We had a really bazaar Christmas, Drew had headaches and chills even though his body temp was ok. I phoned the 13health number at about 4.30am and they said to take him to GP when they opened in the morning, which we did, I mentioned also that there was a line across him eye lash, and they just said he probably has a sinus problem and to just keep giving him panadol and nurofen, which again I did. Then when he woke on Tuesday his eye was a bit more swollen and he was now running temps, so I took him to the GP again and she said than he needed to stop rubbing it, I kept saying he hasn't been rubbing it, and they said his temp wasn't too bad (38.1) not happy, so Justin kept a watch of him and I went to Fire training, assured, the doctors were almost saying I was over reacting. When I got home at 10.30pm his eye was up like a balloon and his face was looking deformed. I took him straight to Mossman hospital and the doctor there was concerned and asked me to drive him to Cairns Base Hospital (one and a half hours away,I was still in my fire uniform) I phoned Justin and told him, he stayed with Brayden and then came in as soon as he could. It was now early hours Christmas eve, they did a CT Scan and showed it to me, his eye was being pushed diagonally down by two abscesses, one in the optical socket and one in the sinus passage. They operated immediately, worried about the pressure on his brain and eye. It was a very long 5hr wait, where they had to use cocaine as the infection was the nastiest they had come across and they needed to hit it hard,and when he came out we were so relieved. This didn't last long, as he started to go down hill really fast, Christmas day was we waited to see if they were going to go in and operate again, but they decided to change anti-biotics and see how he went over night. Really bad night, and they came in and prepared him again. It was so surreal, because at that stage he was septic, I did all I could do give his conscious a will to live and pull through. This operation was better, he came out and we could see changes very quickly. He was just so sick, and it all happened so fast, it scared me so much but I just had to keep going and pull Justin together. The hospital staff were awesome and made Christmas as good as it could have been in this situation. We came home a week later, Drew had the drain tubes still in and we had to keep changing dressing, New Years day I got really paranoid and took him in, they assured me he was ok, but because it happened so fast I didn't want to miss the signs. His tubes some how came out, I told him to loosen the tape on his face ( it was hurting him every time I had to change it), and Brayden came in whit as a ghost, Drew's tubes came out with the dressing. We again went back to the hospital and again came home. On Monday we had the appointment with the ENT specialist and he was happy and wants to see him in 4weeks. As for Brayden, he stayed with Mum and Dad, he had Christmas with Mum and dad and waited until Drew came home to open the pressies from us. This is where Brayden started to not cope. Everyone was giving Drew attention and pressies and he hated it. We did explain, but just didn't sink in. It is his birthday tomorrow, so I hope this helps make him feel a bit better.
Gosh, listen to me. Hope your Christmas's all went well, I look forward to anyone who wants to tell their story.
Stay Safe,
Till next time
Michelle
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Christmas Letter for 2008
Merry Christmas 2008
From the Van Dyk’s
Wow what a year it has been…
It has been a very busy year for us…. Where do I start!
The year started out with Drew moving up to year 4, in a 4,5,6 composite, with two great teachers who job share and are husband and wife, Rick and Kerry. They are a very switched on couple and love what they do. Rick has a focus on the environment and has done so much in that area. In Fact, we have won various awards and grants and we are very proud. One Award we did come close in, is the Show Case Awards. I’ll tell you this story, as another venture, of our busy lives this year. As P&C Executive, Justin is the President and I the Secretary (but doing both between us). And in this role, we were given the opportunity to fly down to Brisbane with various other teachers, to attend the Show Case Awards, as we had come one of the top three schools in the state. It was great, although we didn’t win the $20,000 grant, we are really happy to have placed. While we were down in Brisbane, I saw Jodie Gill…. Brough now. We hadn’t seen each other in 20years and we had the best couple of hours together. We met her hubby Steve, and went out to Logan Village to her Mum and Dad’s. Her Dad is the same as always…. Donny! While we were there I finally owned up to the crack in their carport ceiling! It was still there. And we saw Bev, Jodie’s Mum, Karen and Tony at Karen’s house around the corner. I was as if we were in a time warp. I really felt as though no time had passed. Then it was time to go back home to the boys who were staying with Mum and Dad.
Where was I????
Oh! Brayden went into Year 1, he did Prep last year, which is like the old version of Reception or Pre-School, but they are there full time. So Brayden made a smooth transition. All the teachers and ourselves are really amazed at Bray’s handwriting, he is so neat. And he also has a really knack for drawing, he pays such close attention to detail. If only he would concentrate. His report during the year said that he tends to be the class clown and needs to be the centre of attention… This was no surprise to us, but he has been a lot better in class lately.
