Update to Me and My Broken Body!

Well crap I say!

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Yesterday I went to a see a Cardiothoracic Surgeon about my broken body! I had to Google what a Cardiothoracic Surgeon does! haha

He was a very nice man who had the most divine antique Partners Desk!  Anyway I got kind of good news and kind of bad news from him!

The GOOD NEWS is:
I can do anything I like with this broken body cos I can't damage the ribs anymore than they are;
and I have to have regular massages for the severed nerve endings :-)

The BAD NEWS is:
the severed nerve endings will never completely heal so I will have some level of pain for the rest of my life;
and I'm probably going to have some quite nasty surgery in February to rebuild the broken ribs by using bone grafts from my hip :-(

But the real GOOD NEWS is:

I'm still able to walk and I'm alive!

Right? Yep as my man would say "DAMN STRAIGHT" !

Take Care
Rachaelxo

Me and My Broken Body

I'm only a day late with this post! Hopeless! lol

Back in July I blogged here that I fell off a ladder painting the edge of the 12ft ceiling in the Princess's new bedroom and apparently broke two ribs. Because the ribs were broken in my back and lots of nerve endings severed I had to spend 6 weeks doing practically nothing, no bending, no stretching, no lifting and no driving. Frankly it was a very painful time, a lot of which was spent in a drug induced haze!

The Princess's new room hasn't progressed much, my brother finished painting it and Mum moved some furniture into it, but it still looks like this mess, I have yet to finish the curtains and she is yet to sleep in it!

And my ribs, after 4 months and constant pain, I found out a week ago that I actually broke 5 of them, NOT 2, and 3 have not healed at all. Tomorrow I am off to a surgeon which frankly is scaring the crap out of me.

Cos one way or another I am going to have another long healing period of inaction!

Despite this, which is a pain in the ...... back ..... strangely life has been very, very good for me, in fact the best it has been for a good few years! lol

Anyway gotta go, stuff to do, back tomorrow with my next update!

Take Care
Rachaelxo

Crikey!

French Maid at 85th Birthday Party! lol

It's been months since I did a post, way too long for me!

I can't fill you in on what's been going on over the last few months in just one blog post cos that would be one long crazy ramble!!!

So I thought I would break my goings on into lots of crazy rambling posts with the following headings! lol

Me and my Broken Body
Me and my Broken Body and University
The Princess and her Mummy with the Broken Body
The Castle and the lady who lives in it with the Broken Body
Food I've been cooking while having a Broken Body
Family and Friends occasions with a Broken Body
My Secret Project planned while having a Broken Body
The New Man in my Life found while having a Broken Body

and whatever other random shizzle I can come up with!

So with that in mind, my mind anyway....

I'll be back - tomorrow!

Promise!

Take Care
Rachaelxo

Painful times

Almost a month since I last posted, a month that has been a blur due to the pain relief I have been on and still am on due to the broken ribs and traumatised state of my spine...

Six weeks on and I can now drive, so have got my Princess back part time, have started going to back to uni part time, and regaining independence like being able to make my bed, do my laundry, cook,  go for walks, clean my teeth, wash my hair, brush my hair, get dressed and be less consumed and overwhelmed by how much it hurts.

Pain ravaged face - first time out on my own!

And yesterday I had the most wonderful sneezing fit without being knocked to the ground by the pain. It was just fabulous! Who would have thought it would be so fabulous to be able to sneeze!

Sleeping still hurts badly, I don't sleep well, there is no comfortable position, and I can't read in bed anymore as I can't lie on my back, the pain makes me want to throw up.  Same with sitting, have to have padding behind me, and can't wear a bra, tried on Friday, it was like an iron bar around my back!

5 more months and I should be completely healed....

I just read this back, sounds a bit self indulgent! Sorry... I normally like to be upbeat on my blog... oh well...

Princess's flower arrangement on the mantle

and it's not all doom and gloom, I have had some really funny moments, great moments, bizarrely hilarious moments and yummy romantic moments over this time......

Princess wearing her new outfit

which I might just tell you about in my next post! ;-)

so in the meantime I'll leave you here at the end of this doomy gloomy one

until next time!

take care

Rachaelxo

Cupcakes

My gorgeous friend Christina is Queen of Cupcakes (her side line business)  and because she is gorgeous and she loves me she baked me these beautiful red velvet cupcakes, decorated in pink icing, soft edible glitter and edible filigree butterflies that she also made.

Butterflies because in another life I am known as Miss Flutters!!!

So yummy, the Princess and I devoured them....

not all at once!

Take Care
Rachaelxo

Flowers from a friend!

I received these beautiful flowers today from my friend Miranda and her 8 year old Princess.

Beautiful vibrant colours, just what the winter castle needs to brighten it up and just what I need!

Thank you so much Miranda and Princess!!! 

