I have 2 assignments due on 2 November (11 days away), both for the same class.

• The first one involves measuring up an existing building, the soccer sheds on our uni oval, (see the picture) and drawing it in architectural drawing program (AutoCAD).  It's a pretty huge job.  I've already spent 3 hours just doing the measuring, and about 12 hours drawing - and realised today that I've missed a whole heap of stuff that I really need to include in this, so I'm not sure how long the rest will take.  I'm hoping no more than about 4-6 hours work.
• The second one is drawing and analysing an existing building.  I'm doing the Water's Edge Restaurant/ Gallery of Australian Design Pavilion.  I haven't done much more than take some photos and find the relevant journal articles.  I expect I've got at least 18 hours to go on that one, and probably need another visit to the site as well.

Then I have another major assignment due on 9 November - we have to design a retreat/house for the Dalai Lama.  It's a huge job.  I've pretty much decided on the design, but I have to draw it up (about 6 x A1 pages for the final presentation) and I have to make what has turned out to be 3 scale models of it.  I expect I've got 18-36 hours work left in that.

The biggest issue is that I'm in Adelaide from the evening of 5 November to 8 November for a friend's wedding!  So I'm aiming to get everything else finished before I go.  I'm aiming to get everything done by 2 November, but 3 November is a public holiday and a friend has offered to take the kids that day if I need her to - so I think I'll take her up on that.

Wish me luck!  And also that I don't have a complete meltdown between now and then!

The Soccer Sheds:

This is the Water's Edge Restaurant side of the pavilion (the Gallery of Australian Design is on the opposite side):

What a relief!  And now so exciting!

But first - I have to finish this semester.  My last assignment is due on 9 November, and I really can't wait to get through it all.  It's so huge... 

Weather-wise we had a fantastic day.  Just wonderful.  Started off with the girls and I going to Maccas for breakfast, then my bridesmaids (BMs) came over and we transported all the vases and birds of paradise flowers to the reception place ready to set up.  First accident was me dropping one of the vases in the carpark at the club and it smashing completely.  Luckily one of my BMs went out and was able to find an identical replacement.  Phew! 

This is a piccie of the reception tables all set up.  The only thing missing is that the chairs were covered in black with orange sashes as well (was done before everyone arrived for the reception).

Then I had got a french manicure the day before, and the polish chipped and a piece fell off.  We spent the rest of the time before the wedding regluing pieces that chipped off and trying to stop me doing anything that would chip them further! The biggest problem of the day was our hairdresser.  She turned up an hour late (still not convinced that her story that she got stopped by the police for speeding explains being a whole hour late) which really threw off the timing for the day.  She also clearly had not paid any attention to my emails telling her what I wanted to do for my wedding hairstyle and asking her to bring the appropriate materials she needed (which she didn't do) - but I was determined not to let her spoil my day.   Thankfully I ended up with a hairstyle I was happy with and so did all my BMs and my daughters who were both flowergirls.

Here's me all dressed up and ready to go before the wedding:

We were 20 minutes late to the ceremony (I was impressed we'd managed to make up 40 minutes of time!) but it pretty much all went smoothly (though later than was intended) from there on in.  We had a lovely ceremony.  I was worried about crying at the ceremony (I bawled at my first wedding) but instead I giggled all the way through!  I was just so happy.

Here's some piccies of the ceremony:

After the marriage part of it, both DH and I made promises to the girls and DH presented them with necklaces as a reminder of the day.

After the ceremony, DH surprised me with an introduction that he read out in Italian and then English - as a reminder of his proposal - and then arranged for us to release 2 doves as a symbol of our marriage.

This is us and most of our wedding party (one of the groomsmen isn't quite in the picture) after  releasing the doves.  The cage / box they were in is in the front of the picture.

We then cut the cake in the church courtyard just after the ceremony so we could share it with all our friends who came to the ceremony but who we couldn't afford to ask to the reception.

This is us just after cutting the cake.

