Whoopeee :)

Feeling normal right at this moment

Just thought I'd share that with you ;)


I have had some other good news recently

My Possum has been asked to undertake McManager training some time in the near future

He has been working there for almost 2 years now!!

I think he has found his 'thing'

He has not missed a single shift in that whole time

So proud of my big boy

Sometimes what you think you want to do and what you are good at turn out to be two different things

So true for him

He would be happy to never fix another computer again he tells me!!


G
x♥x

Catching Up

Just to briefly catch up from where I left off....some time last year I think?

I have an 18 and nearly 22 year old son - how the hell did that happen??

Possum is still working where there are golden arches - and they are steadily repairing the damage done by too much stress and pressure, in fact he is doing Cert 3 in Retail and Crew Trainer ~ and has been approached to consider management training.
He is happy!
He is not applying for ANY IT positions in the foreseeable future.
And he is happy.

Small Man has now lost 40kg.
He is keeping steady with the weight loss now.
I saw a tv show recently showing a body lift surgery - NFW am I going to allow him to go through that!
Or hopefully any plastic surgery.

There is a course he'd like to do.
But we have discovered the organisation is now a non RTO :(
To think he almost paid them $1000 to complete the course.
He can't work at this stage, but he wanted to complete something.
We will need to look into an alternative REGISTERED training organisation.

We have had two disasterous appointments this year.
One on an emotional level, one on a physical level.
Long story short we went to Melbourne to try and get some help and advice from a so called expert in CFS/ME.
The result?
He was told 'some people never recover from this' and to 'do a TAFE course'.
I was made to feel like one of those mothers that makes their kids sick for attention or whatever they do.
OMG it was awful.
The only good thing that came from the appointment was the prescription of Melatonin.
It has helped Big A HEAPS between shifts (he works day then night shift, 12 hour shifts).

Oh, that's right the Melatonin was for Small Man....
Yes Small Man does take it but it's very hard to break his sleep pattern and keep it consistent.
In fact it's nearly impossible.
I felt criticised for this too.
Talk about making me feel like shit, and that I'm not doing enough for him :'(
We have found ordering it from the USA our best option, you can buy it on eBay for a fraction of the price of a private script ($40 for a month private script).

The second appointment that was a disaster was with the surgeon that is now adjusting Small Man's gastric band.
He added some more fluid to the band, called a 'fill'.
Small Man always drinks some water after the adjustment to make sure it will go through the band, if it doesn't then the band is too tight.
This time the fluid went through, all was well.

We came home, he ate some pasta for tea and everything was fine.
The next day when he woke up he vomited immediately - shouldn't happen as he hadn't eaten or drunk anything yet.
He then found that water wouldn't go down.
I was at work, on the other side of town.

It was nearly 'knock off' time for doctors surgeries and the like.
We couldn't get hold of anyone (the surgeon is only in his rooms Wednesdays).
I ended up ringing our original surgeon in Melbourne to ask advice.
Which then led to 5 hours at the emergency department waiting for someone that could remove some of the fluid from his band....by the time we saw someone he had been over 24 hours without fluid. 

Not good for a well person let alone an unwell person.

Anyone that thinks gastric band surgery is in some way an 'easy' way out seriously needs a slap up the side of the head!

I have also found an amazing alternative therapist for Small Man, so he has either Bowen therapy, a massage or reflexology for 30 minutes per fortnight. Whether it helps or not who knows, but it make him feel relaxed and good and that's all that matters.

Apart from that everything else is pretty much the same.

I am still doing the same job, it's not too bad at the moment.
I reached 15 years of loyal service in January and not a single f*ck was given but that's ok, I shouldn't have expected any different......

Mum has been helping me out with the banking, so pops up once a fortnight to take care of that and some folding of washing. 
Different for me to get used to but it's been good :)


G
x♥x

~The Elephant...The Room and All that...~

 ***LANGUAGE WARNING***

******JUST SO YA KNOW*******

 Happy 21st Birthday to my Possum :) 

We had a lovely day at home, a bed delivery, his room has been transformed/decluttered, it was nice ♥

Now where was I?


Yeah....so we have a weekend away coming up 

I guess that sounds like no big deal, two night away....


Unless you have CFS/ME and are in the middle of a major fucking relapse


Then it's a huge deal


No, actually, that's not the huge deal


It's explaining it to other people


That's the huge fucking deal.

