Latest News.....

Ok, Ok.... So i know i haven't updated in ages, but honestly, up until last week, nothing much had really happened.
So here's what happened last week... Most of you would know that at Ruthie's last check-up in Sydney, the doctor told us that she would need surgery.
So on Wednesday the 22nd October we headed up to Sydney... Gerry, Ruthie, Kairi, Ivy (My M.I.L) and I.
Thankfully, Gerry's Uncle Edgar and Aunty Ki live in the Blue Mountains and had offered us a place to stay. An offer we couldn't refuse and appreciate more than we can say!!! It was WAY better than a 5 star hotel! We had everything we needed and more and Ki fussed over us like a mother hen over her chicks! :p Thanx Ki!!!!
Anyways, that morning, Ivy had heard that it had been snowing in the Blue Mountains so Ruthie insisted she take her beanie and her sunnies for the drive

What a regular little snow bunny!!! LOL

Okay, so we arrived and unpacked and got settled, etc then just hung out for a bit on the verandah taking in the beautiful views of the Blue Mountains.

So on Thursday morning we had a 5.30am start. Ruthie was the first appointment of the day (which was 9am, mind you), so we had to be up and out of the house by 7 in order to get there in time.
Ruthie had to fast from 7am so she was up at about 6.30 to have brekky and get ready.
So we left the house just after 7 and arrived at the hospital at about 8.30 (Praise God!!!)
Not sure how many of u have ever been to Westmead Children's Hospital but it is HUGE!!!! Definitely not what we're used to in Lil Ol' Canberra!!! And its not dreary or smelly like the hospitals here either lol
So we make our way up to the eye clinic and notice that in every area's waiting room, there's a toyroom just as big as the waiting room (if not bigger!) full of toys for all aged kids and a massive plasma tv with cartoons on all the time! Ruthie didn't know what to do with herself!
So we saw the doctor and he said the surgery would go ahead and to be at the Day Surgery unit at 12.30. It was only just after 9 at this stage so we had to find a way of entertaining ourselves and especially Ruthie... This hospital is so child oriented that it didn't take much for Ruthie to keep her mind off her hunger!
So, we wander around the hospital looking for something to do thinking "its a kids hospital! there has to be some entertaiment!" so we wander around the inside coz it was still quite cold outside and find the library, only to find it was closed till 10, so we wander and wander and sit and think and Ruthie's all "I'm hungry!"
So we decide to go outside and see this...

A massive Pirate ship!!! Big enough that me and Gerry could have a run around on it too :p


Then Ruthie and Gerry were making music on the tyre instrument thing... it had a name but i don't remember what it was :-s









And Ruthie made some new Friends... us too of course














Gerry found a cosy nook...





And Ruthie joined him soon enough...








Soon after we got cold and a bit bored and it was 10am so we went in to check out the library...
We must have read at least 15 books in there!


Eventually we got bored with that too and went to sit down and have a couple of games of Snap (courtesy Aunty Ki)





By the time we got bored with that it was time to go to Day Surgery...
Again, there was a big toy room but this one had a GameCube in there which Ruthie attempted to play but got frustrated with :p

So... we changed her into her pjs and the nurse came and took some obs, etc
Then the anaesthetist, doc and everyone else came in to tell us the procedure and to meet Ruthie and tell us the risks etc... The kinds of stuff u don't process very well when ur Baby Girl is about to go for delicate surgery... lol
After al that was over with they dressed me in the funny robe, hat and shoes that you have to wear when u go "behind the scenes" and off we went... Boba too of course.
Ruthie took the gas mask pretty well... mostly coz they promised her that she would eventually get to the pink Jelly Beans if she kept taking deep breaths lol
Then she was out and i was taken back to Gerry while they did their thing.
She was in there for about 2hrs. At one point, Gerry said to me "Isn't it amazing how time flew while she was in there?" I looked at him as if he was an animal i had never seen before!
It was the 2 longest hours of my life!!!

Then my Baby came out and was crying and writhing around in the cot... Needless to say it was probably one of the hardest things i've ever done is watch her like that... We tried to comfort her but she didn't want it... She kept screaming "MY EYES!!! MY EYES!! I CAN'T SEE!!!" Meanwhile, the tears she was crying were mixed with blood so it was quite a shock.
The doctors told us that the stitches in her eye felt like having sand in your eye... Not the best feeling...


They gave her some painkillers after a bit and she settled down... Gerry was uncomfortable taking pics coz of the flash so he kept taking them of his feet
He didn't want everyone to think he was a terrible father because he was taking pics of his little princess when she was in pain...lol
But in his defence, it was also done for someone who requested "lots of photos..." :p



So Ruthie woke up after a while, hungry and thirsty (Remember she hadn't eaten since 7 and it was now 5.30pm)
So she had some water and when asked whether she would like a jelly or an iceblock, she replied "Both!"



She had a jelly and a glass of water but not the ice block coz we didn't want her to be sick... apparently you can
get quite nauseous coming out of the anaesthetic.
At one point she asked to go to the toilet and i simply forgot that she couldn't see and she was quite wobbly... there were a couple of close calls :p

The next couple of days were full of everyone in the house leading her around and spoiling her rotten!
It was fun to see the expression on her face when she was trying food and feeling things. Actually, the day after the surgery she still hadn't opened her eyes and i managed to catch a tiny little skink... she didn't want to open her eyes to look at it for fear of the pain but she put her finger out to pat it and unbeknownst to her... It BIT her!!! She didn't realize because she didn't see it lunge(is that the right word?) and because it was so tiny.
Aunty Ki also went out and got some things with different textures so that Ruthie coulds still enjoy stories... I think Storytime with Aunty Ki was her favourite thing in sydney!
The next couple of days, Ruthie walked around all day and night wearing sunnies coz it was too bright... even if she had her eyes closed!
But they also gave her the (false) confidence to open them when she thought no one could see :p
Not long after, she was back to normal.
This is a pic of her on the way back from Sydney with a red eye...


And this is a pic taken today :D
I don't think i could be any prouder of my Boo... She even laughs when i put her eyedrops in... LOL






Now, please don't think we forgot our other baby...
Gerry and i have been wanting to buy a walker for Kairi for ages but never had time or never found what we were after but guess who finally got her new toy????
She loves it and is slowly learning to chase after her Big Sister or to come towards you to play...

And of course, Ruthie loves playing with her now that she's more mobile too :p








On a totally different note Ki has some lovely plants growing in her garden one of which was with us on the way home

(i did know its name, but have forgotten it right when i need it!!!)
I didn't really notice it until we were well out of sydney. i was looking at it and was in total amazement at God's creativity and Creation... There's not that much detail in this pic, but when u get a chance to have a look at one close up, do it! They are absolutely beautiful!

Anyways... sorry this post is so long but there were ppl that wanted to know all the details and it was easier to put it all on here than to put it on individual emails :p

Have a Great Day and God Bless...
Peace Out!!!!