Thank Heaven for External Hard Drives

A couple of months ago we purchased an external Hard Drive, which my DS set up for me, so that once a week - depending on how much I am doing - I can copy all my important files - photos, digital scrapbooking supplies, etc, onto the hard drive. While I was downloading and tidying up my folders this week I accidently deleted a folder FULL of templates that I had downloaded. (My all time favourite download site - digifree.blogspot.com) Plugged in the external hard drive and moved the folder back into the main hard drive. OOOPS - that wasn't right, so copied it back into the external HD, and everything was okay. DS also installed CC Cleaner, which is a good way to get rid of unwanted things off your computer, but unfortunately it empties the rubbish bin at the same time! I must be more careful when I am tidying up files! I still don't know a LOT about the computer, but am gradually becoming less frightened of it.

Breaks and Balloons

I had to laugh today at Miss 5. Picked her up from respite, and she was disappointed (translate 'mad') because we couldn't go to the beach!! I said we were going to the hospital, and she told me she would wait in the car, while I went to the hospital!
We had to wait ages - an 11:15am appointment and we got out about 2pm! Miss 5 played playdo with me, then played with my camera - taking pictures of chairs, doors, floors, etc! At one stage it slipped off her lap, and was having a hissy fit (the camera, not Miss 5), so hope it has recovered now.
After another xray, the doctors decided to leave her thumb alone - it is already calcifying, and seems quite stable, and a fingertip to elbow cast would prevent her from using her wheelchair for several weeks. Because she doesn't feel any pain (or none that she lets on about) they have decided just to check it in a couple of weeks. She was very good in the xray dept, and I didn't even have to hold her arm steady - she kept it still all by herself!
While we were waiting to be seen, the Pink Ladies came around with the shopping trolley, and of course, Miss 5 wanted to buy a balloon! I told her that we only buy the balloons when she is in a hospital bed. She was okay with that. Eventually, we went into the examination room, and she asked to be put onto the bed. Then she said: Now do I get my balloon!! I told the physio what had happened before, and she said: "Oh, you have to be in your pj's and in bed before you get a balloon!"
She was laying on her tummy on the examination table, looking out the window, when she turned and said: "When is it my turn for a massage?" The nurses laughed at her and said if massages were for the taking, they were having theirs first!
On the way out of the hospital, I did relent and buy her a pink care bear balloon - she was SO excited!
I think, because of her slow speech, etc, even I forget how smart she really is and how much her little brain is working! Way to go, Kid!

4shared - free file sharing and storage - share folder - My 4shared

4shared - free file sharing and storage - share folder - My 4shared

Busy Day ...

Okay - I was nearly finished, when it got lost on me! Let's try again. I should be in bed, but am waiting for DD2 to get home. I had a fairly productive day today. Started with a Bowen Therapy massage - wonderful for keeping me mobile!, did a bit of shopping, finally got all my washing dry, and managed to get my ironing up to date. I also enjoyed doing some digital scrapping for DD1, and printed off some layouts ready to put into the albums.
Miss 5 is in respite till tomorrow morning when we pick her up for an appointment to get her broken thumb checked. Today she went to Sci Tech while in respite - I'm sure she enjoyed that!
I have been doing some digital Word Art - just experimenting. I have put a link to my folder in 4Shared - you are welcome to have a look and download any of the images you like.

Setting a record

Miss 5 set a new record today! Every Tuesday afternoon, she goes with a group of kids who do a drumming class. She loves it, but has great difficulty coping with the noise. So she tries to hold her arms over her ears while she is drumming! (Got the picture?)
Well, today when her EA brought her back to the class she told me that she is the first child who has ever dropped off to sleep in the middle of a drumming class!
I know she is getting very tired - Monday afternoon she fell asleep when we were driving to Midland to try to buy some shoes for her. Tomorrow after school she goes into respite for two days; the slower pace enables her to regroup; then she usually sleeps each day over the weekend, getting ready for school the next week. Holidays are coming! Sleeping in, napping during the day. Hoorah!

If You'r Ever Going to Love Me

This is one of my favourite poems:

IF YOU'RE EVER GOING TO LOVE ME
Author - Unknown
(It's in a little book called "The Pocket Treasury of Inspirational Verse"

If you're ever going to love me love me now,
while I can know
All the sweet and tender feelings which from real
affection flow.
Love me now, while I am living; do not wait till
I am gone
And then chisel it in marble - warm love words on
ice-cold stone.
If you've dear, sweet thoughts about me, why not
whisper them to me?
Don't you know 'twould make me happy and as glad
as glad could be?
If you wait till I am sleeping, ne'er to waken
here again,
There'll be walls of earth between us and I couldn't
hear you then.
If you knew someone was thirsting for a drop
of water sweet
Would you be so slow to bring it? Would you step
with laggard feet?
There are tender hearts all around us who are thirsting
for our love;
Why withhold from them what nature makes them
crave all else above?
I won't need your kind caresses when the grass grows
o'er my face;
I won't crave your love or kisses in my last low resting
place.
So, then, if you love me any, if it's but a little bit,
Let me know it now while living; I can own and
treasure it.

Don't forget to tell someone today how much you love them.