NO we cannot switch this shit on and off ~ it doesn't chop and change for the occasion ~ it's there ALL THE TIME

ALL THE TIME

No, it's not just him being difficult

It's how his life is

And currently it's worse than it usually is

And I am scared of making the current fatigue benchmark even higher

I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO MAKE HIM WORSE

*Oh and then there is the subject of SCHOOL ~ the biggest elephant of them all*

So we have to just work around it

Or it's not going to be fun

And I want Possum to have a good time

And Small Man to have the best time possible

*sigh*

 G
x♥x

~Ohhhhh!~

I rang the doctors surgery yesterday - very low vitamin D level

Which surprised me because the last test he had done only a few months ago his level was fine

We will see our GP Friday to discuss the other results

Coincidentally I had just ordered some vitamin D supplements for Possum that are 5,000 iu - most of the over the counter/chemist ones are a maximum of 1,000 iu so they will be handy.

Both sons have had severe vitamin D deficiency in the past few years.


Poor old Possums happened right in the middle of his 18th Birthday celebrations...


Did I mention he is turning 21 next week?


Oh my!


G
x♥x

The Post That Never Was....

I don't seem to have had a quiet moment since that day in October that we received the news we had been waiting for forever 
http://blackstonemyst.blogspot.com/2011/10/finally-finallly.html
I can't write when I am surrounded ~ and I have been surrounded

Not in a bad way ~ just in a constant way

So a summary of Small Mans progress for you rather than the blow by blow story

Since starting his very strict pre operation diet mid October, and having had two band adjustments/fills he has lost approximately 25kg - the first 20kg was rapid - the next 5kg has been at a more anticipated  pace

We have to say approximately, it may actually be more but we didn't have an accurate starting weight (he was too heavy for my scales)

We have however had to drill another hole in his belt, and there are t-shirts and shorts that he will never wear again! 

He is feeling good, no change to his CFS but then we knew that didn't we......

We are due to go to Melbourne again mid February for a band adjustment - which I am thinking at this point he may not even need, and may need to be rescheduled. 

The band tightness seems to be just right for him. It would be a waste of a trip I think, I will need to decide next week and see if we can change the flights....they were cheapies, so it's all good

Possum is going well at his McJob - we are not supposed to mention their actual name on FB or on a blog etc - so I will let you guess where his McJob is....

The last major job knockback actually floored him. 

He was quietly devastated, and so was I, for him, I could see his self confidence shatter into a million pieces.

It was then I decided that after 8 or 9 months of constantly applying for jobs, and being rejected, that he needs a break. 

So I have stopped applying. 

Unless something wonderful comes up ~ then no.

 He is not the same boy that left HJ's to start his traineeship.

I would prefer for to him work where he is and build up his self esteem again. 

And this particular workplace is designed for it.

I have been very impressed by their methods, and I'm not easily impressed these days let me tell you.

He has also been getting quite a few private IT jobs, from the basic to the slightly more complex it is helping keep his IT muscle flexed for now :)

I am about to find out if I am totally insane.

Another manager has quit here in the north of the state, leaving just the two of us for approx 100km.

I have inherited some of his team. He wanted me to take all of them. I'm not that hard up for stress so declined on a few......

We have our first delivery coming on Wednesday.

I have had to return to weekly ordering, as much as I didn't want to I will have too many ordering to manage to pack it all fortnightly.

Wish me luck.

I might need it...................

Big A is currently approx 2.5 hours drive away camping with friends. 

I have been down, come back, and then been down again for a few nights at a time. 

The first time I took Small Man, the second time I went on my own. 

It was nice to get away, the break from technology always fares well with me.

I spent some time with a different group of people which was nice also.

I reckon I will even go for a few nights next year :)

This is where we went swimming:

 "Little Blue Lake" - panaromio.com

 Pretty hard to take don't you reckon :) It's called 'Little Blue Lake' - it was amazing!

So that's pretty much it from me,

Love G 

x♥x

sMoOtH sAiLiNg

Things are going well, so far, touch wood.

Small Man has been very determined, and his willpower has been outstanding ~ even with friends over to visit and many temptations

He has lost at least 8kg already

I say 'at least' because we had an estimated starting weight based on the last time he was weighed, and the fact that he had been on a bit of a bender in the weeks leading up to the news of his operation ~ we are going by the last actual weigh in result as his starting weight, however I suspect we could easily add a few kg to that, making his weight loss greater than 8kg....if that makes sense :P
I was unable to weigh him here as he was heavier than my scales maximum, now, he is not :D

Possum has secured some work at Maccas, finally it took 3 interviews but he got there, it was the whole age thing.  Night shifts, which is what he wanted, and he is just the right age!
Not 100% sure when he starts.
We are still waiting to hear about the education dept job.
They usually take a few weeks to get back to you.
At least if he doesn't get an interview for this one this time, he has something to fall back on with Maccas.

