19th to 25th January 2013
Today I would like to begin my Blog with a quote that I found from Mother Teresa, I think it really sums up life and one of the lines from this quote would apply to something you have been experiencing this week.
"Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realise it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it."
It was Nalani's 19th Birthday on 19th January, I made her a special picture of a beach scene, she thought it was extra special. She enjoyed her day and in the afternoon we had Interclub. She threw discus and javelin, so did Jarrett and I. Jarrett is not a thrower but he decided to do it to push Nalani. In Discus she got a personal best and in Javelin she did extremely well. I threw pretty well also, I did not get any personal bests but I did enjoy having both Nalani and Jarrett throwing with me. Jarrett got personal bests because he has never thrown at Interclub before, so he was excited about that. Although I think he has decided that he is definitely a runner and not a thrower.
I had physiotherapy with Kaitlyn who this week worked on my neck and behind my right knee which has been painful and also swollen. At the end I got to have my glorious heat packs, they really do feel so soothing.
This week I have had headaches each day, they are so annoying as they come and go throughout the day and vary in intensity. My back pain has also made me fairly uncomfortable this week. I always try to find something to provide a distraction from my pain. If you sit there thinking about it, it becomes much worse.
A special highlight of my week this week was getting to see Sarah and Stuart and Meryl. I tire easily with my pain so I am not able to spend too much time visiting or having visitors but seeing them put a huge smile on my face.
It will be ACT Track and Field Championships soon, I have set myself a goal to try to get a personal best in my events. I am doing Discus, Javelin and Shot put.
School goes back in less than two weeks now, the holidays have really gone so very quickly. The temperature has risen again so it has remained difficult to do anything. I think we are in for some cooler temperatures over the weekend but they are also predicting rain.
Thank you to people who have come up with some fund raising ideas, I am still looking for more and would appreciate any ideas you have. Dianne has been selling some of her home grown vegetables to help raise funds, many thanks to her for this great idea, it is also a very healthy one!
Friday, January 25, 2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
A HOT END TO A QUIET WEEK
12th to 18th January 2013
Today marks ten years since the horrendous bush fires that engulfed Canberra. On January 18th 2003, the Canberra community was devastated by bush fires. Four people died, a total of 470 homes were destroyed, and 2000 businesses, homes and vehicles were damaged. As the fires roared through the suburbs many people described it like a flow of lava coming down their street.
The Canberra bush fires were the second most expensive bush fires in Australian history, second only to the Ash Wednesday bush fires.
Lightning strikes ignited 160 separate fires, which burned for ten days in the adjoining Kosciusko National Park, before advancing into Canberra suburbs. Severe drought conditions, low relative humidity and high temperatures that endured and winds of more than 200kpm led to the severe firestorms.
Now there are many bush fires burning all around Australia in high temperatures and winds, again fire has caused so much devastation to our beautiful Country.
Today in Canberra it has been extremely hot and windy, we have sweltered with the temperature hitting 40.2 degrees just after 3pm. When you go outside the air virtually takes away your breath, it is just so appalling.
My week has been quiet, mostly due to the dreadful weather conditions we have been experiencing, you just can not do anything, especially outdoors.
I have been reading The Secret Seven Books by Enid Blyton, I am really enjoying them, they are not only interesting, they provide a little mystery and are hard to put down.
I had my usual physiotherapy appointment with Kaitlyn who worked on my legs, scapula and neck. Thank goodness physiotherapy has airconditioning because then I could have those wonderful heat packs on. It has been difficult to use them at home with the heat, so that is a form of pain relief that is not available to me at present. I always look forward to my appointments with Kaitlyn, she does so much to try to help me, she is pretty extraordinary.
This week I have been bothered by terrible headaches which come and go continually throughout the day. My pain killers are not doing anything to assist them, however, physiotherapy on my neck, cool washes and massages are helping me get through them.
My other problem this week has been with nausea, fortunately I have Ondansetron which seems to give me just enough relief to stop me from vomiting.
I also had a visit with my GP, who is very special to me, we have been going to him since before I was born. I had to get some scripts for medication and he also checked my heart and lungs, which I am pleased to say are all okay.
Tomorrow is a very special day, it is Nalani's 19th Birthday, I hope that the weather cools down for her special day. I have made her something special but won't tell you as she may read this and then it would spoil the surprise.
It is now less than three weeks until school goes back, the school holidays have really flown by and with the weather been so disgustingly hot, we really have not been able to do much. Maybe the weather will improve in the next two weeks and we can get outdoors to enjoy ourselves, I have been hoping to go to the zoo to visit the animals again.
I have been thinking about fundraising ideas for 2013, and I have not been able to think of any wonderful ideas yet. I am really hoping that some of you may be able to come up with some unique and terrific ideas. It is important for me to continue to raise awareness and funds for brain tumours.
