Hi everyone.  I havn't made an entry in a few days and I owe you an explanation of the happenings from the meeting with the social workers last week.

Val is all set to come home, hew only warning was that she really can't set about to cookign again as her mind tends to get the wanders.  She is likely to put something on and forget about it, resulting in fires.  Jas didn't address any of my concerns, such as the use of her right hand as it seems to be effected.  She can barely hold a cup of coffee in her hand.  What happens if there are future strokes?  Chances of rehab if that happens etcetera,At least while she has been in the hospital we know she has been safe there.  Only two more sleeps before she comes home and then begins a whole new series of worries.  I find this part of her whole experience the most worrying of all.

Now I need to confess something here.  I'm beginning to really resent Val and Pete.  I understand it is all part of the illness but she has begun to be so demanding.  Everyone panders to her every whim.  We were requested to bring up fish and chips on Saturday night, which we declined as the weather was too hot and we were all tired and the kids had coughs.  So we made it for last night.  Mind you I worked all bloody day yesterday, from 0700 to 1500 and it wasn't pleasant, not an easy ease back into work at all but was very busy and stressful.  When I got home I bathed the kids, changed nappies, prepared bottles-you know the organisation involved when preparing kids for an outing.

We picked up the fish and chips, $30.00 later, got fuel, stopped for cigarettes then straight up to the hospital.  It was only 1730 yet Peter was pacing the damn carpark waiting for us.  I just wish people would realise what it takes to prepare and get out of a house at night with kids.  I'm so fed up with being made to feel stupid because we were late-1730 is the normal time to eat.  So afte rthat, out to the courtyard, took 5 minutes to eat then Val was tired and went back to her room. 

All that for nothing.  Infuriating, my blood was boiling by this stage.  Just because Val thought it would be a good idea to get fish and chips it had to be done.  Where were the other two brothers?  Why does it have to land on Jas and I's shoulders?  And then made to feel stupid because we weren't there at 4.30! 

Bloody old people.  I'm over it now, thanks for the vent.

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Will get back to blog shortly as kiddies are ill and I don't have much to write about.  I'm waiting for the big Social worker interview tomorrow.  Two things that come to mind that make me laugh happened last night when we visited Val.  She said that at the interview on Thursday, if the social worker starts saying that she cannot come home that we are to change the subject.  Because if she hears anything she'll be absolutely devistated and will go on a hunger strike.  The second thing she said was that her husband Peter has the concern that they may not be ablt ot sleep inthe same bed anymore, due to her wriggling and stuff.  She said that it doesn;t matter, as it's not as though they're going to have sex!

Very funny for me, I think Jas was horrified at the picture it created in his head of his parents. 

Well at the end of this weekend I am tired, sunburnt, looking after sick child and still havn't got anywhere with the stepkids. 

Today we went to a park, where it was so hot.  I lost Jett once and Jayger once, due to them folling their cousin Aaron.  I took Aaron aside and told him that if he was going to go in and out of the playground he must advise me first.  As the kids were there one minute and gone the next.  They had attached themselves to their older cousin today and they're too little to understand that they need to tell mum.

I've figured that the older generation, or maybe just some people have lost their manners.  I'm taking about basic manners of standing when a pregnant person or elderly person gets on a train or bus, or just the simple thing of an adult in charge of one of your children advises if they need to leave their house for an hour or so.  Where I am going with this is here, Jake went to his friend Zaks house this weekend for a birthday party that was held there last night.  Jake rang yesterday afternoon and asked whether he could stay longer today because he wanted to go motorbike riding.  Well after we had finished at the park etc, we tried ringing Jo's mobile, Jakes mobile, Jo home phone.  Unable to get hold of anybody.  When Jas arrived at their house, Jo and her partner had gone down to the factory and left all kids in charge of an older boy.  HELLO!!! How about ringing and advising the boys parents?  Unbelievable.  It comes down to manners, they're lost these days. 

Step kids....well could not coax a conversation out of either of them.  I joked, I was my normal self, I told them that they talk to much by being sarcastic, and then I told them I wasn't happy with their contribution this week.  Still nothing, I AM TALKING TO YOU YOU KNOW?  Ignorant boys.  I have put it down to them just taking for granted what they have around them.  And these boys will not wake up to how little they have contributed to their family until they lose them.  Kieran spent the whole afternoon with his very ill grandmother, and only said something to her when I encouraged him to.

Jayger is sick.  Croaky voice, hot.  Refused bloody medicine.  Don't you hate that?  So have him here on the couch at my feet cooling down. Poor little baby.

Jett looked beautiful today, I got her to stay in a dress for the whole time!  Now that's unbeliavable!

I wrote an article for minti regarding how young predators of children are.  But because it had the word s.e.x in it it has to be checked by admin first.  Anna Lisa made me aware of how young offenders are, and to be aware of slides and playground equipment that a parent cannot see their children in.  Hope it doesn't scare too many people, but we do need to be aware.  Which is something a lot of people are not.  Considering there are three online paedophiles arrested per week just here in Melbourne.

Only 9 more sleeps until Val comes home, and only 4 more until we have the meeting with the social worker.  That would be good as she and pete will be advised about the reality of their future lives together.

Till next time, off to write a bit.

I hate weekend sport.  Although I love the kids participating in sport, it is so obtrusive to the family life.  Training here and there, all day Saturday cricket in summer, all day Sunday in winter football.  Drive here, drive there.  Drop one off over there, drive another 20 kms to drop another off.  Watch 20 mins of one, drive back to watch the other. 

I have so much to do today.  I've got to get over to my in laws place to giveit  aclean, I havn't been for 3 weeks.  3 WEEKS!  Can you imagine how dirty it's going to be.  The sheets need to be changed, vacuuming, febreeze the curtains and open the place up, and the one task I am NOT looking forward to doing, cleaning the toilets.  It must be done as men, especially one who has had his wife do everything for him for 40 years, do not clean the way women do. Its a fact.  They just don't see the little things.  Even when I leave a list of things for Jas to do here at home, he either doesn't "find" the time, or only gets through two of the thirty things to do.  And us mums can do it all.  God we're good.  But on the other hand we can be so hard on one another can't we?  Like that ad where the women has a new baby and her toilets are not clean.  That's me, always worried about the little things.

Anyway, it's a beautiful day here in Melbourne.  I am going to enjoy it soon but I need to transfer some of my written pages and corrections and editing over to the computer.  Gabe is asleep, the dishwasher is on, the washing is on, coffee brewed.  And now here I go.

Have a great weekend all!