necessary to visit family and friends while my hubby is still feeling strong.

I loathe having to be practical ...

Today we visited a lawyer and wrote new wills, including the Power of Attorney stuff. I'm finding this being practical really tough ... but I know we need to do this and my hope is that when the practical stuff is over, we will live a full and happy life!

In my dreams, life is as it was always going to be ... and now I have to work to get my awake mind feeling this way also! My hubby is being so strong and so positive ... I really don't know where he get's his goodness from!

I love him today, I loved him yesterday and I know I will love him even more tomorrow!

Visited our kids ...

Last weekend we both flew to be with our kids in Sydney.

Our daughter was having back surgery, so I was already booked to go over and spend time helping her. Now with the dreadful news we had just been given, we felt it was important for the four of us to be together, as this was a time of great sadness, but also of support for each other.

We had a sad but wonderful time together.

Our daughter's surgery went well and she's now joined us in South Aussie.

Our son had two days off work and didn't play or sing in any bands while we were visiting, so we were able to be together as much as possible.

Much grieving was started. Hard, but important.

Those words ...

Last week my hubby had his first post chemo/radiation appointment. It was worse than we could have imagined. The doc had to tell us that after six weeks of treatment, the tumour showed no improvement and was therefore inoperable. His advice to my hubby is to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants, as his chances of survival are not good. He said that with the type of cancer he has, there's a survival rate of 20% at one year, and he wouldn't comment about after that.

He said the cancer will spread ... lungs, liver, kidney, bones etc.

To say we were both shattered, would be a massive understatement!

We're to continue seeing this doc at the end of each month.


What now ...

We're planning a trip home to New Zealand to visit family and friends. My hubby wants to fly business class.

We'll meeting with our real estate agent, as we think we'd be best to sell the house we're currently building.

We've cancelled our trip to Europe.
We're taking the Ghan to Darwin.
Hubby will go barramundi fishing in the Northern Territory.
... and any thing else that he wants to do.

We're both continuing to work ... but my hubby is only doing part days and having his second and third in charge, do much of the work. The directors of the company he runs have been excellent so far.

Week 150 - Adjustment 21 - Photos

June 2008 - 34 Months

How I prefer to bite ...


How I should bite ...

Left Side ...

Right Side ...


Left Side - Class I bite ...


Right Side - Class III bite ...

Week 150 - Adjustment 21 - continued

Uppers
Two brackets moved
Ligs changed to purple

Lowers
Two brackets moved. Ouch ... removing the bonding off the lower left second molar was nasty!

New powerchain. I was able to have my favourite grape coloured one, as my ortho won't use the heavy duty boring grey, due to two new brackets needing time to secure there bonding.

Movement ... not much.

My bite ... still slightly open. Class I on the left (how much do I love hearing that!), Class III on the right ... damn impacted canine gap!

Elastics 3/16" - continue wearing on the right side only - 23 hours a day! Change once a day.

We're still trying to work miracles! :-)

Week 150 - Adjustment 21

I am soooooooo over the gap over my impacted canine!

The damn gap is holding up my progress ... and has been holding up my progress for over two years ... such a long time to be waiting for a gap to close.

I feel sorry for my ortho, as he keeps saying he's sorry that he can't do any more until the gap closes ... and I know this is correct ... but I need progress ... I need things to happen so I really can accept that my treatment will be over before I turn 100!

Adjustment 21

I have an adjustment this Thursday ... incredible, as I usually have three months or longer between appointments and this time it's not even a full four weeks!

I'm getting brackets moved on my top arch ... so here's to progress!

Sterling Homes

These people are incredible. We're paying them to build our house and yet they won't discuss anything with us now that the process has started.

I've been chatting to friends who're building with other large companies and it appears they're all the same once they start getting your money. So why don't we stop paying? Wouldn't we love to do that ... but what happens then ... we have a part built house that we've paid way in advance of what's been done ... including the things we didn't want done. To change now would mean loosing thousands ... tens of thousands of dollars ... and I'm guessing Sterling Homes and other builders like that, know they've got us caught between the rock and the hard place ... so they can continue to do what they do and that's build what they want and get paid to do it by someone else!