Try to stay cool and keep safe.
Today marks ten years since the horrendous bush fires that engulfed Canberra. On January 18th 2003, the Canberra community was devastated by bush fires. Four people died, a total of 470 homes were destroyed, and 2000 businesses, homes and vehicles were damaged. As the fires roared through the suburbs many people described it like a flow of lava coming down their street.
The Canberra bush fires were the second most expensive bush fires in Australian history, second only to the Ash Wednesday bush fires.
Lightning strikes ignited 160 separate fires, which burned for ten days in the adjoining Kosciusko National Park, before advancing into Canberra suburbs. Severe drought conditions, low relative humidity and high temperatures that endured and winds of more than 200kpm led to the severe firestorms.
Now there are many bush fires burning all around Australia in high temperatures and winds, again fire has caused so much devastation to our beautiful Country.
Today in Canberra it has been extremely hot and windy, we have sweltered with the temperature hitting 40.2 degrees just after 3pm. When you go outside the air virtually takes away your breath, it is just so appalling.
My week has been quiet, mostly due to the dreadful weather conditions we have been experiencing, you just can not do anything, especially outdoors.
I have been reading The Secret Seven Books by Enid Blyton, I am really enjoying them, they are not only interesting, they provide a little mystery and are hard to put down.
I had my usual physiotherapy appointment with Kaitlyn who worked on my legs, scapula and neck. Thank goodness physiotherapy has airconditioning because then I could have those wonderful heat packs on. It has been difficult to use them at home with the heat, so that is a form of pain relief that is not available to me at present. I always look forward to my appointments with Kaitlyn, she does so much to try to help me, she is pretty extraordinary.
This week I have been bothered by terrible headaches which come and go continually throughout the day. My pain killers are not doing anything to assist them, however, physiotherapy on my neck, cool washes and massages are helping me get through them.
My other problem this week has been with nausea, fortunately I have Ondansetron which seems to give me just enough relief to stop me from vomiting.
I also had a visit with my GP, who is very special to me, we have been going to him since before I was born. I had to get some scripts for medication and he also checked my heart and lungs, which I am pleased to say are all okay.
Tomorrow is a very special day, it is Nalani's 19th Birthday, I hope that the weather cools down for her special day. I have made her something special but won't tell you as she may read this and then it would spoil the surprise.
It is now less than three weeks until school goes back, the school holidays have really flown by and with the weather been so disgustingly hot, we really have not been able to do much. Maybe the weather will improve in the next two weeks and we can get outdoors to enjoy ourselves, I have been hoping to go to the zoo to visit the animals again.
I have been thinking about fundraising ideas for 2013, and I have not been able to think of any wonderful ideas yet. I am really hoping that some of you may be able to come up with some unique and terrific ideas. It is important for me to continue to raise awareness and funds for brain tumours.
Try to stay cool and keep safe.
Friday, January 11, 2013
SECOND WEEK OF JANUARY 2013
5th to 11th January 2013
It is hard to believe we are into the second week of January, time really does seem to fly by and hasn't this week been stifling hot in many areas of Australia.
The raging bush fires have caused so much destruction and heartache for many, it is so terrible to see it happening all around us. I think the most distressing thing is that in many cases these fires have been lit deliberately, that is just horrific. Maybe some of these teenagers that have nothing better to do, could be helping those less fortunate in our society instead of lighting these fires.
The heat has made me feel so dreadfully nauseous and tired. We have little portable air coolers in the house but they just take a little of the heat away. The temperature in the house is still above 30 degrees, but I guess that is far better than the 37 that it is outside.
With the high temperatures you can not do too much, especially outdoors, so it has been good weather for playing games, watching DVD's and reading.
In the heat this week I had a physiotherapy appointment with Kaitlyn who worked on my hamstring, buttocks and neck, I have been so dreadfully tight and sore in these areas, of course they are nowhere near as sore as my spine but when they are sore at least I have another area of pain to think about apart from my spine. At the end of my session, I had those absolutely marvellous heat packs on, they are truly splendiferous and with the hot weather I have not been able to use mine at home often this.
I also had an appointment with my Paediatrician this week, he is a wonderful doctor and takes good care of me. I have been having regular headaches lately in my front temple area, so he carefully checked behind my eyes with his little light to make sure there was not large mass there. Fortunately at this stage there is not, my headaches may be from the hot weather, hopefully they will ease as the weather improves. He suggested that during the heat that I eat small meals regularly rather than just three large meals, it may help my nausea. Pain is probably one of the largest concerns with it being around 6 - 7 out of 10 constantly, despite taking my regular pain medication.