I am adjusting to feeling so different about life.
I think I have been in a bubble for the last few years, in order to not feel too much.
I don't need to do that any more.
It's going to be interesting.


I have even decided I can celebrate my 40th birthday. 
I wasn't planning to.
It's very hard to explain, but I didn't feel like celebrating anything, very difficult to look forward when you are stuck in limbo.
Very difficult to want to be around others too much when you don't feel particularly positive, or feel anything much at all (except frustration/sadness/anger/guilt).
On the one hand you don't mind if they ask how things are going, on the other you dread it, because you have nothing to offer.

Only 2 weeks to go.............

G
x♥x 







 

Round and round and round it goes....

Still here

Not a whole lot to report

Things have just been ticking over, as they do

School holidays, I love it!!

Possum was unusuccessful with his maccas interview one week, then received an email the following week to say he has another interview in a few weeks. 
Not sure what's with that but I am realising not to fight it all (in my head) and let what will be...be....cos it will whether I stress over it or not.
Very difficult, I kind of take it hard in some ways, the rejection. Not sure why. I guess all mothers just want their kids to be happy though.
He does have another day of contract work coming up, and we have applied for another 3 jobs that we haven't heard back from yet.

I was even more wound up yesterday when a friend messaged me to say her son was doing a weeks work experience, organised by a government agency, to help him find a job. 
It's so unfair.  
Nothing against her or her son, good on them take the help you can get but wow, unemployed is unemployed, regardless of how much the parents earn.  
How's that going to find a kid a job??? 
Disgusting.

Small Man has made a group of new friends. 
The main friend is in one of his classes at school.  He has been spending some time at his house, and his friend has been to stay here for the night.  
It's a bit fun for SM because his new friend lives in his parents house, with two housemates (one female, one male) while his parents live on the mainland.  So basically no 'adults'.
They are good kids from good families, I am quite happy for him to spend time there. 
He is finally doing what he has missed out on for all of this time - being a teenager.  

It is distracting him from the obvious also.
Haven't heard a thing from Melbourne.
I have tried nagging, now I am backing off and doing the opposite.  
We'll see how that goes.

I am still on my eating plan, small lapses here and there but by no means anything major.  
I tried the treadmill a few times since I last blogged and my hip is still very much aggravated.  It's not as much my actual hip, it's more the very tip of the bone at the top of my leg that hurts. 
Buggered if I know why.
Anyway, I have decided not to weigh myself until the end of each month, slight fluctuations were making me feel a bit let down, so I am thinking after a month I hope to see some solid results.


I had an excellent trip to the op shop the other day, I just wanted a few hours to myself (but not work time!).
Possum scored the most, a really nice pair of jeans (that fit!), a pair of near new cargo pants, a Just Jeans long sleeved check shirt (so nice the lady that served me even commented), a SUPERDRY  black long sleeved shirt - oh wow - Superdry is majorly expensive, even just for a t-shirt! 
You can feel the quality of the fabric, so nice!!  
He needed another long sleeved shirt for interviews etc, his other black one...errr...ummm....shrunk in the wardrobe, same as a few pairs of his jeans..... 
The last item was a bit of a gamble....a lavendar/lilac coloured business shirt, I would say it is new without tags.  
Such a beautiful colour and the fabric feels a little like silk.
He took one look at it and said "Oh...thanks Mum...I might wear this......if I was going to a Mardi Gras" 
and then 
'What is it a dressing gown or something?' 
Hahahaha! 
No I wasn't offended, not one bit! I knew it would be a gamble, would rather he told me the truth.
He later said "Oh I might like it another time Mum, just not now...it's just so.....vibrant". 

A few night later SM and I had a giggle, I saw a guy at the supermarket in the same coloured shirt, I said "Oooh look babe....he must be going to a mardi gras".....hehehehehe!

I have hung it up on his wardrobe door, so that he can adjust to the vibrance....hahahaha ;)

I did get a pair of jeans for myself....that actually fit and are extremely comfy.....the last pair I bought are way too big now, and the other pairs I have are either too dressy or still half a size too small.  
I also found a pair of trackies for Small Man, and they are the perfect size for him too.
All that for $42......unbelievable.