We then went off for photos (there are some great ones on the blog of our photographer: www.kellytunney.com.au) and then to our reception.  There were some lovely speeches, a great dinner, and at the end of the night Chris's family grabbed some of the birds of paradise flowers and made a guard of honour with the flowers held up like swords! (don't have any pics of that yet). 

Here is a picture of us doing our bridal waltz

A picture of me with my bridesmaids (in black) and another friend

So that's the whole day!  We headed off for our honeymoon on the Saturday and spent the last week aboard a cruise ship and visiting some South Pacific Islands.  Got home yesterday.  Now just got to get my land legs back again!!

By the way, the hens night went really well.  I got taken to an African drum lesson by my bridesmaids - very cool.  Then we went into the city for drinks and dinner where a whole lot of other friends met up with us.  I really did drink a lot more alcohol than was good for me - was dizzy all the next day as a result.  But it was a fun night.

Here are some piccies!!

These are the African drums:

This is me in my hens night gear looking pouty:

And this is happy me with a cocktail!

Going out in about half an hour to my hen's night.  Not sure what we're doing, cause my bridesmaids have kept it all secret.  But I reckon it should be fun!!

I haven't had a turn with the vertigo for a couple of weeks, but I'm still getting ear aches.  So I think things are improving, but I think the stress I'm under right now isn't helping.

Saw the knee specialist last Wednesday.  He reckons I've torn the cartilege in one if not both knees and has sent me for scans and is expecting to do an arthroscope after that (after the wedding!) to repair it.  I feel that was a very positive outcome.  I'm hoping the scans quite clearly show the issue so there's no confusion.

The good news is that I've managed to lose 4.8 kg! (at least, I think I have.  My scales are being a bit erratic).  So I'm pretty happy about that.  BF is starting to watch his weight as well (to help alleviate a back issue) so I think that's helping as we're both more aware of what we're eating together.

I saw the ENT (Ear Nose Throat) Specialist at the beginning of December.  He confirmed my GP's diagnosis that I have been suffering from viral labyrinthitis and said that it should take about 6 months to go, and so by the end of January I should be better.  But he said that I've got to take it easy, and look after myself (eat well, exercise, not too much stress).  I do seem to be improving, but I had another turn last weekend, so I'm not jumping up and down yet. 

I have my appointment with the knee surgeon the week after next.  I'm hoping very much that he will be able to find out what on earth I've done to hurt my knees so much and can fix it.  I know the physios are very concerned that there doesn't appear to be a cause for the pain, but I haven't had any scans yet so maybe they'll show something.  Fingers crossed anyway.

All the wedding plans are the biggest focus at the moment.  Had a bit of a time with one of my bridesmaids (won't go into details) and now she's gone back to just attending the wedding, and I've asked another friend to take her place.  In a weird way, I think that is going to work better because the two bridesmaids I have now both know each other quite well, whereas before, the two girls I had didn't really know each other. 

We've booked the car, ordered the rings, bought the bridesmaid dresses, flowergirl dresses and the guys suits.  I just need the flowers, the favours, the guys shirts & ties, my tiara, girls jewellery, order of services and to sort out all the details with the various people (e.g. minister, photographer, MC).  My mum has taken on board organising the afternoon tea after the ceremony and my in-laws are hosting a drinks afternoon the day after so we can catch up with our out-of-town guests.

I still feel like I have so much to do.  My friend who is playing the organ for the service is currently in the UK and I have to wait for him to get back at the end of January before I can discuss music with him, so I don't yet even know what pieces of music I'll be walking in or walking out with. Aarrrgggh!  Stressy, stressy, stressy..... 

Its occurred to me that if money were no object, weddings would be a lot less stressful.  It is so much easier to walk in and say "I like that one" and just order it.  But when you think "I like that one" and then you have to think "But I can't afford it.  What can I do instead that is something like that", it becomes a lot more stressful.  

One thing I've definitely decided is that I want to make sure I have more than enough money to pay for my kids' weddings.  I don't want them to worry about where the money's coming from, or whether they can afford things.  I just want them to be able to go ahead and have their own fairy tale day without being stressed about cost. 