My spine remains twisted to the right at the top and to the left down the bottom and I am only to have gentle massage on my spine. I can not remember if I have mentioned this before but when I had my last blood tests, it was found that I am menopausal, it is a difficult discovery when you are only 14, that is something that much older people have to face. It is extremely annoying for me to have some of the symptoms but again, it is something that is part of my journey, it is most likely from my radiation treatment as well as my cancer. I have to see my Paediatrician again on 18th February after I have seen my Oncologist on 7th February.
I found out from my medical care team that I can take more oxycodone, as when you take it for an extended period of time, you often get used to it, originally when you start on it, it is based on your weight. They suggested that I could have an extra half dose at bedtime, to help me sleep through the night without waking with pain or discomfort. I am also able to have five doses of the oxycodone a day when it is required, their may goal is to keep my pain down if possible.
Last night was Interclub and I was really determined to throw after feeling so unwell the week before and not been able to compete. I was sore but when you really want to do something you love, you sometimes do it despite your pain. My first event was discus, I had some problems this week throwing either too far to the left or right and fouling, however I managed to get one decent throw in, it was not a personal best but I was just relieved that it was in. Nalani also threw discus and even though she threw well, she did not achieve a personal best either.
It was then time for Shot put, doing that event you are less likely to foul, and I was so excited to get all good throws and in the end I managed a personal best of 2.26m. Unfortunately, Nalani did not get a personal best but she still enjoyed throwing because she came first in her age group.
Jarrett ran in the Mile Championships, he wanted to do really well and was aiming for a time under 4:45:00. The weather was still rather warm at the time of his race and the heat of the AIS track is much hotter than the actual air temperature. He had a reasonable start and worked his way through the pack, then in the last four hundred metres he surged and he flew, he had a magnificent finish and came 5th overall but 2nd in his age group which he has moved up to U20 Men. The race had competitors from all ages from U14 Men to Open Men. The time he achieved was fantastic, he got 4:42, so that was below his goal.
As I finish my Blog entry for this week I pray that areas of Australia with such hot temperatures and sinister fires will see some relief in the form of cooling rain and temperatures.
It is hard to believe we are into the second week of January, time really does seem to fly by and hasn't this week been stifling hot in many areas of Australia.
The raging bush fires have caused so much destruction and heartache for many, it is so terrible to see it happening all around us. I think the most distressing thing is that in many cases these fires have been lit deliberately, that is just horrific. Maybe some of these teenagers that have nothing better to do, could be helping those less fortunate in our society instead of lighting these fires.
The heat has made me feel so dreadfully nauseous and tired. We have little portable air coolers in the house but they just take a little of the heat away. The temperature in the house is still above 30 degrees, but I guess that is far better than the 37 that it is outside.
With the high temperatures you can not do too much, especially outdoors, so it has been good weather for playing games, watching DVD's and reading.
In the heat this week I had a physiotherapy appointment with Kaitlyn who worked on my hamstring, buttocks and neck, I have been so dreadfully tight and sore in these areas, of course they are nowhere near as sore as my spine but when they are sore at least I have another area of pain to think about apart from my spine. At the end of my session, I had those absolutely marvellous heat packs on, they are truly splendiferous and with the hot weather I have not been able to use mine at home often this.
I also had an appointment with my Paediatrician this week, he is a wonderful doctor and takes good care of me. I have been having regular headaches lately in my front temple area, so he carefully checked behind my eyes with his little light to make sure there was not large mass there. Fortunately at this stage there is not, my headaches may be from the hot weather, hopefully they will ease as the weather improves. He suggested that during the heat that I eat small meals regularly rather than just three large meals, it may help my nausea. Pain is probably one of the largest concerns with it being around 6 - 7 out of 10 constantly, despite taking my regular pain medication.
My spine remains twisted to the right at the top and to the left down the bottom and I am only to have gentle massage on my spine. I can not remember if I have mentioned this before but when I had my last blood tests, it was found that I am menopausal, it is a difficult discovery when you are only 14, that is something that much older people have to face. It is extremely annoying for me to have some of the symptoms but again, it is something that is part of my journey, it is most likely from my radiation treatment as well as my cancer. I have to see my Paediatrician again on 18th February after I have seen my Oncologist on 7th February.
I found out from my medical care team that I can take more oxycodone, as when you take it for an extended period of time, you often get used to it, originally when you start on it, it is based on your weight. They suggested that I could have an extra half dose at bedtime, to help me sleep through the night without waking with pain or discomfort. I am also able to have five doses of the oxycodone a day when it is required, their may goal is to keep my pain down if possible.
