Getting back into study is something I cannot wait to do.  I think the lack of learning , well in terms of Modules and Critical thinking, and to have somebody mark something that I have studied to the max for would be nice.

I want to get into Clerical work so obviously studying things around that nature. There are a few Correspondence courses that look really good. The reason for going in that direction is the amount of appointments this first year I have. Also introducing myself to the big wide world a bit at a time. In a few intros staff talk about not to go on public transport for the first 3 months and after that make sure it’s on off peak times. I mean i don’t think I would want to go on public transport ever with the amount of people that are sick these days. However if I have too it would certainly be on off peak times I know that sounds pretty mean , but hey I am wanting to look after these lungs thats my number one priority.  If that thought changes will let this blog site know

So have the printer set up, and my study cap on , all I need is to decide on what precisely I will be studying so Yay

It has been told to us US meaning those who now have that second chance of life that you will suddenly have the urge to make up for lost time. Which is fair enough. I mean why not??. Suddenly you are wanting to do things you have either struggled to or not being able to do at all. So mine has been shopping. Whether it has been a coping mechanism, or what, it has just been something i have always  wanted to do.

I have not being proud of who I am at times, due to not being able to take the time to just feel good about myself, even though needing to deal with this huge weight on my shoulders.(pre op). I now  however have the ability to try clothes on,  I don’t think it’s about being materialistic it’s just the Act of going forth and making the clothes fit this new improved person,and appreciating every second of that . I suddenly feel free .It’s a very liberating experience.

Another thing I have been making up for is my family and friends. They have had to do a lot for me.  They have had these amazing lives and all I could do was cheer from the sidelines. Now I have been able to be as involved  as I can be. Just able to be more encouraging , and helpful. Well hoping I am being more helpful … I guess I will find out soon enough

My 30th is this year. Oh my gosh I just typed that and I am shocked. Anyway Since the passed few years my birthdays weren’t anything to add to the best birthdays of my life. I thought definately make up for it. So that is being planned as I type. ..Am a very good multi tasker :).

Oh and watching comedies ..I love laughing and had not done much over the years, well only in the privacy of my own home due to constant coughing. SO its nice to laugh and not think ” Oh crud will have a coughing attack after this laugh” ,

My brain is making up for lost time as well. It questions everything . I mean I am happy about that it’s great to know things that interest you, However it also questions things I am not particularly interested in as well. Anyway I am not too worried about it..am sure thats one of the side affects of the medications  :).

My sensors are going mad these days…Actually they are a lot quieter than they were when i was in Melbourne. I guess Melbourne has many shops that I can gladly spend all day going too.

I am not shopping in the sense of purchasing materialistic stuff. Its more shopping for a better level of life. shopping for an Education. Shopping for better foods. Shopping for an expantion of knowledge. I guess that is also why I cannot wait to pack my bags and travel over yonder. I love watching those Holiday programmes and seeing the different cultures and how people live, so it’s going to be amazing to confirm a lot for me, as well as add more questions…but hey thats life right.

The shopping clothes wise though has been an adventure too. Have never really had the time for it all, as i would be too tired to try much on, or to even care enough to do so. Now even if i don’t buy anything it is still nice to try clothes on and find out my “true colour” when it comes to make-up.
It’s all very fun really.

The reason i am putting these down on here is so that I don’t have to say it to you in person, as i feel like I am telling people off if i do. ..It is nothing personal AT ALL . It’s also about getting on with life and not needing to repeat .

No soft cheeses, like Blue vein, Bree

NO Grapefruit anything

Avoid me when you are sick

IF your child or you yourself has had a live vaccine please avoid me for 10 days

Wash hands

Cook meat the entire way through. I cannot have rare meat.

I can’t have cold seafood

I cannot share foods

You cannot share foods with me

Saunas and Spas and Pools are a No. Communal ones mainly. At the moment I can’t have any.

Am sure there are a few more , will need to re read book.

I am not what you call a Spider person. In fact, i tend to debate why the need for them when there is Insect spray in the world. Anyway. Was looking out the window last night as the street light was lighting the sliding door that I have. Usually there are tree branches that tend to reflect onto the door, and you can see them flowing about due to the wind. Last night there was a Spider shaped shadow on the door , …so I obviously freaked out ..I then pulled the blind up on the otherside of the door so I could see outside. I also turned the outside light on, and low and behold a spider ..HUGE. A female huntsman I presumed, then confirmed. Now me being a NEW and improved person I decided to just watch it , see what it did ….On any other occasion I would of tried to kill it or at least thought it was going to do anything possible to get inside.

Ten minutes later it started moving, whether she felt she wanted to like spotting something to eat, or she felt paranoid like it was been watched . Ok so it was . Well it moved , it walked about to one end of the door to the other, then went back up to where i spotted it , then decided it was time to go home. So it used its 8 legs to set herself to the ground and head to the plants.

I know this is a bit boring to read, but i reflected a lot that night. On how much a decision can change a person. I feel calmer when talking about spiders now, I don’t feel as out of control and fearful of them all because i  decided last night to instead of looking at the bad, but to look at the good. I know I would have a lot more flies and mozzies about without this particular spider being around. So she helps. I have decided to call her Twiggy,

I have been back for a while now and am really liking the fact that the struggle is now over. Medication and appointments are important and am trying to figure it all out,. Managing time is one thing that I am getting used to. I mean the entire day is filled with things to do instead of short swifts of things, and a lot of sleeping.

