Hello there! Well it has been a very STRESSFUL 24 hours in the Brotherton Household!

Hudson was seen by the school nurse yesterday morning to check his Hearing and Sight...... I then received the news that his hearing was close to Deaf and that his eye sight was not much better and pretty much going blind. You can imagine the shock and fear that we felt at hearing this news.

After a few teary phone calls, calls to specialists and call to Mich, I finally got him appointments for his eyes and ears.. We took him for his eye test yesterday afternoon at OPSM and was told by them that his eye sight is FINE although he is showing signs of being mild long sighted , but at this stage it is so mild that it does not even require glasses. With that one out of the way it was then waiting till this morning for his hearing test. The test went well. He has FULL PERFECT hearing in both ears and his grommets and still in place and working fine. Another sigh of relief.

We are now quite confused of how the School Nurse got her results so terribly wrong and inaccurate. But at least he has been tested and we know all is good. We are now in talks with his teacher on how to best manage his learning as he is struggling in some parts of his language skills. He will see a speech Therapist which is help greatly.

On a brighter note, Treyden received a honor certificate at school this week and we have been told by his teacher that he is doing Very well in his school work and coping well with the change of school. We did have a incident at the start of the week with him but all have been sorted and he has approached the situation with great maturity and did everything and a little bit more to redeem himself!!

Miami had her end of year testing this week at school and I was informed very happily that she is very ready for Uni as soon as she is accepted! Anyone who spends even 10 minutes with her quickly realises that she has been here before and has not forgotten much!!!

Hunter has been home this week with at the start I thought a case of the Chicken Pox, but after going to the DR with Nan we found out that it was not Chicken Pox but a Viral Infection, and after speaking with Mich (we have an open line at the moment - LOL) I have come to the conclusion that maybe is has a sensitivity to Nurofen. So hence now he only has Panadol and the blisters a going and he is doing well.

Simon is well and has had a very busy week at work - and loving every minute of it (so to speak).

I am going well now I am only on my old medication although a few extra where needed in the last 24 hours.

We are all settling in very well to the new house, and got a WONDERFUL and very thoughtful surprise today when I got home from Hudson's test. Sam and Simone (Simon's boss and his wife) had been and left a house warming present!! A bottle of Wine, a beautiful plant and 4 Christmas stockings full of chocolates for the kiddies. It was a lovely surprise and one that is greatly appreciated and unexpected.

Well Treyden is due home any minute and Simon is finishing early today (well he was the last I heard - it can change in an instant!!). So I best be off and I will upload some photos soon..

Love to all and a VERY BIG thanks to Mich for all her advise over the last week.

Kath xx

Well FINALLY we are in the new house!! I was starting to think that it was years away from happening. The house is not quite complete with the floating floors in the kitchen/halls/back family room to be laid this week, the landscaping to be done this week or early next week, curtain also this week. But all in all its great. A little strange as I am now used to the little unit and feel like there is too much space!

Dobby is staying at mums at the moment as the fencing will not be done until Jan 13 - no supply available - so mum is already pulling her hair out, but he is coming over tonight for a sleep over and day tomorrow with me at the unit while i do the final clean.

It was an interesting weekend as we didn't know up until lunch time Saturday that we could have the keys... Simon ended up working till 2pm and then we did some of the smaller things and then it was off to a party for one of the "boys" (Mark) from work...... That turned out to be a fun night of learning how to swear in South African (they look after m so well - now I wont look rude or sound rude when abusing stupid drivers!) and doing pub runs for more beer. (I knew there had to be a down side to being a non drinker!!) The small group of us (around 8-9) started out the front of the units until the old man up stairs thought we needed a shower and rain it out, so inside we went!! This then gave the boys the idea that they needed some easy listening music (thank god - none of this heavy metal crap) and we danced and laughed while listening to the Greatest Hits from the Eagles.. The night finished around 1am and everyone safely but maybe not to steady walked home.

OH I FORGOT!! My dear husband and his wonderful boss Sam have been seeking (very secret business between them) and early Christmas Present for me!! And Simon delivered it personally on Thursday night! A NEWER CAR!! Not a brand newy but a 1997 Subaru Forrester... VERY NICE. It was one of the other guys car from work and he has looked after it so well, that it drives and feels like a new car. So YES they pulled one over me, which is very hard to do!!

I have some photos of the "party", house and car on my camera, I just have to remember where I put it! LOL.

Our house phone goes on tomorrow so Telstra will be upset as they wont be getting so much money off me and my mobile again!!!

Anyway I better get this dinner finished, kids bathed and ready for a night of reading my new DR Phil book.

I will upload photos when I stop having a memory blank!

Love to all
Kath Xxxx

Another weekend is upon us! Treyden and Hudson are having a weekend at mums along with Dobby!! So it is just myself, Simon, Miami and Hunter. I think Simon is at the point that I was at yesterday at this time, wants Miami to stop talking!!!!

We are still in the unit until during the week or weekend. The floor coverings, Curtains, and gardens are being completed this week.