Take Care
Rachaelxo

Simple Pleasures

I now understand what it means to have a life changing experience!


As I fell from the ladder I knew there was a possiblity I could die or if not I could be permanently disabled...

the medical people and people who have visited my house and have seen the broken ladder and the height I fell from all believe it is a miracle that I only have two broken ribs and bruising!

I know it is a miracle...

a life changing miracle for me!

I am so grateful for my broken ribs and my big black and blue bruises because it has given me an appreciation of life that I didn't have before and a stronger desire to "do" my plans, to not sweat the small stuff, to be grateful and to enjoy simple pleasures.

My simple pleasure today is these sweet, sweet smelling Freesias picked from the castle gardens!

Enjoy the simple pleasures in your day and...

Take Care
Rachaelxo

Humpty Dumpty fell off a wall...

I fell off a ladder painting around the edge of my 12 ft high ceiling. It was a long way to the ground.

I am so lucky - to be alive - not to be paralysed - to have only 2 broken ribs in my back and substantial bruising...

but oh my gosh the pain is like nothing else with a good 5 to 6 weeks of healing to look forward to!

Take Care
Rachaelxo

It's in the bag...

I have needed a new handbag for months,

and just haven't been able to find one that 'got me',

I am so bag fussy...

yesterday I was out doing my business in Mt Eden (no not the prison!) and stumbled across a shop called Pomegranate... the name just begs a visit...

so I visited.....

and came out with this!

bag love!

Today I am painting, in my 3 room changing room makeover I have totally trashed my entire apartment! Ugh!

Bet I get visitors, no one ever visits when it looks perfect ! haha!

take care
Rachaelxo

I'm back

I'm back and very, very cold having gone from 30 degrees days to 11 degrees days back home in New Zealand, bye bye shorts, hello thermals!

The castle with its huge rooms and 12ft ceilings is icy! I took to my bed yesterday (first day back) just to keep warm!

Also missing my Australian family and my beautiful baby!

My niece & nephews

But today the sun is shining and I am up and moving!

My "to do" list is enormous and involves starting a much needed exercise regime, selling a pile of crap and moving the Princess's bedroom to another room which involves changing around 3 rooms!

I am also very motivated to do some creating and writing, creating inspired by playing around on Pinterest!

Today is the start of the three room change and makeovers so I had better get moving!

Take Care
Rachaelxo

It took a while...

but she finally held him!

The Princess and her Baby Cousin

Loving the family time in Weipa!

Take Care
Rachaelxo

A New Man in My Life!

I have fallen utterly and completely in love with this young man,

my 7 week old nephew Macklen who gives the most beautiful smiles and giggles for his Aunty!

Take Care
Rachael xo

Way up in Weipa

The Princess and I are on holiday in Weipa, north Queensland of Australia, staying with my brother, sis in law and gorgeous kids!


Picnic on Indigeneous Day

But what a mission to get here!

A comedy of travel errors!

Our flight on Saturday 26th was cancelled due to volcanic ash in the air coming from Chile.

Three hours and four flight changes later we were able to reschedule and eventually left for Cairns on Wednesday 29th July on a budget airline where so many things went wrong all I could do was laugh!

It's tropical up here , hot balmy temperatures, we go out in the morning and stay in for the afternoon.



Nik and I facepainted by our daughters

I have been on a night shift mining adventure with my brother in a big MACK fuel truck visiting mines and refueling the mining machines - big Tonka Toys I called them!

Lots of photo's to look at on my face book page...

Take Care

Rachael

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Holy...

ceiling!

I blogged here about my apartment flooding disaster,

well...

today the builder came to replace the kitchen ceiling and left me with this!

you can see the peeling original ceiling through the battens.

Thankfully they are coming back tomorrow to put the new ceiling in, I am not so keen on this gaping hole, it's very cold and what if furry things decide to pay a visit!

I did brave standing on a stool to have a better look, the original walls were matchstick, gorgeous! And look at that part of the original ceiling, pressed tin I am thinking! And am wondering if I could get up there and prise it off...hmmmmm...

Maybe not, am off to Australia tomorrow, must not get sidetracked!

Take Care
Rachaelxo

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Hair today...

Think I will get a hair cut, I like this length.

The photo was only taken in May, I think I was trying my new Revlon colourstay eyeliner... or maybe my hair colour was colour stay... I can't remember - haha!

Or had I come home from a Physical Education class at university? Amazing what exercise does! I must try it again sometime! 

But anyway, my hair is way longer now, in such a short time....

Today has been lovely, because even though we are HERE when we are meant to be THERE, I was able to catch up on lots of laundry and ironing and hang out with the Princess.

Instead of lesson planning for school the next day or studying for exams!

Bliss instead of Stress!

Take Care
Rachaelxo

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Not meant to be...

here!

