6 Months Here

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6 Months Here; How it all went.
Topic Started: 16 Sep 2007, 03:16 PM (749 Views)
hjje	16 Sep 2007, 03:16 PM Post #1
Member Posts: 14 Group: Members Member #1,674 Joined: 15 September 2007	Hi, well we have been here six months now. Luckily, as my parents live here we went to live with them...me, hubby and two kids..(14 and 8). It was strange to be back (as I spent 10 yrs here as a child) but it felt like coming home in some ways. Within a few weeks, we had fax file numbers and got the kids in school. All going well so far. Then my daughter started to feel unwell, we thought it was gastric flu but after a few days (on easter sunday) she couldn't even stand up..so straight to emercencey...30 mins after getting there...we were in for a big shock..my daughter (only 8 yrs old) has diabeties...i thought my world had fallen apart...how could this happen to my daughter..she is just a happy go lucky child...she was on a drip for two days and we were told she would be insulin dependent for life. Well, that was about 5 mths ago now and after getting over the initial shock we are all coping well as a famliy and my daughter takes it in here stride...the insulin injections and testing of her blood at least 4 times a day have become all part of everyday life. My parents have been fantastic and her school are so surportive. My son has settled in really well which i am so glad about..u always worry with teenagers..and my husband and i have both found work...we bought a house and are now looking forward to our first australia summer as a famliy...It is hard to start with, famliy and friends in England are missed dearly but internet and phone calls are not that expensive now and this country has so much to offer..i know we will be very happy here.........rgds Helen



Kaz and Malc	16 Sep 2007, 05:11 PM Post #2
Addicted Member Posts: 363 Group: Members Member #546 Joined: 1 February 2006 Migration Status Permanent Resident My Mood 16 months, definitely not homesick! My Location Beaumaris	Hi Helen Wow you had an eventful first 6 months! Glad to hear your daughter is getting to grips with her diabetes. What a shock! I had gestational diabetes with my three kids and had to have insulin with the last one. It all seems such a faff at first with injections and testing and all, but like you say, it just becomes part of everyday life after a while. And believe me, I was petrified about the needles at first, but now with the pen type injections the needles are so fine, you really cant even feel them going into the skin at all! (Sorry being a bit graphic, but like any mum I'm sure you heart was breaking at the thought of your littlun coping with the injections :( ) Where abouts have you settled Helen? Jobs and schools sorted, you are doing great :D We are arriving end of Jan and will be starting from scratch with everything, jobs, houses etc. etc. Really scarey thought when family life has been so settled for years and years. But we wanted a shake up and I think we are gonna get it :D You are obviously doing something right Helen, so lets hope the next 6 months goes even better! Karen :waving: :flower:



hjje	16 Sep 2007, 06:14 PM Post #3
Member Posts: 14 Group: Members Member #1,674 Joined: 15 September 2007	thanks karen...your comments were loverly....we have settled in somerville which is just on the edge of the mornington peninsula...it is a loverly house on a 1/4 acre block..we would never had been able to afford something like this in the uk....i wish u all the luck with your move...pls keep me posted on how it all goes...it took us a year to get our visas - we came in on a skilled visa which my husband obtained...then another 6 months to sell hse and get on that flight..it is the scarist thing to do..but well worth it....what part of melbourne are u planning to come to??? bye for now..helen



pete&co	16 Sep 2007, 06:19 PM Post #4
Addicted Member Posts: 229 Group: Members Member #1,136 Joined: 31 January 2007	Helen, so sorry to hear about your daughter it must have been awful. As you have said though kids are very adaptable as she has shown, and she sounds like she is coping well. Hope your next 6 months in oz is a little more steess free, enjoy the summer, you all deserve a break. Pete, Nadine and Hannah xx :D



tonydu	16 Sep 2007, 08:47 PM Post #5
Addicted Member Posts: 309 Group: Members Member #1,444 Joined: 29 May 2007	great post helen, some sincere replies to , look forward to joining you soon for that drink we keep on about, give james and emma a big hug from your close friends back in the uk FOR NOW



Rachel&Stu	16 Sep 2007, 10:16 PM Post #6
Member Posts: 40 Group: Members Member #1,559 Joined: 24 July 2007	Hi all ;) What a great post, uplifting and good on you for coping so well!! I work on a Paediatric ward in Lincolnshire, the youngest child we diagnosed with IDDM was only 15 months old. I would say, on average, we are seeing probably 6 new children (under 16 yrs) with IDDM on the ward. As you have found out, it is just so traumatic for everyone, and you must be so proud of your daughter doing her own BMs and Insulin. Hope you have a bit more of a chilled out time now! Cheers, Rachel :waving:



