A Blog About a Bloke-Living with WHS

Well I have finally got through the month.

I was dreading November to be honest. It has been so busy. But here we are at the last day. I am thankful for that!

I am thankful for those who have taken the time to read, comment or message me during the month of posting.

I am thankful to be able to reflect on the things each day that I am grateful for. I think that I will try and consciously be grateful for something every day, no matter how hard my day might have been.

And now I am thankful that I am able to go to bed early. My body is aching and my throat is sore and I feel like I am getting a cold.
I have so much to do this weekend...like...christmas shopping for example, that I just can't get sick.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Holy McCrackens I have actually nearly made it through a whole month of posting every day (almost!).

I have to admit that I have lost my passion for blogging a bit this year.
And I was kind of hoping that posting every day for a month might inspire me to star writing again.
It has and it hasn't.

I am not really sure whether or not this blog will continue next year.

Today I am thankful our house has air conditioning. It has been an extremely hot day here (broken some records even), so thankfully we have lovely air-con and fans.

I am thankful that my application for 6 weeks holidays was APPROVED today!!! I have never taken that long off in one go, so am extremely excited (and perhaps a little daunted).

I am thankful that it is Thursday. I love Thursdays (mainly because I usually get takeaway, therefore don't have to think about cooking anything).

I skipped yesterday sorry. I wasn't feeling well, and went to bed early to try and shake off this virus thing I seem to have.

I feel like I am running out of things to be thankful for.
Luckily the month is nearly over. Ha!

Today I am thankful for the fact that no bills arrived in the mail.
I am thankful that I am going to get a pay rise (even if it is to be rolled out over the next 9 years-yes 9 years).

I am thankful that we are coming to the end of a terrible year financially speaking (hence the gratefulness of no bills arriving in the mail).

Yesterday I was thankful that Braeden had such a wonderful time at his final school transition day. He was there for most of the day (as was I). I bought his school uniform yesterday and oh my goodness, he really is going to school.

See this bag here?

Today this was delivered to my house.

I have loved this bag for a very long time, but just haven't had enough money to buy one.
One of my beautiful friends decided to send me one.
How do I ever put into works how thankful I am for such a wonderful gift?

So today, I am thankful for my gorgeous friend Liv. Not just because she bought me my favourite bag in the world, but because she is one of those rare people you meet in life that you feel like you have known forever, and just know will always be a part of your life.

And while you are at it, check out Her Royal Flyness. Absolutely beautiful bags.

I am thankful that this weekend has been a wonderful relaxing weekend, which is exactly what we needed as we head into the 'silly' season.

I am thankful for the fact that the drought here in Australia is over and we can have fun under the sprinkler again.

I am thankful for having a 'Mum and Ryley Day' today. He was a great help as we moved Princess from one paddock to another. At one stage he was the one leading her, I was just there in case he needed help. He walked a long way without any complaint either, which is very unlike him! It is so nice to just hang out with him.

I am thankful for David. He is an amazing husband, partner and father. I am very lucky.

Today I am thankful for the fact that it is only 4 weeks until holidays!!

I am thankful for our awesome neighbour Lorraine who saved the day with an umbrella (long story).

I am thankful for frozen yoghurt.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my US friends!

Sorry this is short and sweet, but I am tired after another long week, have just been on a 20km bike ride and am about to head to bed to watch a movie.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Today I am thankful that we have our car back!!! FINALLY!

I am thankful that I got Braeden the chicken pox vaccine this year, because someone in his kinder group has it, so at least there is a fairly small chance he will get it.

I am thankful that it is Thursday. I think Thursday is my current favourite day of the week actually. Weird.

I am thankful that I have finally made a start on my Christmas shopping.

I am thankful that after next week, I am starting the wind down at work (hopefully!), which means I can focus on Christmas baking, my littlest brothers wedding, and my other little brother coming back to Australia for a few weeks!!

Oh and I am thankful that Ryley has decided to 'help' me with dressing him in the mornings. I am basically using the 'backwards chaining' strategy and getting him to do the last bit of the each task. He loves it, and I am not having to wrestle him to dress him as much.

I haven't done a Just 'Cos post for ages.
So today, I am doing just that.
I am just thankful for these boys of mine. They thought it would be fun to clean the car this afternoon.
I am not sure who got more wet, the car-or the kids! It was fun though!

Well now.

What am I thankful for today?
Perhaps I am thankful that it has been a run-of-the-mill type day, where nothing out of the ordinary happened.
Perhaps I am thankful for being able to squeeze in my fruit and veg shopping in my lunch break.
Perhaps I am thankful for having access to fresh food.
Perhaps I am thankful that I am nearly through November, which has been the busiest month of the year. Not long to go and I will be all about Christmas.

And maybe, just maybe, I am thankful for normal, boring routines that create a sense of calm (blue ocean calm).