So on that note I better go and make myself useful. 
There is always so much to do around here it's not even funny.

G
x♥x

Update of a random events

Well of course, it wouldn't be my blog if I stuck to an actual topic for the whole post now would it?

So where were we?

Ok so nothing has happened as far as Small Man and operations/waiting lists/private or public or anything else for that matter.

He did, however, go to a party on Friday night. 

An 18th birthday party with only the older brother of the birthday boy and his friend to supervise.

I think approx 40 young people attended.

He enjoyed himself. 

It was the first 'party' (without parents) he has been to in 5 years.

The young girls (14/15/16 year olds) that were so drunk they could 'barely hold their heads up' may have had a different experience, or at least the next day was less pleasant for them. 

He was shocked at the state of/possible consequences to these girls. 

I'm really pleased he is making new friends :) He has been invited to another one in a few weeks time.

Possum was called in for two days of IT contract work with a Sydney based company. 

They liked his work, and there may be some more at the end of this month - which is soon.  

Funny, he was paid almost the same for what ended up being a day and a half's work as he used to get for a full week during his traineeship :D

He also had an interview at Maccas - they liked his work too, they threw an apron on  & put him on drive thru to see how he went and seemed happy with him. 

He will know for sure by the 29th August.

The thing I liked was that he came home happy, and was in a cheerful mood for some time after.

It seems that this may be 'the go' for the next few months, part time at Maccas and some contract work until the right job comes up for him. 

So snooze ya lose Hungry Jacks you can get knotted, very disappointed in them.

I think the contract work will be great for his experience.

Things always pan out, and I knew they would. 

I wish everyone else could have seen it too.

Actually the break has done him good.

He worked so hard through college, at HJ's at the same time, it was stressful and tiring, and not just for Possum!

Although his pants appear to have 'shrunk' in the wardrobe.......I never thought we'd get weight on him when he was younger, and used to have to encourage him to eat more!! 

At the same time we were carefully trying to balance Small Mans diet. Difficult much?

Speaking of balancing diets The Big A has joined me on my eating plan.  

He lost 4.5kg in the first 3 weeks :D 

He is not actually fat. 

He is a big build/solid boy. 

Broad shoulders/muscular. 

He doesn't have a beer belly or anything like that but he insists he needs to lose 10kg.

Probably got this from some silly website that's telling him his BMI is all wrong.....the trouble with BMI calculators is that it doesn't take your build into account.

Anyway, the aim of the eating plan is to be healthier first, any weight loss comes second.

His 10kg may take longer if people keep sending sticky date pudding with caramel sauce to work for him.....but anyway...hahaha! 

He has them convinced that I don't cook.....so they feel sorry for him and send stuff to work. 

I think most people realise that I don't cook cakes and biscuits etc simply because it's not a good idea for Small Man to have that stuff in the house.

My weight has stayed the same - I am still at 6.5-7kg lost which I am happy with, but hope to hit it harder over the next fortnight and get to 10kg lost. 

I am enjoying the eating plan and haven't missed cordial/pasta/bread which were the major changes.

I didn't get much treadmill in at all over the last two weeks. 

I had an incident at work which resulted in me collecting catalogues in pouring rain for 2.5 hours, without info on where the catalogues had been delivered :/ Not happy Jan!! 

Walking for that long in the rain/mud/ on an uneven surface at times flared up my hip in the extreme, in fact I had a job to walk at all the next day. 

It had not been that bad for many years, we went to 'Agfest' a huge annual agricultural show here one year, we walked around for a similar amount of time, the ground was very uneven and damp and it had the same effect. 

It put me off the treadmill a bit. 

I will try again this week. 

I can't handle that sort of pain, and feeling like I am really aggravating something (the hip pain is of an unknown cause).

So that's pretty much it :)

G

xx

~Still Here~

I am still here

I just took a little break

I don't seem to get much time alone at present

Not a bad thing, just different

The job hunt for Possum continues, and we can add another few registrations to the list of 'places we have tried'

Small Man is having a little break from school this week, with exams under way at college (he doesn't have any) most of his classes aren't on

We have started his Psych evaluation to determine that he is mentally/emotionally prepared for his operation, has reasonable expectations for the outcome etc. 
The last 4 years of waiting has allowed plenty of time for discussion and preparation so it won't be a problem

We had further drama and what felt like a set back a few weeks ago, I couldn't even  write about it, it's a long story and the whole thing was another brick in the wall.  
At this stage, and I hope this is still the case, Dr Matt want the operation done within 3 months, at the Alfred.  
Lets hope this doesn't change.