Kaz and Malc	17 Sep 2007, 03:15 AM Post #7
Addicted Member Posts: 363 Group: Members Member #546 Joined: 1 February 2006 Migration Status Permanent Resident My Mood 16 months, definitely not homesick! My Location Beaumaris	hjje Sep 16 2007, 06:14 PM thanks karen...your comments were loverly....we have settled in somerville which is just on the edge of the mornington peninsula...it is a loverly house on a 1/4 acre block..we would never had been able to afford something like this in the uk....i wish u all the luck with your move...pls keep me posted on how it all goes...it took us a year to get our visas - we came in on a skilled visa which my husband obtained...then another 6 months to sell hse and get on that flight..it is the scarist thing to do..but well worth it....what part of melbourne are u planning to come to??? bye for now..helen Hi Helen We are hoping to settle somewhere in Bayside, as near to town as we can afford. I fancy Sandringham, Beaumaris, also Parkdale and Bentleigh. Although we did like Williamstown -or possibly Sanctuary Lakes, which I didnt get chance to look at the big estates on our reccie. I also really liked Geelong. So it's TBC for now. Would have loved Morngington - I loved Mornington town - but Im thinking it maybe too far out for us. Just have to see where Malc gets a job! We already have our visas, but we were trying to find a job before heading over. This is proving completely impossible, so we are gonna wait till after Christmas now because we thought it wouldnt be a good time to arrive just as the holidays getting into full swing. Karen



hjje	17 Sep 2007, 09:58 PM Post #8
Member Posts: 14 Group: Members Member #1,674 Joined: 15 September 2007	Rachel..and all others...ta for your kind comments. I am very, very proud of my daughter..she is so independant even at 9..which I suppose under the circumstances is a good thing..she does get down about her diabeties sometimes but we talk about it and she is ok after a while...it is still early days yet in the whole sceam of things...I am sure it will not hold her back in anyway...bye for now...helen



Debsuk	25 Sep 2007, 10:50 PM Post #9
Addicted Member Posts: 186 Group: Members Member #814 Joined: 24 July 2006 Migration Status Permanent Resident	:flower: Hi Helen I just did a long post to you - then accidently deleted the whole thing. Glad that your daughter is doing so well. Our fourteen year old was diagnosed with diabetes when she was five so would be happy to chat and share experiences. We have our first diabetes clinic appointment here on Thursday, Which hospital does your daughter go to? very warm wishes Debs x



hjje	12 Oct 2007, 09:52 PM Post #10
Member Posts: 14 Group: Members Member #1,674 Joined: 15 September 2007	Debsuk Sep 25 2007, 10:50 PM :flower: Hi Helen I just did a long post to you - then accidently deleted the whole thing. Glad that your daughter is doing so well. Our fourteen year old was diagnosed with diabetes when she was five so would be happy to chat and share experiences. We have our first diabetes clinic appointment here on Thursday, Which hospital does your daughter go to? very warm wishes Debs x hello michelle.....not sure if u got my email..my daughter goes to frankston hospital for her diabeties clinic...would love to chat...hope u are settling in now..i can't believe we have been here almost 8 months now...it has gone so fast...roll on the summer....take care and get in touch if want to chat..helen



Lindsay Clan	13 Oct 2007, 05:03 PM Post #11
Posts: 3,286 Group: Moderators Member #144 Joined: 22 December 2004 Migration Status Citizen My Mood Content My Location Pakenham, VIC, Australia	Sorry to hear about your daughter and glad to know that she's coping well with it all. Seems as though you have achieved a lot in 6mths and hope everything continues to go well for you all. :waving:



klh	13 Oct 2007, 09:31 PM Post #12
Addicted Member Posts: 232 Group: Members Member #349 Joined: 21 August 2005	Hi Helen, We live just down the road from you - I have an 11yr old with diabetes. We used to go to The Royal Childrens but now go to Monash (were actually told not to go to Frankston !!! No specifics of why were actually given) Any probs let me know. I bought an excellent book when she was 1st diagnosed; INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS by Ragnar Hanas there is a new version out (name may have changed slightly - available from Amazon. Well worth it, lot of trouble -shooting and explanations etc Don't you just hate diabetes though !!!!! :crybaby:


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