The Cloncurry Show...

The Cloncurry Show was a GREAT distraction from whats been going on with us lately and a whole lot of FUN for us, especially our Girls. We surprised our girls and just turned up to the Cloncurry show a few weekends ago, you should have seen their BEAUTIFUL faces, our Girls were sooo VERY excited, they had sooo much FUN.
I nearly didn't make it because I was feeling quite unwell, however, I just pushed through and was so glad I did, watching our girls having so much FUN is good medicine for the soul. 
We also hoped we'd bump into some of their local friends, and we did, so Shane and I walked around with our girls and their 2 friends well into the night, until the fireworks finished, it really was a wonderful time together!

Check out some of our many pics...

Dirt Bike Show...

Smash Up Derby...

So Much To See and Do...

Look at those Sweet Smiley Faces xoxo

Serena and Shane went on the Ferris wheel together...

Got to get one show bag...

We had a good, long chat with this christian couple who give away Christian scripture plaques..they travel around with the show...Good on them...We Love what they do...

Me and My Girls xoxo

Elissa and a friend on the Cha, Cha...

The Girls having a Heap of FUN...

The Crazy Raft Ride...

Makayla Jade and her Horse...

And a GREAT Fireworks show to end the day with...

We all had a GREAT experience at the Cloncurry Show and it was great to see so many people we have come to know here in the outback enjoying a fun family day together!

Take Care xo
Love,
Dimi

And Just Like That...

On Tuesday 6th June, after about 5 months of living in the old house in the caravan park, we've moved back into our caravan home!

One week before this date we were asked to move out of the old house, since now only Shane is employed by the caravan park (since they replaced me! Gee, I could go on and on about the unfair treatment we've had the last couple of months here, however, I'll leave it at that for now) and move into our van. 
Well, it was a looong week for us, between hospital/doctor appointments, Shane working, and moving ALL our stuff out of the house and into the van, it was EXHAUSTING to say the least!

I can't believe how much STUFF we have. I knew we had accumulated more stuff since we started travelling and since we've been here because we've had to purchase more summer clothes and some winter clothes, we've also had all our birthdays and Christmas since then, so we've had to go through a heap of things, donate, throw out and send quite a few boxes of  things we want to keep to my mum's house (most of them being books).

Well we cleaned the house out spic and span, MUCH cleaner than we found it, cleaned out our caravan home and moved to a site within the caravan park, all done within an exhausting week!

We all adjusted pretty much immediately to being in our caravan home, it just feels like HOME to us! It feels GOOD to be HOME, however, our already itchy feet to leave town, have now become VERY itchy feet since moving into our van-home. I think we feel it's time to say goodbye to the Cloncurry outback (even though it will be sad to say goodbye), however, for a few reasons it's become a bit complicated to leave at the moment...we'll just have to see how the next few weeks plays out!

So this is our site and new home for now...

It simply feels like HOME to us all!

Take Care,
Love Dimi xo

Still Sick..Who Knows Why!..

WARNING...This is a Looong post, with some yucky details...
It has been over 1 month since I first went to hospital with some serious symptoms (although I had been unwell up to 1 month before hand which may have been related, or not, who knows!) and It doesn't feel as though we are much closer to finding out what the cause is.

I've been to Mt. Isa Hospital for tests since my last update, and I've had the ultrasound on my adrenal gland and kidneys done, so tick, that tests done! The results have come back from that test, and it's great to hear my kidneys are functioning well, however, apparently you can't really see the adrenal gland in an ultrasound unless it is inflamed, so like the specialist said, "nothing negative or positive in that area could be seen from the ultrasound on the adrenal glands."

I did get some test results back though...The thyroid ultrasound shows it looks as it should (strangely though, my Cloncurry Doctor who I think is great by the way, believed I may have had a type of thyroid/graves disease, however, it doesn't seem to be the case now). My heart ultrasound shows I have a young, healthy heart (Love those words, Haha, young and healthy!), it's just that my heart isn't resting as it should. My 24 hour urine collection tests came back mostly great, which is GREAT, however, something to do with my adrenal glands are a little high. Another test I had weeks ago (can't remember what it's called, but I basically had a blood test, took a pill at night, and then had another blood test early the next morning to check my cortisol levels, something like that) that test I was told was abnormal also.