We are really enjoying life up here in Far North Queensland. We have a few really special friends in Mel, lives across the paddock, she also does Family Day Care, which is so handy, especially the school holidays. Mel’s Mum, Frances and step dad, Tom, are like family to us. And also, there is Michelle and Grant, Michelle is a really good friend of Mel’s and we have gotten to know them really well. Grant also, does Firies with me. But being a small community, we are all there for each other … Have I sold the place to you yet???
There is the downfall…. The heat and the humidity! We are in the “build up” at the moment and the air is so thick. I’m sitting in front of a BIG fan and the air con.
What else…. I’m a fire fighter with the Wonga Beach Rural Fire Brigade. I have a pager with me at all times. So if there is a fire, accident, or even if we are needed to get to someone who needs an ambulance in a hurry, we are called to attend. We have been quiet busy, and I enjoy every minute of it. I take my “kit” (uniform,fire helmets and boots) with me, because I never know when the pager will go off. So, with them I train at Wonga Station on a Monday night, and then I take the truck in with Grant to train in Mossman on a Tuesday night. I’m waiting at the moment to hear back, they want me to train as a trainer to teach other firefighters across the Far North senior first aid, which means, they are putting me through my Certificate 4 as a Medical Technician and I will then be paid to teach. Also, when I do start work in Mossman, I will be able to join the Mossman Fire Station and go out to jobs, to fire fight, but specialising in the Medical part of it. So, I’m really happy where I am at the moment. One more thing, I have my learners to drive the Fire Trucks (Medium Rigid) and will soon be going for my licence. So wish me luck! Also, just last weekend, I spent the weekend in Cairns doing a Fire Course, learning the BA (breathing apparatus). It was so intense, climbing ladders, tunnels, hills with the air cylinders on your back and a huge face mask and really heavy suit on. We even had to go into and stay in a shipping container with a huge gas fire… learning different combat sprays and the effects of not using the right ones. We also had to do team exercise where 2 lines of three had to synchronise moving towards an open gas line shooting flames at you out about 2m, moving carefully until we had changed the direction of the flame, which had us standing 12 inches from the base of the outlet. Incredible! I passed and I’m ecstatic. I now have my BA licence and have to keep up the training. I love what I do and I’m looking at any opportunities to climb further.
Our business is going from strength to strength. Justin has been so busy; we have put Websites on the back burner at the moment so that he can concentrate on repairs, upgrades and new pc’s. Some of the websites are….
www.yourservice-computing.com (Justin is forever updating his)
www.mossmanfantail.com (which I did)
www. weddingflowersportdouglas.com (Justin updated it since last time)
www.pinnaclevillage.com (The Holiday Park Mum and Dad Manage)
www.snakewise.com.au
www.highfallsfarm.com.au
www.mossmancommerce.com.au
www.imeshsolutions.com.au
www.bumgenious.com.au
www.triketours.com.au
www.memremovals.com.au
www.jamiesdaintreefishing.com
www.daintreecoastreeffishing.com
He does a fantastic job…. You’ll have to see for yourself. Justin’s website has links to them all, as well as some of the other graphic work he has done.
Justin this year , got his Motor bike Licence. We went through Q-Ride, paid them nearly $400, only to find out on the day, that Queensland Transport had changed their ruling, changing to instead of doing the course and getting an open licence, to, do the course and you can then ride up to a 250cc bike for 12 months. This made us really cross, Justin over the last 12mths had been doing up a 650cc, when it was all finished he then booked into the course. He can’t ride it for another 12mths… bugger, the rules changed 7wks before the course. He now has a Yamaha 250 and this is getting him by.
Justin has a juvenile spotted python as a pet, a good customer of ours, the ones that we did the website for, sourced a snake early in the year. Now, personally I had a phobia with snakes ranking them second only to dentists. But I have learnt to like…. I did say like Harley. She does have character…. Sharing my bedroom with a snake, we had to learn to live together…. Funny… not. Justin loves the snake so much, he had a tattoo done on his arm of her. .. remembering, his other tattoo has Drew, Brayden and my name one a heart on his chest… so, I have gotten used to the idea.
Drew’s camp- Drew was one of five year 4 students in the 4/5/6 composite so, he got to go on the camp this year. We were all a bit worried, as Drew has a few quirks (Aspergers) problems. We were worried and didn’t think he would last the first day… WOW he blew us all away, when he jumped off of the bus, he was yelling…”I love capsizing” considering that he wouldn’t go within 10 foot of a boat or ferry, we were astonished. There were 3nights that they were away for, one night they had to make their own bivvy… Drew won’t go into a room without someone with him, and… He loved it, all they had were, 2garbage bags, and some rope. We are so proud of him.