SM had an ultrasound of his tummy Monday, for a suspected hernia but it was ok, the explanation for the lump in his belly was a bit ? but anyway, as long as they are sure.

I am quite pleased to have lost 5kg - or just over 10lb - it hasn't been 'easy' and hopefully by sticking with my current eating plan I will lose another 15kg, at least.
It took me about 3 weeks, I am hoping it has fired up my metabolism a little.

I did have a little setback in my plan, ending up with tonsillitis last week and lapsing from my eating plan for a few days, simply because I was too unwell to prepare the food I needed. 
Having a throat that is on fire doesn't help either!I didn't go too far off course, but enough to stuff things up a bit.


I am definitely back on the plan again, trying not to weigh myself too often, and hope to be able to post another significant loss again soon :)


Not too much else to report, which is good I guess!


G
x♥x

~Opinions~

I am actually getting a bit sick of unhelpful comments re: Possum and his work situation

What I find really aggravating is the trotting out of the same lines that may have applied to life 20 or 30 years ago

Even more interesting is the fact that everyone appears to have forgotten that Possum is not your 'off the shelf, same as every other' 20 year old 

It makes me crazy 

He has a brilliant mind

I found a report the other day from the school psychologist conducted when he was 8 year old - describing his 'superior' intelligence in almost all areas (except for tasks which required sustained attention/organisation.....no really?? haha!)


He is not particularly a 'people person', he likes the company of others, but seems equally happy without it.  
He doesn't do the 'super confident' walk in somewhere and ask if they have any work available, and just thinking about it sends him into near panic, because that's Possum - Possum is Possum - he is not you, not his father, not his brother, and not his mother or anyone else.


People just don't seem to get that even to be a cleaner these days you need a Cert III or 10 years experience - and you can't just pick up a few hours of 'bar work' or what have you without experience or a licence for this that or the other.  
It would also be a massive waste of time for him to go back to school and study for anything other than IT related courses.  
It is also the middle of the year. 
Pretty sure the school years starts in February, unless he wants to pay thousands to do a private course....oh but that's right he has NO INCOME...oh see I am just 'making excuses' for him now.

People don't seem to realise that I have helped Possum register for:
Seek, CareerOne, Skilled, Hays, JET, Searson Buck, Mycareer.......just to name a few. 
We get job alerts for suitable positions and he has been in to Hays recruitment for an interview.

He has applied for around 7 IT jobs in almost 5 months, has had 2 interviews, didn't get an interview for 2, and waiting on a response from the others.

We have also submitted his resume/applied online to: Hungry Jacks (x 2 different stores), Coles (he took his resume in to the store), Kmart, Domino's, the Country Club Casino, Village Cinemas...

While he needs to be doing something, putting him into the WRONG thing would destroy his confidence.

I'm not sure what's so difficult to understand about this??

I appreciate people asking if he has found a job etc, just don't need to comments that follow, or the assumption that it's laziness.
Lazy? The boy worked for the last few months of high school, and all the way through college, sometimes finishing college for the day and going straight to work until god knows what hour of the night.  He did this for 2.5 years.

Yes he does like to sleep in.  
Big deal.  
Get over it. 
He won't be doing it when he gets a job, so what of it? 
Getting up earlier isn't going to make a job available for him, and anyone that thinks he doesn't care or doesn't want to work doesn't know him too well.

The End.

