Then a couple of boring days till Friday!  I had booked in to see the skin cancer specialist to have a smallish skin cancer removed and a bump near my nose looked at.  Well - I know we are all paying for our wonderful sun tans in the 1970's - but I am only 43 and therefore, still a little vain about my appearance.  The "small" BCC on my arm required 8 stitches and the biopsy near my nose a single stitch (that's only the biopsy).  So I walked out of there in very poor spirits.  Now don't get me wrong - the specialist did all the right things, he marked off the area needing removal and as a Registered Nurse knew it was right - BUT - when it is your forearm that is being sliced and stitched we all have a different perspective.

Then I see three missed calls from the school - phone off during doctor visit.  My 9 year old youngest had collided with another child during sport and her arm was sore.  The school knows better than not to ring me, but still, I wasn't convinced as the story didn't sound that dramatic.  Off I traipsed to school, took one look at her and said - "off to the hospital".  Sure enough, fractured radius!  I would like to give an anonymous big thank you to our local regional public hospital who saw her, had her x-rayed, reviewed, plastered and on our way home in under two hours!   She of course was fine as soon as the plaster was on and a tablet of pain relief was given.  (I like those Mummy - can you buy some - oh I am not looking forward to her teenage years).  The Nurse at the hospital happily asked me as I was leaving - "Now how many children do you have?"

So home we went, with the phone rining off the hook as the news had gone around very quickly.  I was feeling very sorry for myself, my arm was killing me as he had cut down to the muscle.  Now I had two plasters in the house, one husband still in Europe on business (flying home that night and arriving Sunday morning), and me on pain killers as well!  Only my 12 year old daughter with two intact limbs!  Well, having to look at my stitches has helped her apply her sun screen!

Hubby arrived home on Sunday morning, extremely jet lagged and grumpy.  Life was almost easier without him added into the mix.  Now to a week of hospitals and doctor appointments....

Monday - we went to the specialist for his plaster removal and x-ray.  Thank goodness - all looked well - so not new plaster or bone graft required.  But he remains in a removable splint and still nto allowed to drive for at least another two weeks when another x-ray is done. 

Tuesday - I went back to the skin cancer specialist and had the stitch in my nose removed.  Thank goodness, it was driving me spare, especially in the middle of the night when I would rub it in my sleep and I would wake up with the pain of having pulled the stitch.  Also, means it just looks a little worse than a bad pimple day and I don't have to wear sun glasses absolutely everywhere to hide it!

Friday - youngest to the fracture clinic to have the back slab removed, as all swelling will have gone down and the gortex plaster put on.  That will be great, coming into summer, so she can swim.

Wednesday - back for my arm stitches to be removed.  (If I last that long, we have a family history of really sensitive skin and reacting to stitches - we shall see!)

My husband has left for overseas and arrived safely (thank goodness and his plaster cast did not cause him any problems on the plane).  I have recovered from having to get him ready to fly out (two full days!)

We had a lovely weekend, just the girls and I (Though I did become sick of "I am bored, can I go on the computer?"   "NO")   We visited a local fair, the movies, swimming - what more could a child want.  Obviously, not enough cleaning, scrubbing of decks and washing was asked!

I quite enjoy being the true Matriarch whilst the man is away.  (I know thiswill only remain true until I need something physical fixed).  I spent the day doing craft with a friend and tomorrow at present is a blank page.  (Apart from the Pink ticket I scored!)  Yes I am sorry I had to get that in.  I am so excited to be going to an over 18 only function!  She is performing Tuesday night and I will be there - pinch me I cannot belive it is true.  The girls have nothing on to organise tomorrow night, so all is well.

I am very boring, yet excited about being part of the Minti Club.  We live in Australia.  I am happily (most of the time) married with two lovely girls aged 12 and 9 years.  One has just started high school which was a big shock to the wsystem - the number of assisgnments and not knowing what was going on has been quite stressful.

I am not working at present, I became extremely burnt out in my last job and so for the first time in my adult life am unemployed.  Still a scsary concept for me.  My brain is coping by pretending I am on a long holiday.  Which is true, but I don't have a job to go back to.  Next year, after the summer holidays I will return to work. 

So what am I filling my time with?  Well, the day after I finished work my darling husband fell off his bike on the way home from work!  So we spent the weekend at the hospital getting x-rays and his hand pinned.  So I have spent the first couple of weeks being chauffuer as he is not allowed to drive.  Coping with an extremely grumpy one armed husband who cannot do anything.  More frustrating for him than anything.  Then it was school holidays, so I had the two girls at home.

Now they are back at school and I can start MY relaxation and life!  Scrapbooking!  I am currently in the process of not doing their baby albums, but mine!  Yes - I am removing my few valued photos from the horrible 1970s magnetic albmuns where the photos are being destroyed and into nice archival quality albums.

Other than that, we have a dog called Saffron who is our baby.  I bought her a new squeaky soft toy today and she is in the process of trying to get to the squeakers.  We shall see how long the toy lasts.

Steph