Mum turned 60 last month. Dad and I planed a really nice party for her. We had some surprise guests who came from all over Australia. It was so nice to see them all. Mum’s sister Anne came up, it was the first time she had ever been out of Metro Adelaide let alone a plane. She loved it, it was so nice to show someone around who showed so much gratitude. Everything was an experience for her. Mum’s friend Brenda, she was Mum’s Matron of Honour at her wedding, and later Mum’s boss in Darwin when Mum and Dad were managing the Overlander Caravan Park. She flew up from Melbourne. Mum’s friends Lola and Marc flew up from Adelaide, so good to catch up, Mum and Dad had just been in Adelaide for their Daughters wedding. Then there was Denise, her and her good friend Pam came up from Brisbane. I hadn’t seen her in 20years. It was as if no time had passed at all. We had a ball, haven’t laughed so much in years… 20 to be exact. When she saw Darren, she just had to ring and tell her Daughter Jodi… they always had a soft spot for each other. To cut a long story short… Denise bought a plane ticket for Jodi to come up here and see Darren….
So, here we are, we’ve just spent a couple of great days, showing her around. Today we went swimming at Mossman George and then had tea a Hogs Breath. And she leave tomorrow… which is sad, but I’m 100% sure she’ll be back soon.
I have to say enough for now… otherwise it will be next Christmas by the time you are all finished reading this letter. Let me Wish you all a safe and happy Christmas and an even better 2009. We love and wish everyone the best and love you all. Til next time…
Michelle, Justin , Drew and Brayden… and I suppose the dogs… Jazzy and Bailey and snake Harley. Loving Life!
xxoo xxoo xxoo xxoo
From the Van Dyk’s
Wow what a year it has been…
It has been a very busy year for us…. Where do I start!
The year started out with Drew moving up to year 4, in a 4,5,6 composite, with two great teachers who job share and are husband and wife, Rick and Kerry. They are a very switched on couple and love what they do. Rick has a focus on the environment and has done so much in that area. In Fact, we have won various awards and grants and we are very proud. One Award we did come close in, is the Show Case Awards. I’ll tell you this story, as another venture, of our busy lives this year. As P&C Executive, Justin is the President and I the Secretary (but doing both between us). And in this role, we were given the opportunity to fly down to Brisbane with various other teachers, to attend the Show Case Awards, as we had come one of the top three schools in the state. It was great, although we didn’t win the $20,000 grant, we are really happy to have placed. While we were down in Brisbane, I saw Jodie Gill…. Brough now. We hadn’t seen each other in 20years and we had the best couple of hours together. We met her hubby Steve, and went out to Logan Village to her Mum and Dad’s. Her Dad is the same as always…. Donny! While we were there I finally owned up to the crack in their carport ceiling! It was still there. And we saw Bev, Jodie’s Mum, Karen and Tony at Karen’s house around the corner. I was as if we were in a time warp. I really felt as though no time had passed. Then it was time to go back home to the boys who were staying with Mum and Dad.
Where was I????
Oh! Brayden went into Year 1, he did Prep last year, which is like the old version of Reception or Pre-School, but they are there full time. So Brayden made a smooth transition. All the teachers and ourselves are really amazed at Bray’s handwriting, he is so neat. And he also has a really knack for drawing, he pays such close attention to detail. If only he would concentrate. His report during the year said that he tends to be the class clown and needs to be the centre of attention… This was no surprise to us, but he has been a lot better in class lately.
We are really enjoying life up here in Far North Queensland. We have a few really special friends in Mel, lives across the paddock, she also does Family Day Care, which is so handy, especially the school holidays. Mel’s Mum, Frances and step dad, Tom, are like family to us. And also, there is Michelle and Grant, Michelle is a really good friend of Mel’s and we have gotten to know them really well. Grant also, does Firies with me. But being a small community, we are all there for each other … Have I sold the place to you yet???
There is the downfall…. The heat and the humidity! We are in the “build up” at the moment and the air is so thick. I’m sitting in front of a BIG fan and the air con.
What else…. I’m a fire fighter with the Wonga Beach Rural Fire Brigade. I have a pager with me at all times. So if there is a fire, accident, or even if we are needed to get to someone who needs an ambulance in a hurry, we are called to attend. We have been quiet busy, and I enjoy every minute of it. I take my “kit” (uniform,fire helmets and boots) with me, because I never know when the pager will go off. So, with them I train at Wonga Station on a Monday night, and then I take the truck in with Grant to train in Mossman on a Tuesday night. I’m waiting at the moment to hear back, they want me to train as a trainer to teach other firefighters across the Far North senior first aid, which means, they are putting me through my Certificate 4 as a Medical Technician and I will then be paid to teach. Also, when I do start work in Mossman, I will be able to join the Mossman Fire Station and go out to jobs, to fire fight, but specialising in the Medical part of it. So, I’m really happy where I am at the moment. One more thing, I have my learners to drive the Fire Trucks (Medium Rigid) and will soon be going for my licence. So wish me luck! Also, just last weekend, I spent the weekend in Cairns doing a Fire Course, learning the BA (breathing apparatus). It was so intense, climbing ladders, tunnels, hills with the air cylinders on your back and a huge face mask and really heavy suit on. We even had to go into and stay in a shipping container with a huge gas fire… learning different combat sprays and the effects of not using the right ones. We also had to do team exercise where 2 lines of three had to synchronise moving towards an open gas line shooting flames at you out about 2m, moving carefully until we had changed the direction of the flame, which had us standing 12 inches from the base of the outlet. Incredible! I passed and I’m ecstatic. I now have my BA licence and have to keep up the training. I love what I do and I’m looking at any opportunities to climb further.