G
xx

~ Usually ~

Possum turned 20 - Happy Birthday Poss x♥x

I don't post 'cos things are the same - time ticking over and all that

Quite the opposite this time

So much has been happening - my brain is in over drive

I will post in 'as brief as possible point form' - cos I know Toni LOVES it :P

• We went away for the long weekend for our friends 40th birthday - the boys stayed here and had Corey from Hobart to stay too. They did really well. I had to laugh, they ran the dishwasher with about 6 things in it.
• They (Small Man and Corey) decided to have a few drinks, which we knew they might and had discussed beforehand. Well the vodka was a bit stronger than they anticipated - and they had it with an energy drink - they were asleep by 8pm - then wide awake at midnight hahaha - the alcohol wore off and the caffeine kicked in. Teenagers. 
• Yes Small Man is very aware that alcohol isn't great for him with a: sleep apnea b: chronic fatigue c: Non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)- but I try and teach my kids that anything in moderation (and very occasionally for Small Man/alcohol) (besides drugs) is ok. Know your limit.
• Poor old Possum, one of the cats vomited, twice, and he had to clean it up. It went down really well.....
• The 40th was pretty good, brilliant house but freezing - I mean freezing....no curtains and massive, massive windows, no extra blankets led to a few uncomfortable nights. Nice company and far too much food and grog made it quite enjoyable.
• I forgot to take my thyroid pills with me - they are stored in the fridge so I forgot all about it. I didn't feel brilliant.  Big A started to feel 'off' on the drive back home (the place was about an hour and a half away) - and ended up having two days off work sick - so all up had a week off work.
• One of the other managers here resigned - I was the first to know and so got in fast and filled her area before anyone else knew what was happening - that's how we are forced to operate these days 'dog eat dog' if you like.  Harsh, and the total opposite to 'me' but necessary to survive. 
• This has meant interviews and rearranging of things. Eventually she told our manager she was finished, so it was up to me to go and finish her up or 'exit her as they call it. 
• Small Man saw the gastroenterologist - he feels confident that SM has NAFLD (see above) or the longer term version which has a similar title but involves some hepatitis (nah don't panic hepatitis in general means inflammation of the liver) and that putting him through a liver biposy would be unnecessary at this point. A lap band would be the only answer as we have tried everyhting he would suggest...and more.  
• He said, in his words, the Xenical and the Diaformin SM tried were like 'pissing in the wind' as far as a solution (but he would have suggested we try them first too) - he needs a lap band. No really? You don't say....
• I'm glad he doesn't need a biposy...
• Possum turned 20 :) His birthday was on Wednesday, so we had dinner here last Saturday night.  We ended up having 14 people for tea, so I cooked like a mad woman Saturday afternoon, and threw in an interview in the middle of it - cos I'm all 'captain multi task' like that - bahaha! No really, after 13 years I should have a fucking clue hey!!
• The day of his actual birthday was 'order day' I tried to organise to pick it up from the courier warehouse - long story short and a bunch of bullshit later (from them, liars liars pants on fire) I just couldn't do it.  So very thankful it arrived at midday, which gave me time to pack it and get it delivered, and home again at 6pm so we could take him out for tea. 
• I had about 5 emails from Matt at the end of last week - things appear to be picking up speed - rapidly
• I am trying not to get my hopes up....but it's so hard not to.....
• We have now been approved for funding, and it would appear that we have been prioritised on the waiting list.
• We have had a change of surgeon, which I am fine with - no alarm bells went off, so I am trusting my gut.  One of Mr N's colleagues wants to do the operation, she is a younger female (younger as in appears to be late 30's). I have checked her out online and am happy.
• I need to get a psych assesment to establish that he is psychologically prepared - all standard stuff but I need it done quickly ("In case the Alfred summon you quickly"), and need a referral - but guess what?? Our GP is booked out until 15th July - I rang Thursday - FFS!! So I now have asked Matt to write a referral for a Psych that is 100 metres away from our GP's rooms.....
• Oh and Small Man had his ears pierced. Dad wasn't very happy (he was fine with the eyebrow...go figure!?!)....

So apart from that I haven't been doing much at all :P

I have now been blogging for 4 years - amazing the things that have changed - and the things that have stayed the same during that time, thank you to those of you that have stuck by me - I can't even begin to describe how much your support has meant, and helped get me through ♥

 G
x♥x

~Nope~

Not much to say tonight, really.

Saw the ENT today to confirm that I am definitely not having bits of my throat/tongue/palette cut out...pleased we sorted THAT out

He tried to encourage me to continue with the exercise/calorie counting I tried for at least 2 months with absolutely NO RESULT WHATSOEVER......how disheartened do you think I felt at the end of it having lost not a single kg?
No normal person that goes from somewhat sedentary with a reasonable diet to 1.5 - 2.5km per day on the treadmill and a reduction in calories loses nothing at all, they just bloody don't.
I have no idea wtf is going on with me and I doubt I ever will.
Maybe I will feel motivated to keep going I don't know :(
Not sure why anyone would bother with those results.

Anyway I have organised the mouthguard with the dentist and have a few appointments lined up to get it happening.

No news on anything for Small Man.

He hasn't been too well over the last week, chest/sinus infection has made him feel pretty average.

No job for Possum yet. 

Yep, I'm very exciting tonight. Possibly tired and over it all!

G
x♥x

In Other News

Possum has a job interview Monday afternoon...