This is an extremely frustrating experience made worse coz my hubby is a builder by trade. Also due to our house being built next door to our current residence, we get to see what's happening every day. Plus we get to talk to the contractors working on our house and ask them questions. Most of their answers are direct and they don't have any issues telling us things as they see it.

Here's hoping the final product is up to the quality we expect and if we remain disappointed with Sterling Homes like we currently feel, that we can sell the house quickly and move on!

The Rainbow Bridge

We received a beautiful card from the Veterinary Practice where Milo was treated. With the card, came a copy of this beautiful poem.

RAINBOW BRIDGE

Author unknown

Just this side of Heaven, before the Pearly Gates

Is a sunny meadow where your pets can rest and wait.

It's where the slanting sunshine meets the highest clouds,

A floating bridge of rainbows, so far above the ground.

This is where we wait for you, if we have gone before,

Just out of sight of mortals, just outside heaven's door;

Here we play in sunshine, frolic free from age or pain,

And anticipate the joyful time when we will meet again.

Every pet that's lived on Earth can bide his time, can wait,

For that special person to come walking to the Rainbow Gates,

And everyone who's loved a pet will find them safely here,

Frolicking on Rainbow Bridge till your own time draws near.

One day there comes a feeling, a trembling in the air,

And then we know it's time to run and come to meet you there,

Faster and faster on that day, across Rainbow Bridge we'll run,

To meet the humans we love best, come walking in the sun.

Alas my friend you cannot pass across Rainbow Bridge with me,

But when your time for glory comes, waiting for you I'll be -

Then together we will walk upon a path of glittering light,

No more to suffer, nor to part, but to live forever side by side.

Every pet that's lived on Earth can bide his time and wait

Until together with his person he goes through those Pearly Gates,

And everyone who's loved a pet, you'll find them waiting here,

Safe and sound on Rainbow Bridge till your own time draws near.

Week 147 - Adjustment 20

A quick adjustment. My orthodontist is concerned that my teeth aren't moving as they should be and wants my next appointment to be a longer one. He plans to change the placement of some brackets with the intention that this will help correct the necessary alignment.

Uppers - Ignored

Lowers - Strong grey powerchain replaced. Small gaps from the IPR (15 October 2007) still need to complete closing.

The hook on the lower left molar had come away from the base of the bracket. My ortho had no idea how this could happen. He removed the base of the bracket and cleaned the glue off my tooth ... no discomfort. He said he'd replace this at my longer appointment in June. Said it will be a good test to see how far the molar moves over the next three weeks. It's a second molar, that has moved into the place of an extracted first molar. I can tell it's already moved, but hopefully only a small amount. My orthodontist says the amount of movement a tooth like this gives, indicates what might happen when all brackets are removed and therefore indicates the type of retaining that may be needed.

I'm to continue wearing a class III elastic (3/16" elastics - red bag) on the right side - minimum of 23 hours a day, change once a day. Wear in a class III configuration - upper right first molar to lower canine. This is to continue closing the gap over my impacted upper right canine and help with my very crooked midlines. I have been wearing a class III elastic on the right since August 2006!

Next appointment - 19 June 2008.

European Holiday

We visited our travel agent today, after hubby's radiation treatment. We've filled in the forms to apply to our travel insurance company to delay our trip till 2009. Our Doc has filled out the medical form and now we need our agent to fill in the details regarding costs, what we've paid, and any differences that will need to be addressed due to the delay.

We're now looking at May 2009, as we don't want to travel at peak, but do want to try and get good weather. Our agent found that the cruise we want, left Rome this year on 10 May, so we're hoping the dates will be similar for 2009!

This gives my hubby plenty of time to recover and for both of us to become much fitter and able to cope with long days of walking ... as there's so many things we want to see while we're in Italy, Greece and Turkey.

Milo died this morning ...