So a few days ago I went to my appointment at the diabetes/endocrinology clinic and I seen a specialist. I thought I would be told I had a form of thyroid disease (there is a short term thyroid disease and a lifelong thyroid disease), however, the specialist only spoke of this when I questioned him on it. He believes there is no evidence in the tests/scans to suggest any form of thyroid disease...so really that is GREAT news, and I'll take the GREAT news wherever I can get it! The problem still remains that the doctors and specialist still don't know what is going on, and they are edging closer to a type of adrenal gland syndrome (don't look it up, just don't) but are yet not sure because most of my tests show a HEALTHY, YOUNG lady, but a few tests show things are a bit high here, a bit not right there, if you know what I mean!

My symptoms can get too much for me at times when I have them! I actually thought for the second time since I've been unwell that I must be getting better because I had about 8 days straight with mild to no symptoms (YAY), and then BANG...it's like my body was no longer mine, it was overtaken by something else...I know it sounds sooo dramatic, but the change is VERY dramatic (although it can also be quite mild)...all of a sudden I was very irritable, anxious, clammy, thirsty, loose stalls all night long, very yucky taste in the low back of my throat that had me spitting up congestion all night long, breathlessness, strange feeling at the base of my neck, sleeplessness (despite taking a relaxant), tiredness, weakness, headache, blurry/black spots in my vision, racing heart...ARRGGGHHHHH is all I wanted to do! However, I reassured my family to rest just in case we needed to go to the hospital yet again, and I stayed still and quiet when I could...for some reason when I'm at this stage of whatever it is, I feel that I can't cope with anything, noise, movement, touch, strong smells...it's CRAZY.

So the specialist in Mt.Isa has arranged for me to have another CT scan, but this time on my abdominal area (they are trying to get a good look at my adrenal glands), I'll also be having a blood pressure monitor attached to me for a day or so at some stage.
On Wednesday while I was at the hospital I had quite a lot of bloods taken and urine tests. So the next 3 to 4 weeks I'll be having those tests, keeping in contact with my G.P, and then return to the specialist in the fourth week with the hope that he has some answers, and some good ones at that (being healed would be the ideal answer of course...I will always hope for that).

I feel for my family because we are going through a bit of a difficult time, just like many other families do, and we want it to be over with, with a good outcome...but for now we are a strong family unit who keeps running to GOD in prayer, on our knees desperately crying out to HIM...we don't give up...we RUN to HIM, and hope things will work out for our good. These words from the bible come to mind...All things work to good for those who love God and are called according to His purposes. His words/His whispers give me peace like NOTHING else can...and we will continue to hope and pray for a good outcome 👍

So if you have read this far, Thanks for reading my very long post, and do me one more favour...send up prayers to heaven xo Send prayers to God for my family and for me...for strength in this difficult time, for more of Gods beautiful peace, love and joy, for God to give the doctors wisdom in how they treat me, and most of all for full healing to my health.

You know what...despite all of this we are still making the most of everyday here living in outback Cloncurry. Yep, things have changed because usually when I'm unwell, I'm really unwell, but when I'm well...we make the most of it. It is just another part of our faith led journey, so we'll just have to see what happens next...we HOPE for the best!

I just want to THANK EVERYONE for your prayers and support xo 
Thank You to House of Praise Church, Cloncurry Christian Church and all the other churches for praying for us xo Thank You to everyone for all the phone calls and messages of concern...THANK YOU VERY MUCH xo We appreciate YOU xo
Take Care!
Love,
Dimi xo

Roos Everywhere...

Well the outback is full of wildlife and some of the wildlife we see around a lot are Kangaroos!We especially see the Roos at the local playground, and not just 1 or 2, more like 20 plus Roos.
The Kangaroos are usually out and about by late afternoon and many more pay us a visit in the early evening. We often sit there for hours while our girls hang out with their local friends, or we prepare dinner on the bbq and watch the Roos eat, interact with each other, and the funniest bit box each other, it's hilarious!

Can You Spot the Roos?