It's a long shot (or sounds like it) - it's for an analyst/programmer position - which he has never done...

I (as in he) (as in I) emailed 'the guy' and asked, and was honest in that it is an area he has no experience in - he did 3D graphics and sisco networking and all the fixing computer stuff (cos I'm all up with the lingo!) at school/college and his traineeship, but not programming or analyst type work...

The guy said to email through his resume so he (I) did...

They must have seen something there because he has an interview Monday afternoon

He did say it's a 'graduate' position not sure wtf that means? Graduate from what? Uni ? 

Oh well, the more interview experience the better

I'm an excellent secretary :P

G
x♥x

~And Then.....~

The letter arrived today

Possum didn't get the job

It's not all negative though, as the guy that did get the job's position will now be available

And the guy that gave Possum the traineeship would be doing the interviews for this one

I am just very pleased the letter didn't arrive yesterday

G

xx

1316....

1316 words written, resume updated, application form filled out.....

Ray - Possum's former teacher/interviewer from college/guy who sits on interview panels for the education dept but is now retired....looked over Possums application and added some extra stuff in red font for Possum to consider - he used all of the suggestions and it enabled us to finish and be happy with the end result...

We emailed Ray to thank him again for his valuable opinion - he replied and wished Possum well - and added that there have been MANY applicants from ALL OVER THE COUNTRY for this job.....so not to take it personally if he isn't selected even for an interview as they usually only interview 5 people.....just the fact that he knows this and still has his education dept email address means he's still in the loop as well..

He would be on bloody good money for a 19 year old! (minimum 44k)

And the job is permanent, no worrying what to do at the end of the year.
Ironically he finishes his traineeship on the 15th of Feb - and Small Man starts college on the 15th of Feb.....

Oh well, you have to be in it to win it - I'm not getting his hopes up too much - I just said......

'Why not you Poss?'

G
x♥x

Oohhhwahhh....

No really, it is all ok - just a few bumps in the road - of course - a lack of bumps would be good for a while though.....

Possum's traineeship runs out SOON (in a few weeks)
It doesn't lead onto another job - he may be unemployed for a while :(

I was bored off my goard the other night while the cricket was on - (sorry I don't do footy or cricket, un Australian? possibly in that regard!!)

So I did the rounds of the job boards - and found THE ONE on the government website - it would be so ideal....a follow on from what he is doing, in that he is currently working at Primary/High School and this job is at a College - ironically the same College Small Man will be attending this year.....yep really!!

He made a huge start to his application last night - and was going to ask Chris, a guy at work who is a year ahead of Poss (he was the trainee the year before Possum) to check his 'addressing of criteria' which basically requires almost a full page of writing per criteria and examples of work you have done.....

He sent me a msg this morning at 9am - Chris has applied for the job too :(

I am just hoping that Possum's interview is better, or that his application is more what they are looking for, or something.
Chris has a permanent full time job already, earning good money etc.......

May the best nerd win I say :D

G
x♥x

****Added at 9.25pm **** 

p.s. Since writing this I have sought the advice of a now retired ex interviewer/IT teacher that we have a lot of respect for - he helped Possum prepare for his interview for the traineeship - he is going to have a look at his application before we send it - which will be tomorrow.  

I also found some help/a guide to addressing criteria which is like gold - now I know what to do.

Basically I have asked Possum to give me the raw info - and I will put it together and edit it etc

Did I mention it's over 20 years since I went to school......this sort of stuff fries the brain, good job I love the boy so much eh ♥

~On mY miNd ToNiGht~

In no particular order...

I have to admit it.......I don't like football.

There, I said it. 

I fail to see the point in getting worked up over something you have no control over whatsoever. 

Yep I went there. 

And it's some sort of finals going on and the carry on.....it leaves me scratching my head and wondering why??

Sport itself is important, if people want to go to the footy good for them, I could never revolve my life around it though.

That's just me.....

*********

Possum's nerves have been bad recently, I think he needs an increase in his medication - we have tried a lower dose for several months and I don't think it's 'right'.

He had a slight muscle twitch or something last night - which resulted in part of a can of V being sprayed over the keyboard of my laptop.....he was terribly upset with himself.

He has been doing his 'habit' cough also, and a few other little things.....

*********

 I have been saying for a while that if I am still this unhappy with the company I work for after Small Man's operation I will be looking for another job.

I decided tonight, that before I do that I am going to approach one of the company founders and tell him exactly why it's going down the gurgler here - and how unhappy people are - and request to be part of changing that - this was not his vision for the company at all - it's not working - I may as well have a go at fixing it...if he'll let me.