Our precious Milo ... aged 10 years, died this morning after being attacked by a dog while I was walking her on Monday.

The local veterinary clinic staff worked hard to save our sweetie and were shattered that she wasn't able to survive the huge op she had last night. Dr Fiona said, that a few minutes after she'd phoned this morning to say Milo had made it through the night, Milo took a turn for the worse. Dr Fiona stayed with Milo and stroked her fluffy ear, as she knew how much we loved her and she didn't want to leave her. Thank you so much Fiona and all the staff who worked with Milo!

We are shattered. Milo was one of those special friends who made it into the hearts of all who met her, especially those who didn't think they liked dogs.

She has left us with many wonderful memories and friends in Fiji, NSW, Queensland, South Australia and friends and family who've visited from New Zealand.

The world has lost a very special creature, but our lives are richer for the privilege of having Milo in them.

We will miss you our darling! Enjoy being with your special friend Otis, our ginger cat who died while we were living in Fiji!

Hubby's Treatment is going well

My hubby's team were so impressed at how well he was after the chemo drugs were underway, that on the Saturday they organised his first radiation. I drove him to St Andrew's, and it didn't take very long at all ... maybe 10 minutes, and I think the radiotherapy was only for 2-3 minutes of that. The longest part, is making sure he's in the correct position so that the machine does it's three zaps in the right places and misses the vital organs.

During the next week he had a nasal gastric tube inserted down his nose. First they tired it 'blind', but the tumour wouldn't let it past. Next they used the endoscope and the job was done correctly.

Hubby's not very happy about the NG tube, but they said it's better to put it in place now, than have to try and get it down if the tumour swells. Plus this is a better option than a PEG tube.

We were allowed home a few days later, with boxes of 'food' ... tins of jevity to put in the gravity fed bottles. Hubby is to use 1,800 mls a night in his feeding tube. Then during the day, he's to drink as much ensure plus, as he can. Plus he's allowed to try thicker liquids ... and he has successfully done this, including eating some mushy vegetables. Yah! The priority is not to loose weight.

He's had 10 radiotherapy sessions and is feeling good. He's definitely tired and lacks energy, but we're guessing that was the least we could expect. His weight loss appears to have slowed and although he's lost nearly 40 kilos, he's feeling good. Hubby's hair has started to become fine. He's always had very thick, wirey hair, and he now has soft 'run your fingers through' hair. The chemo nurse told us this would most likely happen ... wonder if he'll become a 'nude nut'.

Here's to the next 18 doses of radiotherapy and second round with the two chemo drugs going well. :-)

Chemotherapy has started

My hubby had his first doses of chemo today! It may sound strange, but we were both happy and relieved that this happened, as we so want this cancer removed, but first it has to be treated, to get it to shrink.

He had a PICC tube inserted on Wednesday and then was admitted to The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, as they want to watch his progress at the beginning of his treatment, as they're concerned his fluid intake may be compromised. Often tumours in the oesophagus can tighten during the early treatment and close the oesophagus. Here's hoping that doesn't happen.

The chemotherapy drugs he's having are ... 'The use of two chemotherapy drugs, Cisplatin and Fluorouracil. This is being used to treat oesophageal cancer. The chemotherapy is given at the same time as the radiotherapy (on the first week and again on the last week) as it helps to make the radiotherapy treatment more effective. The Cisplatin is given in the clinic each day for around 2 hours, for the first three days when you start radiotherapy and then again four weeks later, for another 3 days. The Fluorouracil is placed in a small pump and is given slowly into a vein 24 hours per day, for four days, on the first and fifth week of your treatment. To allow the fluorouracil to be given at home, it is usual to have a central line inserted into one of the veins of your arm. The pump that you take home is set by the nurses to give you the right amount of drug each day. The central line can stay in place for the whole of treatment.'

The Cisplatin was given over a two hour period and looked quite spooky, as the bag was covered with a black bag. Then he had some fluids to flush the vein, and next the Fluorouracil was attached. It's connected to a small pump, that will administer this drug slowly over the next two days. Think another pouch is then inserted for another two days ... making that four days in total.

