why here????

Nearly a month has passed since our big move and life is slowly gaining a predictable and regular flow, much to my children's relief.  It really is amazing how adaptable they are...but despite the comfort of the multiple houses and beds they have lived and slept in the past 6 months, nothing beats consistency if you ask their psyche.

They are lucky enough to attend some of the most amazing and nurturing schools I have come across...for a small town, Tamworth can lay claim to many "best of's" in my opinion.  Their schedules are a bit disjointed, as Waverly attends another preschool on Fridays that is only for children aged 3-4.  Mondays and Thursdays, they both go to Milestones http://www.milestoneselc.com.au/locations/tamworth-cbd/ ; an amazing pseudo-preschool where many of the staff are University trained in child development and enthusiastic doesn't begin to describe their approach.  They, like my beloved Lyric, take numerous photos throughout the day to comfort us parents as we trudge through our work days.  At the end of the day, they post a collage and write up of one of the developmental activities they did that day, and how each of the children interacted.  Its really neat to get another person's perspective of your child and their personality; and as many parents know, kids do wondrous and amazing things in the hands of strangers that we parents could never get them to replicate for our own eyes. Milestones has a varying array of outdoor and sensory toys and equipment, and my personal favorite is that they have chickens and bunnies and you can buy organic, toddler fed and hugged chicken eggs for $2 a dozen.

On Fridays, Waverly attends a beautiful preschool at St. Mary's http://www.stmaryspreschool.net.au .  Its a part of a red bricked, spired church that Wave thinks is a princess castle :)  She has only had her first day there last week, but according to teachers, took to it like a champ, introducing herself to the children and charming them with her "funny" way of talking.

As we go about daily life, I am constantly faced with quizzical looks from locals as they try and sort out my accent.  When they finally get an answer to their inquiry of where I'm from, 99% of the time, it is followed by a whip-lash like jerk of the head and the question "Why have you come to Tamworth?????"  They seem satisfied when I explain my family ties, but still remain is disbelief when I say Im actually liking it here.  I guess our reaction would be similar if meeting a Syndeyite in a rural town in Kansas for instance.

Anthony and I have started work at Tamworth Base hospital in the ICU.  It is crazy how diverse the population is as it is a catch all for a huge rural area.  It is not uncommon to have a dehydrated two year old sandwiched between an 80 year old who has had a heart attack, and 2 day postpartum 22 year old with eclampsia.  Its a little intimidating.  I am not loving the work so far in all honesty.  I feel like I just am ready to move on from ICU. And all of you who know my type A-hard on myself when I don't do 100%-impatient-personality, can understand how I am struggling with all of the differences in practice and unfamiliarity of all the meds.  I feel like a new grad in a lot of ways, but without the vim and vigor.  Not the best combo.  I am trying to stick it out until I get used to it more then maybe see about exploring other departments if I can.

What I am loving, however, is our house!!  It just has good juju, and feeds my diy-ing soul.  I will post a few before and afters, I just have to figure out a time to take pics when there isn't toys and stale crusts of bread strewn about...which is hardly ever.  stay tuned!!

Sorry for the random, disjointed thoughts here--just wanted to get a few thoughts down since it has been a few weeks and I am trying to be regular about this blog thang.

miss you love you
tons
XO
Kell