Nothing to exciting has happened this week apart from making a call to Mich (thanks again Mich) for medical advise! Hudson copped a whack in the eye with a soccer ball and had blurred vision. After a trip to get it all checked, and after having to physically holding Hudson down to put drops in his eyes, he was given the all clear. Although I have to take him back for another hearing test as his teacher is concerned he is not picking up certain sounds again, we have noticed his hearing is becoming worse again. So while getting his eye checked I asked them to check his grommets. They are both still in and not blocked but the DR did notice some scarring on his left ear drum. He quite happily went back to school the next day. He got given a prize on Friday for earning 10 gold slips - gold slips are awards for good behaviour, trying hard etc - so he was excited.

Treyden also came home very excited from school yesterday as he was given his pen licence, he has been working very hard on his neatness and it has finally paid off!

Hunter also received his first Certificate at school, and really only today has put it down. He is very willing to show everyone and anyone that wants to have a look.

Miami is well, talking like she may not be able to start again if she stops! She is still worried about her rabbit although we have reassured her that Chance and Gran will be looking after her for her.

Simon has the weekend off after a very stressful week at work, they have had to lay some people off due to other companies stopping major work till the credit crunch settles down. His job is safe but he feels attached to the company and all his workers and has found it stressful to have to be in the position to lay people off. He is currently putting up the digital dartboard for us so we can have a play - should be interesting!! And he is off tomorrow for a round of gold with his old mate Regan.

I am ok, although I have just whacked my hip bone on the corner of the bench - OUCH - :)

Anyway that's enough babble for now, the dart board is up and I am off to practice before the work boys find out we have it and want a challenge!!

Love to all

Kath xx

Now this one is Why I HATE the bush and try to avoid it as much as I can........ Now remembering that I am not brave this fella looks small in the picture but I just wasn't brave enough to get any closer!!!

Well finally I am feeling as though I can stay awake for more than 3 hours, haha, so here I am again with another exciting addition to the blog. haha.

I am just having my normal medication and although I still get a little jittery at least I am awake and not feeling as though breathing is even an effort!

Our day out on Sunday was a nice day, we went up to Wellington Dam (near Collie) and had a BBQ lunch in the bush. We also had Benny and Clyde (2 of Simon's boys from work) It was a lovely day (from what I remember lol). I got some great photos which I will add, but unfortunately Hunter got hold of the camera and I cant get it to Shut and it keeps coming up with a Zoom Error. I will have to get it fixed soon so I can take more photos!!

The House is due for Handover today but the builder looks as though they are behind, so it may not be a move this weekend but next weekend, depends if they pull finger today or not. Although the street is completely full with workman cars and there is some real big action happening today!!

I have managed to get Hunter and Miami both into Picton Primary with the boys next year, which is great, Miami will do 5 full days (YAY) and Hunter does 2 half days and one full day. I am going to LOOOOVVVEE Thursdays! haha.

Anyway I better get cleaning so there isn't too much to do when we do finally move, and the little ones don't have school tomorrow so it is my last chance to get some stuff done with no one home.

Love to all

Kath xxxxxx

Well what a 3 days it has been, I started my new medication - interesting experince - I am now off them and back on my normal stuff. I took my first dose on Saturday morning and within an hour was back in bed completley exhausted. I thought well this was bound to happen until the body adjusts, Sunday same thing except I managed to have a day out with Simon and the Kids. Yesterday was a awful day to say the least..... I woke up to find Miami's rabbit
, Princess Rose, had died during the night, then I had my medication!!!!! Well I managed to get the kids all of to school and then collapsed into bed yet again. Come 1120 I staggered out the door to go get Hunter and Miami and then straight back to bed. I spoke to Simon at one point (dont really remember it) and he decided that I needed to go back to the DR ASAP, as he even realised that this cant be normal.

Went back to the DR, thats after we had a slight accident in the car and blew two tyres!! The DR then said that the medication is too strong and I was to try this other one he gave me, although I have decided not to start taking it as I am still exhausted today and struggling to stay awake.

I decided to add to the blog as I have to pick up the kids soon and dont want to lay back down, or I might sleep through - they wouldnt be happy - and am hoping they both want to have a nanna nap with me later.

I have decided just to have the medication I was on earlier and wait a week or so before trying the next one, I dont think the body could handle going through another 3 days like the last ones.

Treyden and Hudson are off to The Big Swamp Wildlife park today with school, which they are very excited about, no doubt they will be giving us the whole days tour in great detail.

Hope all is well with everyone, and Lest We Forget! (today being rememberance day)

Just a quick update on the events of today. All is going very quickly with the house and we will be moving in next weekend. I will send out an email with address and home phone number as it is not a good idea to post it on here.

As most of you know I have been suffering with Anxiety and Panic attacks for sometime now and been on Medication, which I was running out of so I rang to get my new script and my normal DR is on leave, so I had to see another DR, so I had to go through the history and symptoms AGAIN..... anyway turns out to be a good thing. He has told me I am suffering with a subpressed case of Post Traumatic Stress (after the loss of Chance), which is what he thinks is now triggering the anxiety, so he has changed my medication and explained alot that now makes a whole lot of sense.