I once had a collision with 3 large reddish Roos...me, in my mum's vehicle, on my way to my theology course and then CRASH, SMASH, ARRGGGHHHH it was so very frightening. So ever since that I've had a fear of Roos, especially when I see them on or near a road and especially if I'm driving. However, seeing these Roos every couple of days feels somehow therapeutic, I enjoy watching them at my fav spot in Cloncurry (The Mary Kathleen Park..I like the area on the side and behind the park, it's beautiful and peaceful), hiding behind the trees and in the golden grass. Don't get me wrong I still have a little fear of them, more so if I see them on or near the roads, but I think the fear is subsiding that little bit, Yay for Cloncurry Roos and for free Roo therapy, Haha!

My Fav Spot in Cloncurry..It  Just Feels Peaceful...

The Hot Cloncurry Sun Setting...

I hope everyone is having a great day xo 
Side note: I'll add an update on how we are going over the next few days!
Love Dimi 

Health Update..So What Happened?

The short answer to that question is we STILL don't know and neither do the doctors yet? All I know is that I am quite unwell, the symptoms I have are quite frightening and to be honest I'm over it! 
The looong answer if you are wanting to know what happened and is happening is....
It began on the night of mother's day. We had a lovely day together, the girls as always showered me with gifts and love, plenty of cuddles and kisses, delicious breakfast, a walk to the park and Shane made us one of my favourite meals for dinner (chicken and chorizzo paella), and in the evening we watched a family DVD together. 
After the movie I sat on my bed waiting for our girls to brush their teeth, so that we could pray with them and tuck them in, and that's when my heart began to race. It felt as though I had gone for a jog, instead I was just sitting on my bed. After praying for our girls and tucking them in, I went to bed hoping as I relaxed my heart rate would calm done, it didn't.
I knew something wasn't right and I had to get to the hospital (anyone who knows me well, knows I avoid going to the doctors/hospital, so me saying I needed to go, was a bit of a big deal). 

Well once we were at the hospital I became much sicker (if you don't want to hear some yucky/embarrassing details skip the next few sentences, or maybe the next few paragraphs). My heart rate was going up, it ended up going up to 160. My body was behaving as though it was even higher than that...I was clammy, sweating, uncontrollably shaking, extremely thirsty, my stomach would ache and burn, causing me to have constant loose stalls, my heart just kept pounding in my chest.
I was quickly connected to a ECG monitor (heart monitoring machine that keeps an eye on the activity of your heart), the ECG monitor was connected to my chest and limbs, my blood pressure was checked on regular intervals, urine was taken, blood was taken and a cannula was put into my arm (a thin tube inserted into my vein on the inner part of my arm/elbow so that medication could be administered through it). 