I still have my make up on from my make up trial today.  I've got to say, I'm feeling really excited about the wedding right now.  I keep singing "I feel pretty" (from West Side Story)!    I'm really looking forward to the hair trial I have booked on Friday night.  I think it will seem really real when I know completely how I'm going to look on the day.  I really will feel so much better when all the details are sorted out and all I have to do is turn up on the day.

Been getting back on track with my weight loss again.  Having to use the gym for my knees has inspired me to get fit in general and I've started watching what I eat a lot more closely again.  I've done this a few times now, haven't I?!  Fingers crossed I'll actually stick with it this time.  I think it should help that I'm exercising as well.  Just under 4 months to the wedding - I'm hoping I can shed at least 5-10kg before then.  Be great if it were more, but I don't think I can quite manage that.

Work's a big load on my mind at the moment.  I'm finally back to full-time work, but not back to my old job.  I actually don't want to go back to my old job, but  I also don't know what I do want to do.  Which probably doesn't help.  I'm looking around to move jobs out of that area entirely, but we'll see what happens. I'm meeting with my boss and my big boss next week to talk about what happens next with me.  I think that'll let me know what direction I should face in.

As for me, the x-rays came out clear so now I've got an appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon, but not until the end of January.  So in the meantime I'm just doing physio and trying to get as strong as I can.  Vertigo's still there, but I'm on some medication now which seems to help quite a bit.

Still don't feel like myself totally though and I'm really thinking that I need to find a new direction in life.  I'm feeling I need to slow down a lot - but that also freaks me out cause I feel like I'm losing out on so much of my potential by doing that.  I feel like I need to achieve so much and I'm being prevented from doing so.  I just wish I knew what to do next.

My knee is also a bit of a worry from falling down stairs.  Had x-rays yesterday and I should get the results next week.  But the doctor seems pretty sure I will need to see an orthopaedic surgeon and that there's a good chance there may be some cartilege damage.  Funnily, that doesn't bother me so much.  It's massively inconvenient - and possibly quite painful to treat - but I feel confident that it's treatable.  Which means eventually this too shall pass! ;-)

I'm feeling a bit confused as to my way forward at the moment.  I don't think I can continue to work full-time and study and look after kids and everything as I was if this labyrinthitis is to go on as it is.  But I can't stay in the job I'm in now and be happy.  So what's next? I really don't know.  I hope that some window opens for me soon.  I'd love to know which way the road was leading next...

It seems so strange to still be struggling each day... This might sound totally weird but I miss exercising!  I've never been an exercise junkie by any means - I struggle to go for a walk once a week!  But only yesterday I ended up with a big vertigo attack just from going on the bike for 5 minutes at my physio.  I just wish I could do what ever I wanted to do.  The weather's warming up and the flowers are out and I just want to be out in it running around...

On the bright side, I am improving.  2 weeks ago I couldn't get through more than a couple of hours at work without a headache.  Now I can get through 6 hours.  So things are getting better.  Just very, very slowly...

Other than that, we've just been getting on with wedding plans.  The sad news is that the minister at my church where we're getting married has recently been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and he is too ill at the moment.  But the good news is that I spoke to another minister friend today, and she's agreed to marry us at the same church so that's good.

Anyway, enough about me.  How have you been?

I feel so screwed up, and it doesn't help that BF keeps telling me I'm now officially mentally ill and "nuts". 

I am completely freaked about going back to work for a lot of reasons, but now I just want to go back so I can get a new job and quit my current job.

I'm sick of being sick...

Anyway there's not anymore to say cause my life is consequently pretty boring at the moment.  Hope everyone else is having a better time!

I've also booked the DJ who is this really lovely woman who also sings.  She also offers karaoke which I think would be great fun - and with quite a few singing type people coming to the wedding I think would be a good draw.  But BF is dead against it.  He's said that I could do karaoke if I wanted, but noone else could.  But as far as I'm concerned, that's half the fun - people singing badly (or even the odd one who can sing well!) and just having an awesome time altogether.  And picking on people if they really are hideously awful. LOL!

