Home visits

So a couple of thank yous are do... One to Steffen for my beautiful flowers that were leaning up against my door when I arrived home. I had gone into the common room where I was quickly informed that I had mail and was pointed in the direction of my room. I thought that was funny since I'd checked the mail slot, but sure enough, there were the flowers, a big bouquet of yellow, pink and white flowers along with a package from Mom. I figured the flowers were from Steffen, but the girls wanted to know. One girl told me they had barely resisted the temptation to open the card. Then there was the package from home, and when I opened it all I could see was air packaging, those big pillows of air, wrapped in tape. I couldn't see what it was, and I thought Mom had just sent me 11 dollars worth of air, but then I caught a glimmer of blue and red. There, packaged in the air pillows, snuggled safely in it's cocoon, was a Cadbury creme egg. I had actually been wondering if I was going to miss out on my annual Cadbury shipment, but I figured I'd survive since down here Cadbury is everywhere and 4 creme eggs cost $1. But, I have to admit, it was fabulous to get that package, and I'm leaving my egg in its packaging for the time being. Everybody keeps warning me it'll melt, but I'll put it in the fridge in the morning.

I found a store today that only sells hemp and bamboo clothing - it was so fabulous. I had Jeanet in tow, so I couldn't stay long, but I'm definitely going to go back and get a bamboo sweat shirt. That might be what people are getting from me for Christmas, bamboo socks and sweaters. They are lovely, much better than they sound.

Jeanet and I came home tonight and went to a free lesson of tai chi down the road. It was only 5 girls and the instructor, who was very sweet and patient with us. Jeanet and I haven't tried it before, but I ended up loving it, and Jeanet hated it. It was much like Pilates, there is so much concentration needed to do the moves that I couldn't bother myself thinking about hoovering (as they say in Oz [as they call Australia]) or my overdue postcards. I get one more free lesson, but I'm not sure I'm going to be able to get Jeanet to go with me.

The last detail of the day. I did home visits with the neonatal nurses today. So in Oz when a baby is premature, they send both the regular community nurse on home visits, as they do with term babies, but they also send staff from the department. It was very interesting and I got to see mastitis, which I immediately identified even though the nurse didn't see it right away. I was very proud of myself. The woman had breast implants, though, so I couldn't tell if the hardness of her breasts was mastitis or the implants. Either way, it was good to see, now I know what it's all about.

Only two more days in Special Care nursery which means.... only two more days of The Drag!!! And on that sweet note, good night!