3 years and counting!

Things that are awesome (in no particular order)

• James has started his TAFE course and is on his way to where he wants to be.
  
• James has finally gotten his learner driver’s license.
  
• Kim is back at Uni this year as well
  
• I have the most amazing family and friends in the Universe!
  
• I have started going to Uni and will be doing my Chem linking course next week
  
• I am finding ways around my vision issues
  
• I have just had a clear MRI
  
• I have just had a clear EEG (No epilepsy)
  
• I have started a 365 photo project to keep myself going with my photography. Each day I take a photo and upload it to my 365 albums on Google plus, Facebook and Flickr
  
• I achieved part one (of three) of one of the goals I set myself before my surgery
  
• The Paper cranes are coming along beautifully
  
• I have had a huge boost this last week to keep me on track with knowing I am doing the right thing and following the right course.
  
• I spent a lovely sunrise and breakfast with Andrew and Kim
  
• I love my life 

Re Concerning Cake, Bilbo Baggins, and Charity

OP By Patrick Rothfuss Concerning Cake, Bilbo Baggins, and Charity

I read this post and it had me nodding and giggling and nodding some more. This part in particular was so very much up my alley so to speak.

2 years 11 months.

Well. Here we are. There has been some most amazing stuff going on since my last monthly update! Including yesterdays day of mind blowing

Originally posted on (b)human which has since lost it's legs.

It was a summer day like any other. I walked down to the school to pick up the boys just as I did every school day. Just after I walked through the school gates my head exploded with pain. I made my way slowly to a bench to sit and wait for the boys to come out from their classes. While I waited I realised this was no ordinary headache. Walking was increasingly difficult and I was extremely nauseous. I called a friend and asked her to come and pick us up from the school and drop us home as I didn’t think I would be able to walk back home again.

2013 in Review

2013. You were better than 2012 but in your own way have thrown up many challenges and celebrations. You were a big year for education in our family as well.

There were frustrating and often painful times this year when my brain has let me know I have been pushing it. The first saw me cut chemistry and Pure maths out of my course. This last one is more permanent.

2 years 10 months

Yes, It is late.

As you know, I write these posts on the 16th of each month. December 16th is the anniversary of my mothers passing. I felt it important to spend that time with her.

I graduated with honours across the board! Graduation was pretty nifty. I will miss some of my teachers and class mates. I am waiting to find out if I made it into the courses I applied for. Next round of offers is January 16th, so I may or may not have news :) 

I saw the neuro ophthalmologist. He was in a rather large hurry to have a look and see what my brain was doing so I had an MRI the Friday of that week and a follow up appointment the following Tuesday. I am very pleased to say I have a clear brain scan. I have binocular diplopia (double vision in both eyes) they could put prism in the lenses of my glasses to help me to be able to see properly. I also have small cataracts and 'opaque lenses' and surprise surprise weakness in the muscle of my left eye..... seriously.

I have an appointment with my new neurologist January 22nd. Meanwhile Christmas is just around the corner and life is hectic. Dad has needed a lot more help this year. There have been a few family events which have made this month a lot better.

By the time I write my post in January I will have become 40. I had not expected to make it to forty and yet here I am. It is another mile stone and another badge of honour. I would not have made it to forty if not for my amazing brain surgery by the wonderful Charlie Teo. I continue to fund raise for the Cure for Life foundation in the hope that one day, brain tumours will not be death sentences.

If you'd like to help out you can donate here

My incredible husband has completed his Graduate Certificate in Information Systems. He has also received an award for academic excellence for a GPA of 6.75. All this while caring for our family and working full time! Very proud of him.

Check it out here!

I hope you all have a wonderful, safe and healthy Christmas and that 2014 brings you all you desire.

2 years 9 months

Still no time to breathe! This is my 101st blog post .... cos that is somehow significant.

James turned 17 at the beginning of November, He graduated from year 12 on November 15th, so he was 17 for a whole 11 days before graduating.

I have found a wonderful psychologist who has been helping me work through some stuff and I am feeling much better.

Everything is full steam ahead here. I have an exam tomorrow and another on Monday which 'should' be my last for the year. December 3 rd will be my graduation.

I have a couple of specialist appointments coming up as well. I ACTUALLY made appointments! I have one on December 3 rd... sound like a familiar date? That one is with the neuro ophthalmologist to see what is what and what could/can/may be repairable with my funny double vision. I can't wait to see the back of that! He is a bit excited and moved the appointment from January 14th to December 3rd which has me a wee bit bothered but it just means a faster result :)

Neuro anything means brain scans... all of them... ever. So today I put together a new scan bag to hold my 3kgs of brain scans. I also popped in to the local hospital to get a copy of the scans they did in A&E when I had my ambulance adventure last month.

Today I finalised the paperwork to go to QTAC for my application to do a Bachelor of Science at Griffith with a mid year start for 2014.

I'll make a whole new post when I have more time.