Myself and Shane were quite anxious, and I kept worrying about my girls in the waiting room. I actually thought on numerous occasions that I was going to die. It was a horrible feeling, Horrible! 
The doctor needed to get my heart rate down quickly. It was remaining high for hours and I was just getting sicker, nothing would get it down. The doctor wanted to inject me with an injection that would get my heart rate down fast, yet it would make me feel as though I was dieing for about 15 seconds... I freaked out, went to the bathroom and got on my knees and prayed to God for intervention... I didn't want that injection, I just wanted my nightmare to be over, and I was desperately trying to remain calm for my girls and Shane. 
When I returned, it was decided that I would be injected with a beta blocker through the drip which had a similar affect as the other injection except it takes longer to take affect and shouldn't have the I'm about to die feeling. Within minutes my heart rate slowly calmed down significantly and I was finally able to relax for the first time in about 4 hours. 
Shane and I reassured our girls as best we could, I settled in for the night at hospital and Shane took our exhausted girls home to sleep. 
I was monitored throughout the night, a whole lot of blood and urine tests were done and I was then sent home the next afternoon with a plan for follow up care... It was thought that I had SVT (basically the heart doesn't working as it should). 
Within hours of leaving the hospital, I returned with the same symptoms, all of them...it was once again horrible, but we continued to put on a brave face for our girls, reassured them and desperately prayed. More tests were done, many, many blood tests, another cannula was put into my inner arm/elbow, I was connected to the ECG monitor again and was again closely monitored. Every doctor available became involved and very interested in my case because they couldn't work out what was wrong (still can't, but hopefully getting closer). 
The doctors believed it could be one of three rare diseases/illnesses. Firstly they thought that maybe I had a bad virus that attacked my heart (I had been to the doctors clinic about 1 week earlier because I had what seemed to be sinus issues, pussy bumps on my head, a big lump behind my ear and one on the roof of my mouth), so I was pumped with antibiotics through a drip and a few other medications where given to me for a few different things. So for a few more days one arm was connected to a drip and the other to the ECG monitor, lots of blood was taken from me and I even had to have a painful injection in my stomach because the doctors thought there was a chance I could have a clot travelling towards my lungs. If you know me...you know I hate needles, and as of today believe it or not, I've been jabbed around 15 times in about a week... ARGGHHH!
I remained in hospital for about 4 nights, and I then asked if I could go home. I was worried about my girls and how hard it was on Shane, and just wanted to go home to love them and cook for them and take care of them. So I went home with a care plan of seeing my doctor every week, going to all my appointments in Mt. Isa, and going into emergency if anything else occurred again.
The tests I've had so far have been...blood tests, urine tests (including a 24 hour urine test), diabetes tests twice while in hospital, xray on my chest, I also had to be transported by ambulance 1 1/2 hours to Mt. Isa hospital for a CT scan on my lungs and a thyroid ultra sound. 
Since leaving the Cloncurry hospital I've had to return 4 times with similar problems. I've also had to return to Mt. Isa hospital on a few occasions for a heart ultrasound and for a 24 hour ECO monitor test (basically you have a small heart monitor connected to your chest area for 24 hours to see how your heart is behaving). 
I still have a few more tests that need to be done in Mt. Isa over the next few weeks, including an ultrasound on my adrenal gland, I'm looking forward to having this scan over and done with, and we are all hoping and praying that the tests return with no problem in or near that area.
The doctors here are very interested in my case, and have been taking good care of me. The doctors and nurses here in Cloncurry are wonderful, compassionate, capable and I am glad I am in there care...although I desperately want this whole ordeal over for my family and myself! 

One of the problems is that Cloncurry has a small hospital. So most tests are done 1 1/2 hours away in Mt. Isa. Some tests need to be sent to Townsville which is about 10 hours away and can and have taken weeks to get any results back to us here in outback Cloncurry...another ARGGHHHHH!
It is frustrating for us all! 

The symptoms I continue to have go from mild to down right scary... I at times have a racing heart (this can be short lived and mild and it can also go on for hour after looong hour), loss of appetite (I actually lost about 6 kilos in less than 2 weeks), nausea, a tickle cough, loose stools, clammy, sweaty, restlessness, irritability, anxiety (the anxiety can be mild and it has also been quite extreme and VERY scary, I've never experienced anything like it before), blurry vision, breathlessness (this to is a horrible feeling), aches in my chest area and thyroid area, tiredness, sleeplessness and the list goes on, and on, and I'm still having new symptoms occur through the weeks.
Even with these symptoms after having 5 days off work, I was told I could return to work by my doctors and my employers told us my job was secure. The night before I was to return to work the caravan park managers replaced me, and told Shane to tell me the reason was because I was in hospital and because of future doctor appointments that are in Mt. Isa..yep, another ARGGHHHHH! 

After 5 months of working my bottom off and doing a FANTASTIC job for this caravan park, I was very disappointed with how these people have treated myself and Shane, although I wasn't completely surprised. Since these new managers started working here about two months ago...well let's just say Shane and I have had to cop quite a bit of work place bullying.
Don't get me wrong, we've had some great highs here in the Curry, however, there have been some lows also, as there is in life...we just now want me to get better quickly, because even though part of us will he sad to say goodbye to our outback home, we know it is time to go!

I Thank everyone who has prayed for us xo Please continue to do so, for my health and healing and also for my husband and our wonderful daughters. Our daughters have shown such strength and resilience in such a difficult time. They both amaze us. 
Please pray for healing for me, and for Gods peace, love and joy to fill Shane's, Elissa's, Serena's and my heart and mind...Pray for God to continue to be with us, guiding and directing our path. We need your prayers...Thank You Sooooo VERY much...your support and prayers are SOOO VERY much appreciated xo
Lots of Love, and Take Care!
Dimi xo