nervous

After looking at the budget, again and again for 3 months I have come to the conclusion that no more money can be spared from any section of it. For the last 8 years I have been in the habit of recording every dollar that we spend and trying to stay within certain amounts for spending, and make those amounts as small as possible.

Then we moved to Mackay, where suddenly our expenses increased by 30 percent for food, insurance and petrol. The biggies. Then I got sick and medicine couldn't help me, so I went gluten and dairy free (which saved me from a life of lying on the couch) and started taking some supplements (which are healing me). All so, so expensive. And so, for the second time in our married life I have come to the conclusion that more money cannot be saved and we must earn more.

For the last week I have been converting half of our downstairs spare room for an office. I know a few people who are looking for a speechie so I will put the word out. It's not working that concerns ,me, I love Speech Pathology. I just wonder how everything else will be able to fit, particularly at this 'still healing' phase of my life. My husband works from 9am till 9pm, sometimes coming home for dinner, 5 days a week. On the sixth day he finishes at about 5.30. I teach Sunday school each week. I go to Bible study one night and we are sharing the gospel together one night a week. I am mentoring a couple of women at church, one of whom is doing a ministry training scheme. That's without all the shopping, cooking, cleaning, washing, transporting, and kid wrangling/eczema care that I do as well.

Something's gotta give. I just don't see what. How do other minister's wives do it all? Do they get to do kid-free stuff sometimes?

Thyroid antibodies

I got my blood test results yesterday. My thyroid is committing suicide at a slower rate - it's down by a quarter!!!

Mama

I am reading too many American blogs. I would just like to say I am not a Mama. I'm a Mum.

That is all.

The places I make friends now..

In the health food section of the supermarket. I've bonded over gluten-free gravy mixes and museli. I've sympathised with mothers of children who are trying different diets to help their kids. I've given advice and taken it.

Four weeks into CSIRO diet

...and sick of it. DH and I are both succumbing to temptation. Wondering what the way around this is - apart from a lot of prayer.

More medical news

LJ has not settled well into school this year, which has had DH and I scratching our heads and trying to figure it out with her teacher. She has complained randomly of a sore throat, feeling hot, or various body parts aching for the last 10 days and has at various times asked to stay home from school (I reneged once but have sent her the other times).

There was a mistake with my blood test earlier this week so I made an appointment to see my doctor and took her with me. The doctor suspects glandular fever. I feel like the mother of the year for making her go (though I do argue with myself that she wasn't visibly under the weather). We find out tomorrow.

Our GP is unhappy with HBs gait post cast removal too, and has suggested a referral to at least a Paediatric Physio. She told me there was a long waiting list which doesn't surprise me - I would be happy to pay for a private one but there isn't a Paediatric one in Mackay. That appointment is next Wednesday, and the GP appointment is Thursday.

I have been under the weather since my last food reaction (which may not have been a food reaction after all). Trying to muster energy for early morning prayer is very, very difficult.

In other medical news

Apparently I am allergic to shellfish (I get a really itchy throat, nose, etc when I eat a prawn) which means I am at risk of anaphylaxis, like my daughter. I've never really eaten them in my life before.

At least we have adrenaline on hand already, and it doesn't entail any more specialist visits!