Happy New Year

Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Henry Ward Beecher

Welcome 2011. Have just spent a delightful week in Renmark with my boys, my parents, my brother and my sister-in-law and her family. It was extremely hot, days above 40C and so many mosquitoes, but was time spent in delightful company.

I loved seeing all 3 of my MM's entertaining and amusing my nephew, they're so good with little kids and for a whole week restrained themselves from killing or bashing each other, which is altogether too rare for any of you who know and understand teenage brothers.

Eldest MM's fiance joined us, which I was very happy about. Poor kid is having a very rough time with her pregnancy though and the heat knocked her around a bit. I only found out this week that she suffers from an irregular heart beat (her sister was admitted to hospital in Adelaide last night with problems - they both suffer from it, which is when I fully understood the seriousness of her condition)

Once I knew this, I asked my mum what her symptoms were when she was diagnosed with the same thing. Turns out that all of the suffering the poor kid has been experiencing is more likely due to the heart condition than her pregnancy, so I have told her she must speak to her specialist about this and the possibility of getting medication to help her. For some reason her doctor has taken her off of her medication since she fell pregnant. Now I'm not a doctor but I can't understand the reasons for this, surely there is something to help her.

The poor kids suffers from shocking dizzy spells and nausea and has phases where she is burning up (even when it is cool) Plus she sleeps in the afternoon for 3 -5 hours. When she's not feeling well she is as pale as a ghost and the other night at my brothers place, her heart looked like it was going to jump out of her chest - literally. All symptoms that my sister-in-law and I were deeply concerned by because it didn't seem like normal pregnancy symptoms.

Hopefully when she sees her doctor this week then they will be able to do something so that the next 27 weeks weeks aren't as torturous as this week has been for her. She enjoyed her time away with us but probably would have enjoyed it more if she wasn't feeling disgusting so much. I had a shocking run with my second pregnancy due to blood pressure problems which put me in hospital twice so I can fully appreciate the feeling like crap but not really being able to describe what was wrong or how I was feeling.

New Years Eve was spent at a massive street party in the centre of town on the riverfront with live bands and food stalls. My boys saw in the new year together, the first time since my oldest left home 8 years ago. The only person missing from our enjoyable week was hubby who stayed home in Adelaide. I did however arrive home this afternoon to a spotless house and dinner simmering away - my hubby is awesome.

I love country life, Renmark is a beautiful town. Not sure if I could live there though, not that this is an issue because hubby has stated we will not be moving there. Seeing mum and dad's awesome new house and knowing the amount they paid for it and I could probably be persuaded. Life in the country is definitely slower paced and more relaxed, a concept totally foreign to what I am used to.

Did no writing this week, which was kind of annoying because I really wanted to get some done. This week ended up being a week for socialising and relaxing and the times when I did have free time to write it was so damn hot that it was hard to focus on anything other than getting and staying cool. Air conditioned houses and cars even struggle when the temperature is 44C. Contrast that with tonight, I am back in Adelaide and wearing a jumper and fluffy slippers co's I'm so cold.

Still have another week of holidays so will put my head down and bum up and get some writing done this week.

Well hope you all had an enjoyable New Years and that 2011 sees all your dreams come true.

Cheers for now, Fi