I have had to just call Dad as I have just had my first "realisation" that Gran is no longer here for me to call and have our calming "chats" about my situation...... it was just automatic, i picked up the phone and thought Ill call gran and let her know. But I cant......... I know she knows but it was my first ahhhhhh moment, so poor Dad got the babbling phone call. (Thanks dad! ).

Well on that somber note I will need to go and have a cuppa! Talk soon.

Love Kath xx

Good Morning,

I have added some more photos of the house! NOT LONG NOW!!

This week has been an strange one, it has kind of flown by without us realising it! There is only around 5 weeks left of school which will gut Hunter - Fridays are bad enough as he doesn't get to go. The boys have gone for the day so it just Myself, Hunter and Miami - the office girl in training as you can see from the photo above!

We have also had one of the guys from Simon's work decide it would be funny to have 5 chickens dropped off in the street! Well its was funny for the first 24 hours. Then it became horrible! Laying eggs everywhere - pooing and digging up the gardens. I had the front door open yesterday and they where trying very hard to get in!! Hence Simon got a very strong phone call and 3 of the Chickens where picked up within 30 minutes! Two have gone walk about but no doubt will be back!

Have a great weekend and I will blog away again later,

Love Kath

Well we are at the start of another week, and my countdown clock on Facebook tells me that we only have 53 days till Christmas......... OMG (sorry that's OH MY GOD for all those that aren't up with the latest lingo). The only thing I know re Christmas is that lunch is at our new place and Mum, Chris and us will be there. Dad and Trevor are working and Pauline is staying home.

After lunch, which I haven't even thought about yet, we are blocking the street off and having a street Christmas afternoon/night. All the people (well men - I'm the only female) in our street work with Simon and are from overseas with no family, so that is what has been decided amongst the boys in what they want to do.

The house has come to near completion with handover being next week. I have a photo I will upload with this post, so you can see the "near completion progress" then I will do a FINAL one when complete. I "did" have progress ones, but they went with the other computer!!

I got a lovely surprise phone call on Skype this afternoon from a wonderful friend of dads, Tony Thatcher, which was great. And yes Tony I ill set up the webcam so you can see me next time!! I also got one from Dad but missed it - sorry Dad!

Miami and Hunter have their Christmas Concert at school coming up - date to be confirmed - so that should be very interesting.

Treyden finally got to look after Emma today at school, which he has been looking forward to. Emma is a girl in his class that has a Brain Injury ( not sure of her condition but that is how Treyden explained it to me), he has to look after her at recess and Lunch and carries a RED card with him on the off chance she has a seizure or a problem in the playground.

Hudson had Friday off school, with a back tooth coming through but was excited about going back today - think he realised it isn't fun at home with no one here and not being allowed to do anything!!

Simon had his weekend off, which I don't think he feels any better for and is looking forward to the Christmas break. I'M NOT! 4 kids and Simon all home for more than 2 continuous days starts to do my head in - dont get me wrong I love them all dearly but they kind of interrupt the morning tea gatherings at macca's and the freedom.!!!

Anyway I will post this and the photo and then best be organising dinner and folding the washing.

Love to all

Kath xx

Well what an interesting 24 hours it has been....... I don't think I can claim to be a computer genius but getting there. The only thing I cant figure out is how to reload the photos from the iPod!!

Simon has finally decided to have a weekend off, which hasn't happened for a long time - although no sleeping in, in our house!

Hunter slammed the door on his foot (big toe) just before bed and well that was it! Up half the night with him crying and complaining about his "apparent" broken toe (amazing at even 3 years old they can be so medically informed!, personally I think his big sister may have put that idea in his head!). It is red and a little swollen, but he has made a very good recovery this morning and is out stake boarding and riding the scooter. Amazing how much things feel better in the day time.........

Look out for Miami on the Pro Surfing Circuit! Although she has never been on a surf board, she is a whiz on the stake board and you can already see the natural surf boarding balance and movements kicking in!

Treyden arrived home from school yesterday all excited that his new mate Richie gave him a hat. I said to him that was a nice thing to do, but we will have to check with his mum if he was ok for him to give it away.... Treyden understood and said he would ask Monday, soo I asked to see this hat - IT IS GOING BACK REGARDLESS - It's a bloody collingwood hat!! (might send it to you Mich!!) MY LORD, if its not bad enough our house is currently covered in Hawthorn stuff..........

The house has come on leaps and bounds this week (a rocket was put up someones bottom I think) All electrical and gas appliances are now in, the sectional roller door is on, final paint is complete, so not too far off now.

I am hoping to get to BigW at some point today to get a new headset for Skype and a thumb drive to save all my future photos on - I think of it now - but apart from that and the standard house work nothing much - still having body clock adjusting problems with this daylight saving.

Have a lovely weekend and chat soon.

Love Kath xx