Am wanting to study…I am sure I have mentioned that.  I have also thought about checking out how to become Health Minister..I mean 29 years of being in the hospital system and seeing the changes the governments have done throughout my lifetime. A lot has happened and the Government has NO idea what it is doing AT ALL trust me.  So thought i would check that out as well. Will obviously keep you posted. I think study will help me stop spending so much..i am not broke, but the laybying is kinda not helping with saving..I mean Twenty dollars here and there does add up…I am sure I will come back down from cloud 9 soon. …Maybe I should stop buying magazines that tell me what would look nice on me.

I really need to get the medication thing sorted. I feel paranoid I am going to forget to have them. Which isn’t good. Along with my insulin I hate it when blood sugar levels are  high. especially when you are craving for a chocolate milk. As much as water is delicious , after doing a truckload of exercise …kinda want bit of a treat afterwards. grrr.  Oh blithering again. .but it’s true. I am almost glad when the sugar levels are less than 4 so you have a sip of something other than water.

Well back to my routine

I don’t really like the word diet. Some people seem to think I am wanting to eat less and run around all day to only get thin, which couldn’t be more further from the truth. However it’s the only terminolgy that sounds practical. Yes my diet has changed ..some for the better, and some for the worst. I used to drink Iced coffee like there was no tomorrow, and only Farmers Union, no other would do. One time i was really sick and couldn’t even struggle to go to the shops, my Mother went to buy me an iced coffee , it was a different brand. I just didn’t drink it, insread i went after my Mum left to grab the Proper iced coffee that was how hooked I was. A week after the op my taste buds did not like Iced coffee at all. It’ werid though, as I do not miss it. I would rather my body reject iced coffee than these brilliant new lungs.

I was put on a high energy high fat diet in hospital a few hundred years ago, ( well it feels like it anyway) . Even though I still have digestive troubles , the high fat part is a bit shady. I don’t need as much energy to breathe now, also with some of the drugs i am taking it can put the cholesterol levels up a bit. Also with the medications it is pretty damaging toxic wise to the body as it is trying to kill off your immune system. So food is all the body has to defend itself from People who sneeze in your direction, or cough. …Some people grrrr.

In the Seminars post op, I found out about eating and the sorts of food i can and can’t have. Soft cheeses are a BIG no no. Grapefruit a huge No no. also I learned a lot about food standards when eating out. Obviously not to eat warm foods. Everything has to be cooked 60 degrees or higher, and everything that is meant to be cold Has to be cold. Salads I am not really trusting in eateries at the moment Seafoods, no cold seafood meals like sushi as you can get Salmonella or Lysteria . I tend to buy frozen crumbed fish for dinner and heat it up. SO i can cook my own Fish and chips . Which i really don’t mind, a heck of alot cheaper.

The key words i think of when buying food is Fresh, Clean, and Cooked. Oh and another thing Sharing …bit of a no no as well. I tend to carry my own snacks around, ….as much as I would like to eat those Chips in a bowl, or chocolates .. ( as much as my diet will allow me to have) it really is not worth the risk. I know I feel like a trollop refusing foods that could well be eaten by me, it just cannot be , nothing personal.

My diet is a healthy range of foods that helps in maintaining energy as well as recovery. It’s amazing what your body tells you what it needs. Gym for the first two months after the operation my brain kept making me crave Carbs so anytime I saw Rice in a dish I would eat it all. Also Calcium, as bones are still mending the body needs calcium, so I drank alot of it, still am .

I won’t start from the beginning, what I will do though is start from the moment I landed back in Adelaide. Early March ( back to a heatwave) I began my journey as a post double lung transplantee. With two new lungs and the rest of my life to look forward too. It has been amazing to get back and discover this vast new world. I mean just getting out of bed was a big enough stretch. Now it isn’t. Am still recovering, and sorting out appointments and all that Jazz , but I now have the energy to do it all.

I have grown fond of dawdling. Obviously I am not wanting to keep people waiting in shopping queues, or frustrating the shop assistance. It’s more about Time Gratitude. Haven’t had that for a while. Usually i know what i need at the shops, hang onto the shopping trolley and go to the three isles that sell what i need at that time. Get to the checkouts bearly hanging onto the trolley, still manage to get money out pay then get to a bench outside the shops and wait there till I recover. Now I can check out more Isles and see what else can be bought. This entire world has opened up and am quite glad about it .

There is a lot of responsibility that comes with this new life. Medications HAVE to be taken. I mean it’s not like Vitamin tablets, or Fish oil …Having CF I have always needed to take medications anyway. The new ones I take are very beneficial not without some hazards, but needed nonetheless. Exercise is required as well. I really don’t mind actually I used to dance so to feel like your entire body is aching after exercise It takes me back heehee. I will obviously put in a bit more description throughout this site with the Yes and Nos’ of post op.

One more thing before i get the site up and away . I want to thank the hospital staff that helped me to get to where I am now. Also Family and Friends that have been great support to me for those three months, and their continuous support.