Our business is going from strength to strength. Justin has been so busy; we have put Websites on the back burner at the moment so that he can concentrate on repairs, upgrades and new pc’s. Some of the websites are….
www.yourservice-computing.com (Justin is forever updating his)
www.mossmanfantail.com (which I did)
www. weddingflowersportdouglas.com (Justin updated it since last time)
www.pinnaclevillage.com (The Holiday Park Mum and Dad Manage)
www.snakewise.com.au
www.highfallsfarm.com.au
www.mossmancommerce.com.au
www.imeshsolutions.com.au
www.bumgenious.com.au
www.triketours.com.au
www.memremovals.com.au
www.jamiesdaintreefishing.com
www.daintreecoastreeffishing.com
He does a fantastic job…. You’ll have to see for yourself. Justin’s website has links to them all, as well as some of the other graphic work he has done.
Justin this year , got his Motor bike Licence. We went through Q-Ride, paid them nearly $400, only to find out on the day, that Queensland Transport had changed their ruling, changing to instead of doing the course and getting an open licence, to, do the course and you can then ride up to a 250cc bike for 12 months. This made us really cross, Justin over the last 12mths had been doing up a 650cc, when it was all finished he then booked into the course. He can’t ride it for another 12mths… bugger, the rules changed 7wks before the course. He now has a Yamaha 250 and this is getting him by.
Justin has a juvenile spotted python as a pet, a good customer of ours, the ones that we did the website for, sourced a snake early in the year. Now, personally I had a phobia with snakes ranking them second only to dentists. But I have learnt to like…. I did say like Harley. She does have character…. Sharing my bedroom with a snake, we had to learn to live together…. Funny… not. Justin loves the snake so much, he had a tattoo done on his arm of her. .. remembering, his other tattoo has Drew, Brayden and my name one a heart on his chest… so, I have gotten used to the idea.
Drew’s camp- Drew was one of five year 4 students in the 4/5/6 composite so, he got to go on the camp this year. We were all a bit worried, as Drew has a few quirks (Aspergers) problems. We were worried and didn’t think he would last the first day… WOW he blew us all away, when he jumped off of the bus, he was yelling…”I love capsizing” considering that he wouldn’t go within 10 foot of a boat or ferry, we were astonished. There were 3nights that they were away for, one night they had to make their own bivvy… Drew won’t go into a room without someone with him, and… He loved it, all they had were, 2garbage bags, and some rope. We are so proud of him.
Mum turned 60 last month. Dad and I planed a really nice party for her. We had some surprise guests who came from all over Australia. It was so nice to see them all. Mum’s sister Anne came up, it was the first time she had ever been out of Metro Adelaide let alone a plane. She loved it, it was so nice to show someone around who showed so much gratitude. Everything was an experience for her. Mum’s friend Brenda, she was Mum’s Matron of Honour at her wedding, and later Mum’s boss in Darwin when Mum and Dad were managing the Overlander Caravan Park. She flew up from Melbourne. Mum’s friends Lola and Marc flew up from Adelaide, so good to catch up, Mum and Dad had just been in Adelaide for their Daughters wedding. Then there was Denise, her and her good friend Pam came up from Brisbane. I hadn’t seen her in 20years. It was as if no time had passed at all. We had a ball, haven’t laughed so much in years… 20 to be exact. When she saw Darren, she just had to ring and tell her Daughter Jodi… they always had a soft spot for each other. To cut a long story short… Denise bought a plane ticket for Jodi to come up here and see Darren….
So, here we are, we’ve just spent a couple of great days, showing her around. Today we went swimming at Mossman George and then had tea a Hogs Breath. And she leave tomorrow… which is sad, but I’m 100% sure she’ll be back soon.
I have to say enough for now… otherwise it will be next Christmas by the time you are all finished reading this letter. Let me Wish you all a safe and happy Christmas and an even better 2009. We love and wish everyone the best and love you all. Til next time…
Michelle, Justin , Drew and Brayden… and I suppose the dogs… Jazzy and Bailey and snake Harley. Loving Life!
xxoo xxoo xxoo xxoo
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