The Princess and I should be on a plane right now bound for Australia to hang out with my big, younger brother, my fabulous sis in law and these gorgeous little people!

Phill, Nik, Fergus, Baby Macklen, Georgia Mary

Because of the Chilean volcanic ash our flight was cancelled...

until Wednesday,
fingers and toes crossed!

Take Care
Rachael

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Therapy...

shopping therapy is a wonderful thing!

A little trip recently resulted in...

well it resulted in lots of things...

Sorry about the crap photo's...

anyway, the therapy resulted in:
1 Paisley Skirt
1 Black pants
1 Black ankle boots
3 cardigans - green, brown, black
1 leopard print bodysuit
1 leopard print leggings
1 black lacy tights
1 leopard print sunglasses
2 scarves
4 headbands (1 leopard print!)
3 bra and panty sets (unshown cos who airs their knickers in public!)

all mixy matchy!

Bliss!!!

Take Care

Rachael xo

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Tane Mahuta and Far North

My Mum, the Princess and I recently had a weekend away in the Far North of the North Island. We stayed with my Mum's 'friend' who took us sightseeing each day.

First day in the pouring rain was to this majestic place...

Tane Mahuta, a 1000 year old Kauri tree, magnificent, he towered way over us and was home to many other forms of plant life. Mum and I both had chills run through us when we walked into the clearing where he stood.

The four of us at the base of Tane Mahuta.

The pretty Princess!

I know there is a name for this tree growth but can't remember. It reminded me of a shabby chic pedestal table!

This is Opo the dolphin who in the 50's let NZ children ride his back. The child on his back was modeled from one of Mum's partner's brothers.

 

Hemi's family have their own church and cemetery. The church has been fully restored and services are held every second Sunday. So beautiful!

Grave stones hidden in the trees.

Another day trip was to Pihia in the beautiful Bay of Islands. We had lunch at a cafe where the Princess befriended this Pukeko! I was not impressed at its close proximity, I have a bird phobia!

We visited Waitangi where a Treaty was signed between Maori and the white settlers which was the basis of the nation we have today, but sadly was not always honoured,  and  resulted in unrest and controversy in our nation that is still ongoing.

My top model!

with attitude!

My work here is done!  Or should I say my procrastination here is done! Back to my study for big icky exam tomorrow.

Am flying to Australia on Saturday... maybe... if the skies clear from Chilean volcano ash and our airports reopen! Fingers and toes crossed!

Take Care
Rachaelxo

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Feet Forward...

Thanks Mummy for my animal print feet from Singapore!

Feet forward!

Take care
Rachaelxo

My girls

I finished a five week practicum yesterday in a private school here in Auckland teaching a year 8 class of 12 and 13 year old girls.  Practicum can be really stressful, not only are you learning but you are being observed all the time and also have a university lecturer come and observe you which is like your practical experience exam. On top of that you also have piles of paper work the university expect you to do, along with lesson planning for your teaching.

The rewards are immense though, not just in terms of your own development but also from the relationships you build with your students. One morning I was given this cupcake for my morning tea, decorated by one of the girls.

On my second last day the girls put on a surprise morning tea for me, one of them made me a 'guest of honor' hat to wear!

And another girl baked me a banana cake because she knew it was my favourite cake.

Yesterday they completely overwhelmed me with this beautiful bouquet of red flowers, red because they had asked me earlier in the week what my favourite colour was. They made me a card, decorated with animal print as they knew I loved animal print (I wore something almost everyday that had animal print)! They are so thoughtful!

A couple of the girls gave me cards just from them.

Needless to say I am going to miss my girls very much!

Take Care
Rachael xo

Struck a chord...

"We are like sculptors, constantly carving out of others the image we long for, need, love or desire, often against reality, against their benefit, and always, in the end, a disappointment, because it does not fit them."
Anais Nin

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

The good is my newest nephew, Machlen Peter Maine Johnston, born on 11 May. He is gorgeous!

The bad is this was the general state of my castle for the last couple of months. I am normally the Queen of folding laundry but I have been so busy with university so nasty baskets and piles everywhere.

The ugly is the water leak from the upstairs apartment that flowed into mine for 12 hours.

and the hole one of the plumbers fell through in the kitchen because the ceiling was so wet!

The machines that we had for a week to dry the place out, hoses running into the kitchen sink and bath and phenomenal noise. Walking through the foyer to the bathroom was like walking through a tornado, our hair would rise and our clothes billow up around us.

It was not pretty! I get a new kitchen ceiling, cupboard doors and floor covering out of it and the walls in the foyer painted.

Not all bad though, I have found that tradesman are HOT!! Especially plumbers :-P

I finally uploaded my Bali photos so will post some in the next few days!

Maybe.....

Take Care
Rachaelxo

Happy Easter

Happy Easter lovelies!!!

Take care and blog ya soon!!!
Rachaelxo