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Today I am thankful for my usual day off work.
Mondays are usually taken up with appointments and stuff like grocery shopping.
But every now and then me and Braeden get the day to do as we please.

So I am thankful that today we could go and browse the shops for a new lunch box for him.
I am thankful that we could go for a bike ride together in the beautiful sunshine.

I am also thankful that Ryley has been expressing himself so well lately (and that includes the good and the...let's just say bad). Ryley is incredibly patient with us, despite the frustration he feels on a daily basis. I can't imagine how trapped he must feel sometimes not being able to tell us his thoughts. One of my goals for next year is to really follow his lead more and let him be the director of his life, instead of me controlling everything. This will not be an easy thing to do.

I am thankful for daylight savings, because I am going to now head out on the bike and ride a casual 20km.

Today, I am thankful for that small portion of time that occurs when the kids are both in bed asleep, and when I go to bed. Usually both are sounds asleep at 7:30pm and then I tend to hit the sack at 9:30pm. I get two whole hours to myself.
Sometimes I watch tv, or go for a bike ride/run/walk.
Other times I read, or try and catch up on the jobs I haven't been able to do during the day.

I am also thankful today for the recommendation to read the book I am currently reading. Sometimes things just come into your life at the time you need them. I will probably write something about this book when I have finished it, but it giving me a whole new perspective on raising kids. Love it!

I am thankful for the couple of hours we got to spend fishing today. We caught 6 fish all up (carp though). It is a relaxing way to pass the time, although Ryley gets bored fairly quicky, and today, Braeden wouldn't sit still.

How was your weekend? Hopefully filled with fun and laughter, with a bit of r…

Today I am thankful that our wool got sold during the week for way more than I was expecting. Which means I can pay for half of the car costs (whenever we get it back that is).

I am thankful that I got to see our a baby foal moving inside her mother's stomach. There is something quite magical about it actually.

I am thankful for the sunshine which meant I could get out in my garden.

I am thankful that there are actually some things still growing in my poor neglected garden. I found a feast of potatoes which was a great surprise!

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I am thankful that it is FRIDAY!
Woohoo, I made it through the week.

I am thankful for the little things.

I am thankful that the book I ordered online arrived just in time for the weekend, so now I can spend time reading!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, filled with things to be thankful for.

Today, I am thankful for takeaway Pizza.
It has been a long week this week and I got home late with the kids and the thought of trying to create something nutritious for dinner was beyond me.
So thankfully we have two Pizza shops close by.
The pizza really didn't taste that great, but hey, it was better than nothing!

I am also thankful that it is Thursday. Which means only one more day left in the week.


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I actually had to stop and think for a minute what day it was when I wrote the heading.
Oh dear.

Today I am thankful that Ryley's eyesight when he wears his glasses is pretty good!

I am thankful for the lovely young non-english speaking couple in the waiting room who saw that Ryley was highly anxious and panicky (and very vocal!) and brought over a toy for him. I swear I nearly cried. It did calm him briefly, but he was really worried today. I think he was expecting to be poked and prodded like usual.

I am thankful that we don't have to go back for an eye review for a whole year. Woohoo!

I am thankful for good mates.

And I will be thankful for the early night I am hoping to get!

Well, it has been one of those days where it is hard to find something to be thankful about (a $1000 bill for my car to be fixed is NOT what we need at this time of the year).

Sigh Sigh.

BUT.
I am thankful that at the moment we are all healthy (touch wood!).
I am thankful that we have food on our plate and a roof over our heads.
I am thankful that we both have jobs so that we can at least eventually pay all our bills.
I am thankful that we have each other.

And I will leave you with this thought:

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Some days it is hard to find things to be thankful about.
And having to write something every day for a month...well..that isn't that easy.

But I am enjoying being able to reflect on the good things in my days, and not focus on the challenges that I face (which, by the way, are still there, despite me not writing about them).

Today I have had a headache all day. So I am thankful to make it through the day without a full blown migraine attack!

I am thankful that David can be there to support Braeden and his school transition.

I am thankful that Ryley is sound asleep as he is exhausted and he seems to battle sleep even more when he gets to that point.

I am thankful that despite the fact I spent so much time cleaning my house the other day, it looks like I haven't done a thing. And that is because Braeden and I spent some time this arvo painting and creating some art pieces. I would rather spend the time with my kids than have a spotless house (as those who walk into my house wel…

Today I am thankful for shearers. I am thankful for our first bale of wool. I am thankful that my kids love shearing time and learning about it.  I am thankful that Braeden wanted to learn about shearing. I am thankful that Ryley likes to help with the sweeping.
Yesterday was a very very busy hectic day. We are all exhausted.  But excited about our first lot of wool. Our ram is now in with the ewes and hopefully we will have some lambs next year!!

Today I am thankful for the sunshine.
I am thankful that we have the farm to wander around and enjoy.
I am thankful that my kids are happy and healthy.
I am thankful that we are going to save a lot on money on fruit in summer as we have a healthy orchard with all kinds of fruits growing up at the farm.
I am thankful for wide open spaces, where I can walk and breathe and just be.