Last night was Interclub and I was really determined to throw after feeling so unwell the week before and not been able to compete. I was sore but when you really want to do something you love, you sometimes do it despite your pain. My first event was discus, I had some problems this week throwing either too far to the left or right and fouling, however I managed to get one decent throw in, it was not a personal best but I was just relieved that it was in. Nalani also threw discus and even though she threw well, she did not achieve a personal best either.
It was then time for Shot put, doing that event you are less likely to foul, and I was so excited to get all good throws and in the end I managed a personal best of 2.26m. Unfortunately, Nalani did not get a personal best but she still enjoyed throwing because she came first in her age group.
Jarrett ran in the Mile Championships, he wanted to do really well and was aiming for a time under 4:45:00. The weather was still rather warm at the time of his race and the heat of the AIS track is much hotter than the actual air temperature. He had a reasonable start and worked his way through the pack, then in the last four hundred metres he surged and he flew, he had a magnificent finish and came 5th overall but 2nd in his age group which he has moved up to U20 Men. The race had competitors from all ages from U14 Men to Open Men. The time he achieved was fantastic, he got 4:42, so that was below his goal.
As I finish my Blog entry for this week I pray that areas of Australia with such hot temperatures and sinister fires will see some relief in the form of cooling rain and temperatures.
Friday, January 4, 2013
HAPPY NEW YEAR
29th December 2012 to 4th January 2013
Wishing you all a very Happy New Year, may 2013 be a year that is filled with many precious memories, good health, happiness and achieving goals.
My 2012 ended by spending time with my Nana and Pop, they are now back home, but the time we were able to spend with them was precious and special.
Just like many places in Australia, the temperature in Canberra has risen to be extremely hot, today was a sweltering 36.8 degrees and it is predicted to be even hotter tomorrow and the high temperatures look like continuing until the end of next week.
I have found that hot weather can be just as harsh as the cold for me. Particularly yesterday, I was exceptionally sore, unable to move without pain, it was just dreadful and a little frightening. Because I was so sore and then felt terribly ill I was not able to throw at Interclub, so I was so very disappointed.
Nalani was able to throw last night, she did Javelin and Shotput, in Javelin she threw 15.40m and in Shotput she got 6.01m which were both personal bests this season for her. She throws a 600g javelin and a 4kg shotput, which are much heavier than what I throw.
Jarrett is running this coming week, he is competing in the Mile Championships. I am hoping I will be well enough to throw also as well as cheering Jarrett on.
Today I am not quite as bad but the pain and nausea is still making me ill, so this Blog is not very long.
Apart from having time with my Nana and Pop and not feeling well, we have been looking after a gorgeous little puppy, her name is Lily and she is a Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, she has been so cute and playful and brought so much joy into our days. She went back home to her owners today and we were all just a little sad to see her go. Even Tinkerbelle had become fond of her, they often played together and Tinkerbelle watched over her like a Mum would.
It was a relief for me on Wednesday to have physiotherapy with Kaitlyn, she worked on my neck and spine doing gentle releasing, it felt wonderful and then those terrific heat packs at the end.
Have a splendiferous week, keep cool and keep smiling.
Wishing you all a very Happy New Year, may 2013 be a year that is filled with many precious memories, good health, happiness and achieving goals.
My 2012 ended by spending time with my Nana and Pop, they are now back home, but the time we were able to spend with them was precious and special.
Just like many places in Australia, the temperature in Canberra has risen to be extremely hot, today was a sweltering 36.8 degrees and it is predicted to be even hotter tomorrow and the high temperatures look like continuing until the end of next week.
I have found that hot weather can be just as harsh as the cold for me. Particularly yesterday, I was exceptionally sore, unable to move without pain, it was just dreadful and a little frightening. Because I was so sore and then felt terribly ill I was not able to throw at Interclub, so I was so very disappointed.
Nalani was able to throw last night, she did Javelin and Shotput, in Javelin she threw 15.40m and in Shotput she got 6.01m which were both personal bests this season for her. She throws a 600g javelin and a 4kg shotput, which are much heavier than what I throw.
Jarrett is running this coming week, he is competing in the Mile Championships. I am hoping I will be well enough to throw also as well as cheering Jarrett on.
Today I am not quite as bad but the pain and nausea is still making me ill, so this Blog is not very long.
Apart from having time with my Nana and Pop and not feeling well, we have been looking after a gorgeous little puppy, her name is Lily and she is a Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, she has been so cute and playful and brought so much joy into our days. She went back home to her owners today and we were all just a little sad to see her go. Even Tinkerbelle had become fond of her, they often played together and Tinkerbelle watched over her like a Mum would.
It was a relief for me on Wednesday to have physiotherapy with Kaitlyn, she worked on my neck and spine doing gentle releasing, it felt wonderful and then those terrific heat packs at the end.
Have a splendiferous week, keep cool and keep smiling.
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