Playing in the Rain

Sunday was cold and raining; Miss 5 wanted to play in the sandpit, which is under cover, on the back patio. Eventually I relented, dressed her warmly and sat her in the sandpit, with strict instructions NOT to get out, as the grass/paths were wet! While she was playing happily, it rained - heavily - and the brick paving under the patio flooded (a regular occurance). Miss 5 was safe in her sandpit - or so I thought! When I went out to check, she had pulled herself out of the sandpit, and was happily commando crawling through the water, now soaking wet! Took some pictures (well, I didn't think being wet for a LITTLE while would hurt) for a scrapbook page, and then bundled her inside, dripping water all the way. I consoled her with a promise of a play in the bath - in warm water - with some bubbles, and she gradually thawed out! One drawback of a non-walking child is that clothes get disgustingly dirty in just a very short space of time. A bucket of soapy water usually removes most of the damage, particularly from polar fleece fabric. I love this fabric - it cleans well, always looks nice, washes like a dream, dries quickly, and DOESN'T NEED IRONING!!
Here's a link to the layout I produced: http://kjoistudios.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-5350

Midnight Madness

Well, it's past midnight now. I had a long sleep this afternoon, so am not tired now!! And the peace and quiet allows me a little time on the computer to download some digital scrapbooking ideas. Then all I need is a week or so of uninterrupted time to do pages and pages of photos.
I am going to do some layouts for my DD and can't wait to get started. She will do the journalling for me to add to the pages; and I will get to create layouts of DD's family, including three of my lovely grandchildren. DS's wife has just started digital scrapbooking, and shares my excitement with the speed with which you can do a page.
Since I started digital scrapbooking, I have done lots of single pages; a Christmas album for DD, entitled "Through Granny's eyes; an album for my special great niece; a little album for Miss 5's cousin; started an album for a friend's elderly relative, with tiny pictures which I scanned and enlarged; and a holiday album for Miss 5. I also have works in progress of albums for each of the grandchildren.
Although I love working on the pages, photos, layouts, etc, the best thing for me is the journalling. I want my legacy, my thoughts, stories of our lives together, to be recorded - for when I forget.
My Mum had such a wonderful memory and would tell us stories of her childhood, her family, and her siblings. Although she still remembers these things in her past, she cannot remember what happened just a little while ago. She will be 102 on July 7, God willing. This past year or two she has been gradually becoming more frail; some days she appears to sleep all the time; other days she is bright, chatty, and walking around the hostel.
So this is why I want to 'immortalise' my memories and tell those I have photographed over the years how special they are to me.

Walker Practise

Today I took Miss 5's Mulholland Walker so that she could use it in the Children's Time before the Church Service. The greater space - in the children's room, the hall, and the walkways, give her the opportunity to practise her stepping actions. Her right side of the body is strongest, and she can weight-bear on that leg. Her left leg needs a brace on it to stop her tucking it up out of the way. She is gradually getting the pattern of 'right leg, left leg' but she still needs to watch her feet instead of standing up straight, so that she can see what is happening.
While we were singing in Church, she was leaning against the pew in front, hanging on, with me standing behind her, propping her with my knees/legs so that she didn't fall. And she was singing - yes, she was two or three words behind everyone else, but she knew the words of the chorus, and was rejoicing along with everyone else!
At one stage during the Service, she put up her hand. When I asked her why her hand was up, she said: "Well, I have a question for Pastor B....." I asked her what the question was, but she didn't have an answer to that!
Sometimes she will say "Listen up, everyone. I have good news, and I have bad news." When I ask her what the good news (or bad news) is, she doesn't know - she just likes to get everyone's attention! She brought the News Bag home from school on Friday, so we have to find something that she can tell for news on Monday!

And I came tumbling down!

Just finished changing and catheterising Miss 5, picked her up and turned to carry her into the family room - forgetting that I had left her wheelchair in the laundry. When I am carrying her, I can't see what is in front of me - I felt myself falling and twisted to avoid falling onto her, and to protect her as much as I could. I think she got a bumped nose, but was more scared by my yelling as I went crashing down! My back and side ache now - looks like the heat bag will be used again tonight.
I wish little Miss would go to bed without the fussy routine we seem to have. When she is in respite, she goes to bed without any problems. When I put her down, she alternates between telling me to go; then when I do, she yells until I come back. Sometimes I feel like a yo-yo. I know I should just put her down and go, but I don't like to let her go off to sleep when she is upset.
When we were told, at six months of age, that she may only have weeks, or possibly months, to live, I always tried to get her off to sleep in a calm mood. I think now she's got me wrapped around her little finger, and it is she who is pulling the strings!!
Talking about fingers; her thumb has been swollen for a couple of days, and when it didn't go down, I took her to the doctor, then to Xray, back to the Dr, who thinks that it is broken. She has not complained of pain, but because she lives with a degree of pain all the time, I don't think it really registers. Anyway, the Dr's receptionist faxed a referral to the Fracture Clinic at the hospital yesterday. So I rang today, to see when I could take her in, and was told that the referral was not on the system as yet - ring back on Tuesday. Just as well she has no pain, eh??

Why Rhubarb?

This is my first entry on "Rhubarb's Ramblings" - so I guess I'd better tell you why the "Rhubarb"? This was my nickname at primary school - and I HATED it - the name, and consequently, the fruit! I don't have a nickname now (not one that I am aware of) - instead I am either Ruby, Granny or Aunty Ruby. (Oh, Ian calls me "Honey" sometimes!) And now I LOVE rhubarb, but I am the only one in the family who does so we don't eat it very often.