This is why I haven't contacted him once since the changes came in, and the subsequent changes were introduced - I'm saving my say up for real change, improvement....even if just at a state level - so yep I'll be throwing my hat in the ring....

*********

Concerned for my cousin - my Aunty's granddaughter Gis.

She may be 18 but she was affected the most by Aunty Julie's death.

She was born to parents both addicted to heavy drugs, it has affected her ability to learn and slightly her ability to express emotion/understand (and I say it's quite mild, but still a worry).

She is still living with her Pa (my Aunty's husband) and is happy to be in her home, but she is lost.

Even though her mother has been clean for 5 or 6 years she still lives the life of a single person, and is more like a sister to Gis - not a mother.

Very sad situation, that has been held together by Aunty Julie until now :(

Luckily Gis is on facebook, I have added her and will try and stay in constant contact with her.

*********

I'm not going to write about the funeral.

*********

There is one couple that work 'for me' (so not implying that I am a manager I simply 'look after' the area they work in - bahaha!)  they are kind of frustrating me a bit, and putting my back up somewhat.  They were the only ones that thought only of themselves while we were away, just worried how it might affect them - yeah that doesn't fit in with my team I'm afraid.  It's not the first time, and they refuse to make small changes that would make things easier for themselves - would prefer to whinge when it blows up in their faces.

I am getting close to the end of my rope with it, it's aggravating me more than it should........

*********

Big A is off to Japan on Tuesday.....

So I'll be off then - to NOT watch the football - ha ha!

G

xx

~ I kNeW It ~

I KNEW there was more to Small Man's fatigue at the moment than his usual chronic fatigue.

He has been really, really struggling just to get through the day, and he is having more and more trouble trying to push himself

When Matt was organising his blood tests I happened to ask for him to check his Vitamin D level

It is 18

Normal is 50 - 100 but closer to 100 is preferred

It's as low as Possums Vit D level was last year when he was coming home from college and going straight to bed, excessively fatigued etc.....

Not one to screw around Matt wants Small Man onto some super heavy duty stuff to get his levels back to normal quickly - remember how long it took Possum? Months.........


Glad to know I'm not making shit up

And that there is a solution for this part of his health.........


G
xx

HE GOT IT!!!

Possum got the traineeship he really, really wanted!!

We are so stoked - he was so excited he was shaking.

It was meant to be, I'm thrilled to bits for him!!!!

YAY!!!!!

G
xx

So Anyway....

I rang for Possums blood test results today,
the receptionist said 'the doctor would like to discuss the results with me/us'.

That's fine - if I could get a bloody appointment.
I rang last Tuesday intending on making 2 appointments, one for each son.
The next possible appointment at that stage was next Thursday at 2.30pm - no good for Possum so made it for Small Man.

When I asked to make an appointment today to do the discussing of tests there wasn't one until the week after next!
So I will attempt the old 'ringing up at 8.30am' thing Monday and Tuesday to try and get an appointment.

Possum woke up with the flu this morning.
He has taken today off school, tonight and tomorrow off work...and we'll see about Sunday.
I figure with the way this flu has been going he'll either be much better, or worse within 48 hours.....

It seems I spoke too soon, my head feels terrible today also - I struggled to get up this morning - it feels like the flu coming back to me, which I heard is happening a bit with people.
Great.
Oh well, the house is still in fairly good shape from Tuesday/Wednesday so I can rest a bit today.

The news of the work changes has almost reached all of the other managers now - I have been overwhelmed by the support I have received - one manager (who is not even part of my team) sent me a message while I was on the road yesterday to ask how I was with it all, and offered me some of his area if it would help.
That's just an amazing gesture ~ wow!
He didn't have to do that at all, we really are a caring group that's for sure.

Meanwhile the lower than scum previous GM that ran our company into the ground (specifically so that he could then buy it cheap) has heard what is going on and is contacting others in the same position I currently hold - and offering them jobs with him!!!
His plans failed and he was forced to start his own company - when he left he took all of our information, contact details etc etc.

Oooohhh I HOPE he rings me - I have a piece of my mind just waiting for him.
For one thing I made him aware of the fact (twice) that I was being harassed by one of his managers , and he did nothing about it - so why would I want to go and work for him?
And he is clearly a very dishonest person - so no thanks - I'd rather go down with the ship I'm on.
If nothing else I am 100% loyal.

G
xx