Monday 23 July 2012

Just because you can't see me...

I don't really like to talk about work on my blog but today I'm making an exception.

I've been involved in a campaign that was launched today at the fantastic Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne. For those of you who don't know, this hospital is staffed by amazing people and has been helping care for children in Victoria (and sometimes other states in Australia) for I think 40 plus years.

A major overhaul of the hospital has taken place and it is fantastic...there's a massive aquarium in the foyer for kids to look at and even a meerkat compound! There's a lot to see and do, providing a distraction for sick kiddies and their often bored siblings.

Anyway, I was there today for this campaign warning people about the risk to children when they are playing in driveways. We hope this campaign will save lives. There was a family at our launch whose little boy had been run over by his dad in the driveway. The dad thought the little boy was with mum, mum thought the boy was safely with dad.

They were so lucky. His legs were injured, foot fractured but a couple of centimetres and he would have been much more seriously injured.

For those of you with children, grandchildren, visitors to your home with children please have a look at this and be aware of what you need to do to make sure this doesn't happen to you and yours.



                                                                     Driveway safety campaign

Thursday 12 July 2012

Fangs a lot

Can you hear that?? Champagne corks popping, yeehaing and celebratory racket.
Today - oh happy day - the smallest one was told her loathed braces were finally to come off next month after FOUR years of having devices and braces and stuff jammed in her mouth.
Oh, and a cool $8000 handed over, thank you very much.

                                                                             

Her orthodontist is a fairly stern bloke, not big on the conversation, much of it is "open wider please" and "make sure you brush thoroughly"...that type of riveting talk.

Today when he told her we could make the "get em off" appointment, she thrust her arms in the air and said "it's a dream come true."
He smiled (the first we've seen) and said "well, I don't know if it's that exciting."

It's taken an age because when her teeth came in, one grew from the roof of her mouth, smack dab in the centre and had to be gently coaxed into its proper spot at the front of her mouth using a device that widened her mouth and pushed it down.

Took an age and the original dentist we saw was a disaster. Disorganised, allowing too much time for little one to think about what was going to happen (she was then 11) and, the final straw,  ripped out a device that had been glued in her mouth causing littlest great trauma.

Now there is bite - hahaha - at the end of the tunnel. Just in time for her birthday.

                                                           


"This is the best birthday present" she said.
"Great, does that mean I don't have to buy you one" said her everloving mumma.