I ordered the invites the other day. Managed to get them on sale, so that was great.  I need to talk to BF's family now to bed down the invite list, cause I think they have some family they're wanting to invite.  I told his mum they can invite as many people they want as long as they're willing to pay for them, as our budget is fairly strict.  So I'll have to sort that out with her.

Also been looking for the car.  I really, really, really want to get a stretch limo that's large enough to fit our 9 member wedding party (Me & BF, my 2 kids, my 2 bridesmaids and BF's 3 groomsmen).  There doesn't seem to be anything that big in the town I live in, but I can get a reasonably priced one from Sydney.  So I think we're going to go ahead with that too.

It's all coming together really well!  I need to work out the flowers, the cake (which I currently need ideas on as I'm quite devoid of any) and just bed down some of the other details.  But I have ideas for just about everything else, even if I haven't ordered it yet. 

I've definitely been having a bad run health-wise though.  About 2 weeks ago I had to go home from work early with what ended up being diagnosed as vertigo due to an inner ear infection.  I went back to work a week ago and only lasted a couple of hours.  Been home since and still feeling really fatigued and out of it and dizzy when I don't take my medication.

That's about it really.  It just occurred to me I hadn't checked in on my blog for sometime so thought I'd better write something.  Hopefully I'll have some good news soon rather than all these dramatic injuries.

Instead, I see my friend's little boy sitting on the deck, crying, with blood pouring down his face.  I called to BF and he comes out and gets some paper towels to stem the blood flow, then calls the ambulance.  Then we tried to get hold of my friend - she wasn't answering her work number or her mobile so I was asking BF to call the number of anyone I knew who worked nearby.  Finally got hold of her and said we'd meet her at the hospital.  The ambulance arrived and had a look and agreed it would be a trip to the hospital - there was a huge chunk out of his forehead (I swore I could see his skull) as well as some superficial grazes near the side of his eye. 

I got in the ambulance and so did his sister.  I left my two girls at home with BF (I was so glad he had today off work!!).  When we got to the hospital, his mum was waiting for us - and I've got to admit I was glad to hand over the reins to her.  She asked her daughter to wait with me in the waiting room.  Her daughter was so reluctant to do so, but eventually agreed to come with me to call her dad as long as we went back to her brother after.  We did exactly that, but by the time we went back, he'd been moved elsewhere.  As we didn't know where, I took her back into the waiting room.   Poor little thing, she was getting so distressed at being away from her brother.  Eventually her dad arrived, but even that didn't help.  She just wanted to be with her brother.

Not long after, BF and my girls arrived and took me home.  Later tonight I heard from his mother.  He's chirpy and happy now - and when his sister got to see him, she was a lot better too.  He had a number of stitches - and in a zig zag shape so his dad dubbed him as having a "Harry Potter scar".  But no sign of concussion or other issues, though they'll be keeping an eye on him.  Apparently once he was stitched up, he wanted to come back to my place to play!  So at least he doesn't seem traumatised in that way.

My girls aren't quite as lucky.  My eldest has had trouble going to sleep tonight cause she said she keeps seeing him falling and all the blood when she closes her eyes.  I've had her listening to CDs so I'm hoping that will distract her enough to go to sleep.   My youngest hasn't said anything directly to me about it, but has been difficult to get her to stay in bed tonight. 

As for me, I've been feeling pretty shaky to say the least.  I keep discovering blood on various articles (such as on the sleeve of my shirt) that I hadn't noticed before.  BF has been helping out tonight which I've been very grateful for.  I hope I sleep well tonight.  I'm going to need it.

I just realised after the girls were already settled in bed that today is their dad's 30th birthday.  I had meant to get them to give him a phone call, but with all the other trauma, I completely forgot about it.  I hope he doesn't mind too much.  Hopefully he'll be having too much fun and it will have slipped his mind that we didn't call.