Four Good Things

The first was my dear blogger friend Natalie's suggestion that Emily may have a chemical imbalance.  I know that this has been on my mind for a long time, but it took Nat to say it for me to think "Aha!"  I don't know why, I think that was my problem for so long and what led me down so many dark, and stupid paths in my younger years.  Natalie, thank you so much.  I did have Emily assessed a year and a half ago, but it was mainly for hormones I think as she hadn't yet had a period.  She still hasn't and it's time to take her back to the doctor and get some more blood tests done, she'll be sixteen in a  couple of weeks.  I did a lot of research today about natural therapies for this stuff and she is taking a very good vitamin supplement and I think I will start her back on St Johns Wort in lieu of seeing the doctor.  I couldn't get an appointment for the kids today, this town sucks.  If I can't get one tomorrow I will take them down to Junee, where we are still on the books.  Here, you have to start ringing at 8.45 (you can only make an appointment on the day) then it's engaged forever, and when you get through they keep you on hold and often there are no appointments by 9.30am.  Oddly, when we do go there, the waiting rooms are empty.  There are no alternatives here, no independent doctors outside the medical centre anymore. 

The second was that I got offered the chance to train as a supporter for SIDS parents.  After all these years I really feel that I can give back something to other bereaved families.  I am so excited and I really feel that the time is right for me now to do this.

The third was Josh got home from school and told us that he has been given a place in the mentoring programme, the same thing that Emily did in year nine.  This is an amazing opportunity for him, he knows how much Em got from it and is totally on board.  We don't know what they will offer him, he might even go with the same mentor that Emily had, who is a graphic artist, but it doesn't matter.  I know all the mentors here in town are great.  How lucky are we?

The fourth?  The Distance Ed school person finally rang us and expressed her desire for this to happen sooner rather than later, I agreed and tried to say nicely that it was our own high school that was dragging the chain.  We agreed on a plan to get things moving faster, and Emily got to choose her subjects tonight.  Actually it was me who chose most of them (yes, yes I know) and I think I did well.  She doesn't have to do maths, and the woman agreed with me on that, given what she wants to do, so it's mostly all art related, with the compulsory English and she chose Japanese as well. 

I made a Chicken Caesar Salad for dinner tonight and documented it for my food blog.  It was a recipe I put together myself so I was a bit nervous and unsure of myself, but it turned out very well and I'm happy with it.