I'm no hypochondriac

Since may we have been battling bugs in our house, about every two weeks I have been falling prey to some virus that is going around, having to be in bed for days and feeling wasted of energy aching everywhere. I feel like an arthritic 80 year old and the kind of person about which you say they catch everything.

Well I changed doctors and he ordered a blood test. The results are in people and Ross River Fever. I have it.

Yes that's right I have a tropical disease and I haven't been any further north than caloundra.

You know what they can do for me? nothing absolutely nothing except panadol and Nurofen. Well I actually feel about 60%today so that is something, maybe it's on it's way out.

I guess I can stop worrying about getting it from mozzies cause now I have had it I can't get it again. And I can also stop feeling like I shouldn't be feeling so sick, I'm not imagining it.
Derek is being tested too, we were both sitting together when I got bitten by the mozzie out in our backyard. I smacked it and killed it and got blood all over my leg. We both remembered it.

So if you do come to visit bring the tropical strength aeroguard with you. I am going to be more vigilant about tossing out pots of elliots wombat stew.

before the batteries died

I dont have a great relationship with batteries and I was all set to get some great shots of family fun at Dreamworld. I put the batteries in the day before to charge and popped them in the camera just before we left - as I turned it on to take the first photo - flash* flash* change batteries now.**

WHAT????

so you dont get to see the sheer terror on my face as I plunged down the giant drop or the gforces impacting my cheekbone as I rushed towards oblivion on the tower of terror, nor the shaken mess I was after stepping off the claw - No you will have to imagine all these things - as will I. ( see last post and note the absence from the teacup ride)

toot toot chugga chugga

its nearly Elliots birthday. He loves the wiggles. We took him to dreamworld for an early birthday present (read - we found shopper dockets with unbelievably cheap entry so we went in november instead of December - he is 2 he wont remember)

First order of business - Wiggles World - the big red car ride. Now as a 34 year old I thought this was Lame yes with a capital L the wiggles appear on 4 video screens pretend henry, wags and Dorothy pop out ( and scare the pants of the 4yo) It just wasnt all I thought it would be, BUT - its not all about thrill seeking for the adults in a day at dreamworld...no I didnt go on any rides other than the merry go round. and definately not the tea cups or flying chairs (insert vomitting sounds here)

I am a wuss. My children are not! I am very thankful for my husband who is willing to go on the rides with them. Sebastian is now talking about how when he is a teenager he will go on the tower of terror and the blue ringed octopus. Funny how all that bravado has come since this incident - which is still keenly remembered and spoken of in hushed tones



We did all go on the log ride - I sat behind Sebastian and had my hands around his chest. I could feel his heart pumping at double time - he was very brave even though he didnt want to be. He has shown much courage in the face of such fears this week - I sprung his 4yo needles on him at the dr the other day and he got through it without a tear. But the adrenalin rush was so great that it lead to an almighty come down - a lot of verbalising and telling everyone - including the drivethru guy at MacDonalds about how brave he was - AND he was.

Chores

Sebastian has taken a keen interest in Vacuuming of late. Twice now he has offered to vacuum the rug in the loungeroom for me and not done a bad job - even emptying the turbodust interceptor for me. However it comes at a small cost - note the pained expression on Elliots face. He sits on the couch crying the whole time the Vacuum is on. or burying his face into my neck "noise mummy noise" holding his hands to his ears - even the mere mention of doing the vacuuming provokes this response. It has joined the irrational fear of public toilet hand dryers that he has developed over the last 2 weeks - which I can pinpoint a moment that lead to at least.
Last saturday we went to Koorong who boasted an adventure playground on their website. This was no to be found but a measly caged area with a few toys from Ikea thrown into the pit. Elliot promptly wee'd on the floor causing us to hurry our purchases along before they knew it was him (bear in mind I was carrying appropriate cleaning tools for such an occasion as one does when travelling with a toilet training 20 month old) so with the disappointment of Koorong I promised Mcdonalds adventure playground on the way home. So as not to have a repeat performance at Mcdonalds we all went to the toilet before the playground. I snuck into the large disabled toilet so we could all fit. Sebastian went first as is the want of the oldest child and was busily washing his hands at the sink when Elliot came close and stood underneath the automatic hand dryer. It went off Blasting the top of his head at close range with hot and forceful air. That child can move! in a flash he was across the room clambering up onto my lap ( I was of course having my turn at the facilities) all the while crying and choking and not being able to catch his breath. Poor little guy was terrified, it must have seemed like standing infront of a leer jet engine to him. So for the 2 weeks following first thing he does when we enter any toilet it check for the beast. He sizes it up on the wall and starts crying. we had a close call after me promising to him that they wont make any noise. At Brookside we were in the public toilets ( we are frequent visitors these days) and we were alone in the Ladies however someone entered after us and was moments away from using the handdryer before I stopped her and asked if she could just wait til we had left - she was much obliging and even waited for the door to flick closed before cranking that baby up. How kind to take an irrational fear of a 20 month old to heart! I am hoping that lots of exposure will help lessen the pain - as you can see its working wonders with the vacuumming!