Attack of the Birds

We have a big bird community at our place.

Everyday we have .........

Pale-headed RosellasGalahsMagpiesNoisy Minors
(who eat all our figs and mulberries)Rainbow LorrikeetPlovers
(if there is any bird I hate, this is it)Butcher BirdsKookaburras
Bush Turkeys
and many many more, coming in to see what they can find to eat.

This morning I had a little treat to the meat eating birds. Had some steak off-cuts that I sometimes cut up small and feed to my feathered friends.

Unfortunately one of the magpies has taken to terrorizing my Cockatiel, Teddy (an adopted pet).

The maggie tries to peck at him through the cage so I covered Teddy up a bit to give him some hiding space.

What a smart magpie though, I just caught him/her trying to get the cover off the cage to get at Teddy.

(unfortunately wasn't quick enough with the camera)

To me its obvious

that the stroke did cause a bit of facial muscle sag.

A photo I posted in an earlier post made me think its quite obvious.

What do you think?

The muscles around my eye and from my nose down to my chin I think there is quite a sag.

I don't have the same smile anymore.

But this was taken only 6 wks after the stroke.

Maybe its fatique more than anything (hoping that anyway).

I probably see me than others do ?????

Oh well, if this is the worst thank I'm okay with that.

Its all coming back together so nicely

Today was my second Occupational Therapy home visit.

I was supposed to cook Lasagna from scratch.

I went to the cupboard but Oh No .......

Of course I didn't have any lasagna sheets but I did have spiral pasta.

So my lasagna became Sprial Pasta with Meat & Cheese sauces :D

My OT was very happy with how I went and said she thinks at the Review next week I should be discharged.

That is really great and it will be one week earlier than planned.

Yep, I'm a happy gal.

What a way to inflate the ego!

I had my standard doctor appointment this morning.

It was a good one as I really was only there for a checkup.

My doc said she's happy to have these types of appointments where we can have a chat and she doesn't have to solve 27 different medical questions. hahahahaha

She seriously told me that I should be proud with how well I've coped with everything over the past few years.

Awwww she made me blush (I find compliments hard to take)

Then at 3.30pm I had my Stroke appointment.

Now the specialist I see is Dr Grimley. This man is so nice and so good at putting you at ease.

As soon as I sat down, he told me that he was really impressed with how I walked in.

He could immediately see that I was much healthier and he expected me to be alot worse.

Dr Grimley said he was "very impressed" with the speed and level of recovery I've had.

He does say that the speed of recovery will taper off very quickly now and may take 2-3 yrs before I feel a complete recovery has been achieved but I say that if God can do this in 10 wks than He can achieve greater in less than 2-3 yrs.

But I did walk out feeling pretty chuffed :D
Now I just need to borrow a nail and I'm good ......................

Oh Oh Oh

And the best bit of all

I can now drive again!!!!!!!

On my file in big block letters Dr Grimley wrote

FIT TO DRIVE
Woohoo!!!!!

A Childhood Memory

If I'm ever asked "What was your nickname?"

My usual answer is "Didn't have one"

Never really thought about it much.

Using FB last week my younger sister Krissy made a comment and she called me "Tyrone"

The memories that then invaded my mind.

Our brothers use to get my sister and I to box each other in the backyard.

She was called "Killer Kris" and I was "Tyrone Tone".

We used to really go for it too.
Mind you we probably weren't older than about 8 or 9.

So there you have it.

Looks like I do have a nickname after all.

Everyone, I'd like you to meet

Tyrone Tone & Killer Kris

Oh I'm the cute one in the yellow dress ;)

4 Weeks

Its around 4 wks since my last post.

Don't know why I haven't blogged, just haven't felt like it.

Don't you ever feel that way?

Last Friday made 9 wks since having the stroke!

Wow! I can't believe it was that long ago. Especially seeing as I have been home for 7 of those 9 weeks. I have been so blessed to have recovered so quickly.

On Thursday I go to see the Stroke Team. I'm hoping that they will allow me to start driving again.

One thing I have found so difficult is that I have not be able to be independent. I can't just jump in my car and go wherever I want.

I've always taken that for granted in the past but I now have a new perspective of dependence.

Anyway, in the past month I haven't really been doing anything exciting.

I've had doctor appointments, therapist appointment, physio appoints, occupational appointments .........

My life has consisted of appointments with some days have multiple ones.

I was supposed to have an appointment today but woke up with a stomach bug. It felt so good to just stay at home on my own for a change.

Yep, that's right, Gary went back to work last night so now I'm on my own again (well, he's sleeping in the other room but you know what I mean) :D

This Rehab thing is getting old!

I am an impatient recoverer (is that a word :D)

I am so over having the stroke and just want life to back to normal.

I'm glad that I am able to do rehabilitation to help getting my right side back to working order again but since being home from hospital, the responses are alot slower.

I expected to be doing more and "feeling" more than I do right now.

My Rehab team are very happy with my results though and assure me that I'm doing extremely well for it only being 5 wks since the stroke.

Monday I was back at the pool, walking instead of swimming. That went for 25 minutes. Not long I know, but yeah, it was looooonnnnngggggg.

Then at lunchtime I started my rehab course.

I had Occupational Therapy for an hour, Speech Therapy where my swallowing and mouth/face/neck muscles were checked out (for an hour) and then finished it off with Physical Therapy. It was HUGE!

I was so tired come night time and Tuesday morning.

Dear housesitter, please feed dog, grow marijuana

June 16, 2009 - 12:57PM

A note that instructed a housesitter how to feed the dogs and grow dope indoors has landed a Kiwi man in hot water with police.

This news title from the online news site reminded me of a situation when I was younger. A person I knew (a young lad) had this really nice "pot" plant. He had to go away for a couple of weeks and was a bit upset because he was sure his "pot" plant would die.

When he came home, however, he found his "pot" plant flourishing.

His mum had discovered his beautiful little "tomato" plant and decide to tend it with loving care while he was away. She was so chuffed that her little man was into gardening.

Hmmmmmmm ..... yeah Mrs Jones, Terrence loved his "pot" plants.

Little did she know that the plant she gave such love too would have earnt her a stay in the local watch-house.

"Wonder when it will grow the tomatoes???????"

Bribery will get you ........

You know what?

What? did I hear you say?

I've found the perfect bribery for my oldest boy, Connor.

This year for his birthday he got to choose his celebration. He could either have a party or get a DS Lite. He chose the DS Lite.

He loves this little thing so much that it has become the perfect behaviour dedicator. He was given 5 or 6 games and the console. He gets to have 15 mins every school day and can choose whichever game he wants to play.

The moment he steps out of line and by this I mean backchatting, yelling at me, aggressive behaviour towards me or his brothers, refusing to do as asked etc, he loses that 15 min privilege and one game.

At the end of the week, he can only play the games he has remaining. Adding up the 15 mins is how much time he gets to play on the weekend. If he has been able to play everyday then he gets 1hr 15 mins of playtime Sat and Sunday. If he only has 2, 15 min days, then he only gets 30 mins playtime.

He has had it for 2 wks now and so far his behaviour has been perfect :D

Flowers

I got quite a few bouquets of flowers and pots of plants while I was in hospital.

Roses, Carnations, Daisies, Hyacinth, Cyclamen - all so beautiful.