My parents, or Lolo and Dida to the kids, came up for a visit this week. They arrived on Saturday and stayed with us on Saturday night, then on Sunday they went to their Air B&B, where they are staying until this Sunday. It has been so nice having them here! The kids were so excited for their arrival, and now it's just like life back in Ulladulla, except here! We have been spending lots of time with them. Yesterday my brother Sting flew in from Sydney to join the family fun, and the kids are stoked. We went out to dinner to the Toormina Hotel last night, and it was really fun. On Tuesday we had lunch at the park at Sapphire Beach along with a play at the park and the beach. We also had a great day visiting Nambucca Heads - a drink at the golf club, lunch at a restaurant, a big walk along the V wall, and then a play at the park. The kids had a really great day.
Arley was holding it together really well, which was surprising me because we have really been doing a lot of stuff. But then two nights ago he had one of his worst meltdowns yet, over the slightest thing. It was really terrible, and it was fuelled by me and Jeffrey not reacting very well to it. We didn't keep our cool, because he was calling us horrible names and shouting. It got really ugly, and ended with Arley in tears and exhausted. We have established new boundaries, which he probably won't stick to, but we have to try.
On Sunday we all went to the dog beach, but Carmie was really sick. She had been 'feeling funny' since Thursday - lightheaded, head-achey, a bit nauseous and weak. On and off. And then we went to the beach and the markets, and she literally had to sit down every three meters because she felt too weak to walk. Mum and I got quite worried, so we took her in to casualty at the hospital. Six and a half hours (!!!), a urine test, a pin prick test and a blood test later, we were told it was most likely a virus but that she is very low in iron. Not yet anaemic, but low. It really wasn't the most fun we've ever had, and Carmie was just about the least brave person I've ever seen get a blood test... But, she was on and off the next day, and now she is right as rain again. Thank goodness. I have been a little slack giving the kids their iron lately, but I'm on it from now on!
Carmie went to Alithia on her own today. They are putting on a play next week (Macbeth, of all things!), and she had to go up for the dress rehearsal today. Mum and I wondered around Bellingen for a few hours, had coffee, and then went to pick her up again. Bellingen is a lovely little town, but it was very hot there today! I think that is one of the problems with Alithia for Arley. He can't stand being hot. Like, really really hates it, and he can't really cool down there. Next week only Carmie is going on Thursday, and then I think we will be done there for the time being.
This week has been going too fast. I don't want my parents to leave again. The good news is that they have spent a lot of time looking around different areas to see where they might want to live when they move here early next year. It will be really nice to have family around again. It hasn't been that long without them, but I really feel the loss of their support!
No comments:
Post a Comment