On Monday hubby's to have his first radio therapy and I can drive him between the two hospitals, as he has to go to St Andrew's, since TQEH doesn't have a radiation machine.

My wish for my hubby is that everything goes well and he's released from hospital soon. I accept that for now ... this is the best place for him to be!

Photos of progress ...

I've been meaning to post pics taken after my last adjustment and also for the past two months ... but life just got way to busy.

Here's some comparisons. It looks like the gap over my impacted canine is continuing to close ... slowly ... but closing ... and that's good.

April 2008

March 2008 ....... February 2008 ....... January 2008


My bite continues to feel real strange ... and I think this pic explains why. Remembering I had a class III bite until late last year ... now look ...

This is how it looked in January 2008 ...

My open bite has improved, which is great news ...
April 2008

March 2008 ....... February 2008 ....... August 2007

If you check out my April 2008 'front on' photo above, you'll see that there's still some gap left from the IPR work done on my lowers back in October 2007. The gaps are reducing ... just slowly.

I can't wait till all these gaps are gone on my upper and lower arches ... as I'm sure it will then be about correcting my bite and getting a date to get rid of these things! Bring it on!!!!!!!!!

Diagnosis

Never get sick around a long weekend ... or at least that's what my hubby's medical team kept saying as we waited for the results.

Finally a week after the biopsy was done, the Dr came to tell us that unfortunately the tumor was cancerous. It's quite large and they recommend shrinking it before considering surgery. One positive, it's appears to be a primary tumor, which means there's no signs of tumors else where in his body. It's recommended that a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy be used to shrink the tumor, then surgery to remove it ... if that's what we want. The surgery for this type of tumor is huge! It requires two surgeons, one working from the abdomen and the other from the chest. They remove the tumor, then stretch the stomach and the oesophagus to meet each other.

We were told that we have to make all decisions, as that cannot be done for us. We will have all the options explained, but it's up to us if we do any or some of them.

It was way to much to take in ... but at least we had a diagnosis and for that we were grateful.

The following morning, when his medical team arrived, my hubby was told he could go home. I was with him, as I wanted to hear if there was any more that could be explained, but we were told that the Oncologist would have more answers and hopefully we'd have an appointment with that person next week.

So more waiting ... but at least my hubby is home! He's still on fluids only, and he's been making veggie soups, custard, jelly and drinking the ensure and enlive the hospital gave us to take with us.

Hopefully we'll see an Oncologist this week!

Humps along the way ...

My hubby (of 28 years) is unwell. He's been unwell for quite some time, maybe six months or more, but I guess we always thought he'd heal, with rest and love, like his hockey injuries used to. Unfortunately this isn't a hockey injury and over the past couple of months (and weeks) it did become more and more obvious that this time, rest and love alone was not going to heal the issues. He's also lost 38 kilos, seven of them in the past week. It's good for him to have lost weight, but not in this way, or at this speed.

He was finding eating difficult and in particular bread and meat became impossible to eat. Then any foods that weren't moist, or were doughy and soft, had to be ruled out. Over the last few weeks his choices became even fewer and while I was in Sydney last week, he finally was unable to keep fluids down. When I returned to Adelaide Airport last Sunday he appeared as pale as a ghost and looked run down, exhausted and most unwell.

On Monday the doctor sent him to hospital. He was 'fed' two bags of bloods and put on IV fluids. On Tuesday he had a Cat Scan and unfortunately a shadow was found around the lower part of his oesophagus and upper stomach. All other organs were clear, but he needs to go to a hospital in Adelaide.

On Wednesday I took him to Adelaide and he was checked into the QEH. Today he had an endoscopy and now we have to wait for the results.

Week 136 - Adjustment 19

12 March 2008

My orthodontist announced my left side is now Class I ... exciting! Unfortunately my right side is still Class III ... and the gap over my upper right impacted canine is still not closed, but it's gotten smaller!

