Welcome home!

We are not sure when you arrive but figure that you must be in the air pretty soon. Gus and Nina are on count down and are really looking forward to Mark coming to pick them up. They had a pretty quite day today mainly because it has been too hot to take them out in the afternoons ... Mike and I took them for a walk up around the park tonight which they really enjoyed. They have had a bath and are smelling very sweet so we had to keep them out of the water so they didn't get dirty again. We have been going to Rabbi Island just about every night for the last week and they have been having a great walk and then a swim with Melanie. They have been very well behaved.

Went into see Granny today - she was a little down today. She was really hoping to be home this weekend but seeing how difficult it is for her to get out of bed and stand up I really don't know how this is going to be possible. She was taken to the x-ray department this afternoon for xrays on her back so we are hopeful that the Drs will be able to have another look at that. She has been saying that she is not feeling any pain in her hip at all but has been in quite a bit of pain in her back. She is now able to get up out of bed assisted and sits in the chair in her room for half of the day. She got quite emotional when I said goodbye to her this afternoon and said that she wanted to be going home soon ... it was really sad and upsetting to see Granny like that.

Anyway hope that you are having a safe trip and we will see you all on Sat night ... let me know when you arrive so that we can make sure we are home.

Photos to follow

Tuesday 30 December

Today was a really hot summers day so it was great to get to Rabbit Island for a walk and a swim. Melanie and Bridget had a swim and Gus was in the water having a great time getting the sticks. Gus was really funny as he nearly missed the ride home as he was so pre-occupied with digging a giant hole for the sitck. We we finally got him home he needed another rinse to get all the sand off his coat. Nina had good fun on the walk too and has spent most of the day sleeping in the shade. Nina is having a good cuddle on my knee now as I type and almost sliding off my knee every now and then. Nina has enjoyed the Christmas fare ... we are thinking that we may have to restrict her intake as she is a little more rotund than usual ...

Granny has been moved to the rehab ward this morning. She is still not really eating normally we are not sure if it is the medication she is on which is affecting her appetite or that the food is unappetising. Although she did ask for a ham sandwich tomorrow so that is a good sign. The rehab ward is quite different - she has to get up and get dressed each day and go to the dining room for meals. We are not sure how long she will be there - depends on her progress we guess. Mum thought that she was a good colour and perhaps not as tired as before but it is very small change really so quite hard to tell her progress.

We went for dinner up at the section tonight - took takeaways up which was just magical. It was a stunning night tonight and we stayed until the sun set.

Sunday 28 December

Today we started the day early and went for a walk in the park with Melanie and some ball throwing. The only problem is that Gus hasn't quite mastered the art of retrieve and will get the ball but will then run around the park for the next 15 mins with Nina chasing after him chackling. Nina and Gus love it though and Gus especially likes to run to the creek and sit in the cool water for a cool down with the ball in his mouth!

Trish, Bill and Melanie went to Murchison for a day trip to have a picnic lunch with Nana, Grandad and Joss. They managed to find a lovely place near the Buller River and had a great couple of hours in the sun eating sausages in bread. It was a lovely warm day and Melanie and Bill went for a swim in the river. Very cold but very refreshing.

Granny had lots of visitors yesterday and was feeling a little tired. She has been moved to another room with 3 other ladies. The nurses got Granny up in her for the whole day yesterday but we are not sure how much walking she was able to do. She had two blood transfusions (500ml each we think) today but we are not sure why. Dad is going to see her tomorrow morning so will find out all the details when he goes in. Mum said that the surgeon was Dr Alex Rutherford. I do another post tomorrow and let you know the details.

Christmas Day!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM NINA and GUS!!!

(Grandad has dictated this paragraph message to you both). A quiter today today after yesterday. Granny had her operation yesterday at about 4:30 and Grandad Kathy and Pat went to see her at 6pm and Granny was awake but drowesy and confortable. Today everyone went in(Mum and Dad early in the morning and then the rest at about lunch time) and the nurses already had her up and she was sitting in her chair and looked really well and had her lunch (roast meat and veges). Then the girls came to put her back to bed again and she was in quite a bit of pain then. Grandad spoke to the nurse and she said that the hip was pinned and that the pin was about 4 inches long. We are not sure when Granny is going to come home but thought that she looked really good and Grandad said that she was really chirpy and she has also got to be assessed now for future help in the house (which we are all pleased about). Grandad says best of luck to you both and have a lovely Christmas Day.

We have everyone here now - we are just waiting for the dinner - Mum and I have made a nice meal which I hope everyone enjoys. Howard and Adrienne are going to take Granny in some dinner so hopefully she will enjoy that. We will all go in again tomorrow - we have been taking it in shifts so that she feels like she is getting little visits through out the day. We took the puppies out for a walk at Wai iti tonight but it was very very busy with kids and motorbikes etc so we threw the ball in the near by field. They will be dog tired tonight thats for sure!

We got up and had brunch this morning (bacon, eggs, tomatoes etc) and then opened the presents. Had a walk with the dogs and then a afternoon tea and now dinner. Tonight we are doing a vegetable and feta terrine with pesto - then a loin of pork (from O'Neils) pumkin, peas and cashews, polenta and potatoes with pudding - christmas pudding, brandy custard, icecream and cream. I also made some orange truffles which we could have with coffee.

Anyway we will try to give you a call tonight when we have had our dinner .... love everyone at home!!!

Will email some photos as well

Monday 22 December

Had a pretty quite day today ... finally a fine day so we spend it catching up on sleep and time in the sun. Trish and Melalnie went to Mapua to look at the shops and have lunch. Bill took us for a lovely walk up the hill and we had a good play in the stream on the way home. Trish made us a lovely fresh batch for dinner which we are looking forward to having tomorrow. Kathleen and Pat arrived home today and Kathleen had another puppy ... Minty who Bill says is just lovely. Dinner for the family was some lovely BBQ lamb chops with a roast red onion and mushroom couscous, tomato-mint-and feta salad with lemon olive oil and BBQ grilled asparagus with lemon zest. Meant to be another fine day tomorrow so that will be nice. Hope you liked the photos of us ...

Sunday 21 December

Started the day with a sleep in - very wet outside. Gus put his nose out the door but that was as far as he went. Nina was busting so she braved the weather and headed outside for a quick wee. After a little bacon treat for breakfast we helped put the Christmas decorations up but Gus was more interested in nibbling santas beard. After another nap we were whisked off to Rabbi Island for a walk in the mud - Gus went swimming and Nina did her usual shag-shit-shimmy ... hence the bath (which was not that successful for stinky Nina). And then dinner and another nap listerning to the Christmas Carols with Bill (I am sure you can imagine it! Man you are missing out!) Gus is asleep on the bed with Trish while she is wrapping presents. Another day over and one day closer to you coming home ...