Oh oops again. Another one that is a day late. I can see this becoming a trend.

Today I am thankful that it is a public holiday here in Ballarat.
Which means a day off work, school and kinder.

I am thankful that David took the boys out to the farm so that I could spend the day cleaning the house.
That sounds boring, but for me, it was awesome!!

My post for today will be a bit late.
We are heading out to the farm for a big weekend of shearing (those 12 sheep of ours sure have a lot of wool).
There will be plenty of photos I am sure!!

Have a good weekend everyone!

Today I am thankful that Ryley chose me to be his Mum.
Our journey so far has been filled with many challenges. But is has equally been filled with the most amazing things anyone could ever hope to experience.

Today, I was explaining to my colleagues that, if anyone had asked me when Ryley was little what my hopes and dreams were, that I would have replied "that he doesn't die". I can remember those early years dreading the times he got sick, because I always feared he would never recover and would leave my arms forever.

In this picture he is 4 years old. Can you believe how tiny he is? He was so so tiny.

As I lay down with him tonight to give him his PEG feed while he drifted off to sleep, I couldn't help but be thankful again that I have the luxury of being able to watch him as he goes to sleep. I am thankful that he is relatively healthy, and that he is still very much in my arms.

Nowadays, if somebody asked me what my hopes and dreams were for Ryley, I would fir…

Today I am thankful for 'Robot Robot'.
Well, actually, I am thankful for the fact that I am able to spend the time with my kids constructing robots.
Having to juggle work and home is sometimes really hard.
I am definitely no expert at it.

Braeden and I started constructing this on Monday, and it has been a work in progress ever since.
Ryley has also helped by choosing the stickers that Braeden and I have put on.

Robot Robot is known to watch tv, and also likes to eat rubbish.

I wish Robot Robot would clean my house and cook tea every night too.

Oops! A day late. Sorry!!

Today I am thankful for Marion.
(I hope this doesn't embarrass you too much!).

I am thankful for Marion and all that she does for our family.
After a long day at school with Ryley, each week she finds the time to come over and take both the boys to the park, or to her house for an hour or so.
The kids absolutely LOVE it.
And I get that time to organise tea and the house without the kids.

As you all know we don't get any other form of respite. I fought hard this year, but that fighting got me nowhere apart from adding to my stress.

What Marion gives us is respite.
It is appreciated more than you could ever know.

Today I am thankful for this website: Anxiety No More.

Now most people will know that I experience some anxiety from time to time.
It appears after a lengthy time of stress that I don't do anything about.
It is my body's way of saying 'hey-you need to slow down for a bit'.
It is unpleasant, annoying and sometimes just makes you feel like you are never going to feel ok again.

I have been burnt out basically.

This website and the book that I bought, have been fantastic.
It has helped me understand myself and my body and why sometimes our bodies respond to stress by increasing the adrenalin (thus giving us those unpleasant feelings-which then make us worry-which then take us into the anxiety cycle).
I also sought help from a professional, who pretty much told me everything that this book talks about.

I have also talked about Compassion Fatigue before too, and this is certainly relevant to me.

I am thankful that my anxiety levels are pretty much back to normal again.
I am …

Today I am grateful for birthday parties, the sunshine, best mates and being able to hang out together.
We had a lovely time today.
Nothing beats being around those that are closest to you.

So clearly today, I am thankful for not falling off a horse.
I have not been in the saddle for about 10 years, so was slightly nervous at getting back on.
My sister was awfully patient and far too kind to me, but her encouragement helped me get back on.

Felt great being back on a horse, so I am looking forward to getting my confidence back so I can round those 12 sheep of ours up like a true jillaroo.

Braeden, on the other hand, has a natural horse ability I think and just loves getting on any horse he can. He would have ridden all day.
This horse was a bit bit for Ryley, but we will get him on a pony again soon.

And I am slightly excited to add that my horse Princess is definitely in foal. I should be able to feel the foal kicking soon and by our rough calculations, we should have a little baby horse in April next year. Oh so excited.

Today I am thankful for this kid.
I am certain he will appear again in some form over the next 30 days, but for now, here he is on day 2.

He had his first school transition morning at school today and he absolutely loved it!
I am thankful that he is such an outgoing and social kid who can make friends easily.
I am thankful that despite telling me he might feel shy, he didn't appear anxious at all (although I was a little nervous..)

I am thankful that we have found an amazing school that is going to give him the confidence he needs in life, as well as continue to develop his passion for learning.
Apart from the fact that they have sheep, chickens, rabbits and a well established vegetable garden, they also encourage all the kids to join a group. One of these groups is a 'social justice' group. Now as a social worker, this is just the kind of group I secretly hope he joins...!!!!

Education has changed so much since I went to school.
Braeden's school is the only school in…