Uppers

• To continue with class III elastic ( 3/16" elastics - red bag) on the right side - minimum of 23 hours a day, change once a day. Wear in a class III configuration - upper right first molar to lower canine.
• No ligs changed (last change was 15 October 2007)

Lowers

• Strong powerchain removed
• A new strong, 13 link, grey powerchain added across all lower teeth
• There's still a small gap either side of my lower right central incisor. All other gaps have closed since I had the IPR.

I'm frustrated that gaps have reappeared between my upper centrals, only small. Plus a noticeably sized gap between my upper left central and upper left lateral. I didn't mention these, as at this time it's all about the gap over my impacted canine closing, so my right hand side can become class I.

Next appointment in 10 Weeks - 21 May 2008.

Heat Wave in South Australia

The last record heat wave was in 1934 – eight days in the mid 30’s. Today marked day nine of temperatures higher than the mid 30’s … a record heat wave for South Australia.

The weather forecast is for another week of these high temperatures.

Records are something that we usually celebrate, but due to the drought having continued for several years, this intense heat is something we don't need!

Tomorrow

It's my 19th adjustment tomorrow and I'm excited, as I've not seen my ortho since December. Unfortunately the gap over my impacted canine has not yet closed ... but there has been progress. This gap is frustrating, as it's taking soooooo long to close!

After my ortho appointment, my hubby is taking me to the airport, as I'm flying to Sydney. My hubby will join me on Friday. We're visiting our kids, who both live there. It's exciting, as our daughter has bought her first home, a town house in Plumpton, one of Sydney's western suburbs. We're staying with our daughter, and will see both kids as much is possible during the stay.

Our daughter is participating in the World's Greatest Shave, on Thursday, a fundraiser for the Leukaemia Foundation.

Then on Sunday, we fly back to Adelaide ... hopefully refreshed for work on Monday!

House Plans

Here's the floor plans ...

The front of our house is the left of this scan. It's a long ranch style house, with a simple arrangements of rooms. We've gone for a large open plan area through the centre, with hallways opening off either side. One end is my hubby and mine ... our bedroom, walkin robe and ensuite. The other end has three bedrooms, laundry, bathroom and toilet. Bedroom 2 ... the one by the front entrance, will be a therapy room, and will be decorated suitably for me to work with clients.

The room called 'Dine' ... with the double doors, will be an office. It's planned to be a 'versatile room', which means it can be a fifth bedroom, formal dining, or a 'whatever you' like room.

Our entertainment area will run from the back of the double carport, to between the laundry and toilet. Some will be covered and some not.

... we are still waiting for the the founds to be laid ... doing our best to be patient!

Here's a pic of how the finished house should look ...

The double carport has double auto doors, which adds to the length of the place, when looking at it from the road.

Six Ton of Soil ...

Photos of the progress on our land.

Our land before any work began! Photo taken from the top native garden at our existing residence ... facing East


28 February 2008 - What six tons of soil looks like. Photo taken from our soon-to-neighbour's house, which is currently being built.


Photo taken from the road below. This shows the 'rise' of our foundation preparation. The tail of my ute snuck into the photo. Upper right, is our current residence.


29 February 2008 - A photo of our floor plan marked out with crushed metal. To the left is our current residence and to the right is our double carport.

Disgraceful

I'm shocked to find a company in Australia trying to rip people off by so much! :-(

Waterpiks are wonderful for cleaning between your teeth and even more wonderful when you have braces. When I first got braces, there weren't any waterpiks being sold in Australia, and a friend in England gave me one as a gift ... an awesome gift. It was the cordless waterpik Model WP360 and cost about $31 Aussie dollars! This rotten company ... Natdent Pty Ltd are advertising themselves as ... Waterpik Australia - retailer of Waterpik™ brand Oral Irrigators ... and sell this exact same model for $225 Aussie plus $11 postage. I hope that no one in Australia purchases from this company, as this is just sooooooooooooooo wrong!

Recently I purchased a type of waterpik ... battery run, from ebay, from a company called Ozinnovation. This is slightly different to the waterpik, but the battery does give some advantages ... and the cost $35.00.

If you want a waterpik type oral irrigator ... please be careful who you buy it from, as sometimes it's much cheaper to buy from overseas, than to allow yourself to be treated as a fool, by a rip off company!

A few pages ...

More from Fiji ...

Natadola Beach

This photo reminds me of the wonderful time we had in Fiji. The smiles on the faces of our son and his friends in the warm Pacific Ocean ... wow! The joy, the laughter and the simple life!

Precious Moments

Our son's yaca with his beautiful Mum. This was a fun photo I took when I returned to Lautoka to visit in 2006.

Mother and Child
I love the look on Andrew's face ... he's adorable!

Finally ...

Today around six ton of soil (land fill) was put on our land, and compacted to form the base for the foundations for our house. It was very exciting!

The fill is much higher than we expected and it will mean our new house is higher than any other's in the area. Also looking at the shape of the compacted soil made us realise how big our new house will be ... much bigger than I realised. It's a long house - ranch style.

Now I can't wait for the the next stages ... founds go down, frames goes up, roof goes on ...

A few pages ...

More from Fiji ...

Wiggly Worm
This is a gorgous photo of our son's yaca.


Asena Qoro
When I return to Fiji, I always visit our housegirl Asena. We still enjoy going for walks together and sharing the times when Asena worked for us and cared us and our beautiful dog Milo.

Gorgous Boy
Clinton (our son's best friend) and his nephew, who is also our son's yaca.

Ken's Grog
This is part of a two page display. In Fiji I always enjoyed drinking yaqona (kava or grog) and the gatherings that went with these. In this display, I'm drinking grog with Clinton's father and soon to be father-in-law.

Blue Lagoon Cruise
Our son's best friend working as crew on a Blue Lagoon Ship. Blue Lagoon operate 3 day and 7 day cruises around the Yasawa Islands to the west of Viti Levu, the main island of Fiji. We went on a couple of three day cruises, and then helped Clinton get an interview with Blue Lagoon. This photo was taken during a seven day cruise ... and shows two very proud parents ... their Fijian son has an amazing gift and works well with overseas and local guests on the boat.

Two and a half years - 3 February 2008

Front

Left Side and Right Side

Upper Arch and Lower Arch

Progress is harder to see and the gap where my impacted canine is, continues to close ... but so slowly. I'm really tired of this dragging out so long. I'd hoped my treatment would be over around the two year mark, but I suspect it might be more like three years.

Comparing the front view ... at two years and now, I can see that my open bite has closed by about halfway. I never realised this ... so taking photos is a great way to discover change!

I'm very grateful that my jaw pain is now rare. When I do get the pain, it's so much milder, which is truly wonderful.

Now I've got to be patient!

Saturday ... Milo and a snake ...

My day started off horribly ... really nasty! I was hanging out some washing and my gorgeous little dog, Milo, was sniffing round in a bark garden. I heard a noise and went to check it out, as I was concerned she had one of our blue tongue lizards, or a lace dragon cornered. But when I looked, I saw a small head, that I knew was not a lizard. The next minute seemed like an eternity. A small brown snake slide between her legs and under some sleepers ... I freaked!

Milo was standing very still and I picked her up and she lay quite still in my arms. I was thinking she'd been bitten, as although she loves cuddles, she's not one to lie still like that. I had a hand on her heart as I tried to stop feeling like panic and do something real.

Next my neighbour rushed out to see me. She was concerned, as she said all the colour had drained from my face and I looked frozen to the spot nursing my little dog. She talked to me for a few minutes and I then put Milo on the ground. She tried to walk, but was unsteady ... and I was about to panic again, when she appeared to come right and bound with energy.

I continued to feel sick for the next few hours, and have been watching Milo closely all day. Fortunately she appears fine!

This is the second time I've lived in Oz, but the first time I've seen a snake outside of a reptile park ... and that includes working in Queensland's Outback for over a year.

Bring on Sunday ... it can only get better!