Hi Annabel

When your laptop gets back from its business trip hope you manage to link up with your daughter or are you planning a visit soon?  My daughter spending  more time being monitored than at home at present which has us (and friends) doing the school run.  More blood test results (sent to specialist hospital) awaited, hopefully today with regards to her liver function (this may result in being induced early if readings indicate problems) and also the baby was in her words being a little monkey when the heart monitor was trying to take recordings yesterday, hence she has to go back today for a re-try!  Luckily our grandson taking it all okay and rather enjoying the extra time playing with his school mates.  Is loving his new teacher/class and only one more week before he goes all day which will be a bit easily managed.

Sorry to read your having your fair share of problems with your parents - seems like we are all getting to that age where both ends of the spectrum are causing anxiety.  Feel free to offload here whenever you get the time (better out than in as they say) and lets face it you have all had to put up with my troubles too. Sharing has really helped. Now back to coping day to day on everyone's advice (well at least until the next panic!!).

Hope all going well with the family and hope you enjoyed (by the time you read this) a peaceful weekend.  Take care Jules xx

Morning again Brian,

I think peaceful could be pushing it for this weekend with so much going on around me at present.  Anyway herw we have think cloud but the promise of brighter spells later!  Have put the washing out anyway and am now waiting for hubby to surface so I can do his breakfast (nearly 3hrs since mine!!!).

The extra work hours take their toll on the day you do them but are soon forgotten and its to be expected in the build up to Christmas - thats retail!!!  I cheered myself up yesterday when I finished by popping to the shops and spending some of my birthday money.  I also have a week off to take once new baby arrives (to follow on from son-in-law's week) which if not actually a rest will be far more enjoyable, fingers crossed.

Hope you and your wife have a peaceful weekend.  Best regards. Jules xx

Hi Jules,

Glad to hear your husband felt able to do four days work in a row. Just hope he doesn't over do things. I do hope all is well with your daughter when she visits the hospital today. You must be feeling a little concerned. I remember when my son was born, my poor wife was in labour for absolutely ages. She found out later she has a twisted pelvis and this was the cause of the problem. I remember chewing on my fingers, didn't have much left when my son was finally born.

So glad to hear your mother dealt with the news so well, good for her. We have only been able to afford the washing machine due to my wife being ill for two weeks and as a result didn't spend much on food. But she did let me buy a big bag of Kent Cobb Nuts as a reward, so now am even nuttier than before if that possible

Have a good weekend and will think of you tomorow, Take care, Brian

Hi Catherine

Thanks very much for your response on my thread. As they say its good to talk and sometimes think others see it much more clearly and are able to offer support accordingly.  This week has  been very busy both with home and work  so once my panic moment was over (and rather taken out of my hands by my Mum's fightback!!) re Mum's situation we have all just got on with things.  Extra hours at work (if I say yes) will have to fit in around my family's needs and today I am on standby to do the pick up grandson school run as  my daughter is back for monitoring at the hospital and we are not sure how long that will take so sitting by the phone in case we are needed, hence why wont visit Mum till tomorrow now. Thankfully you can go anytime and so far they tell me Mum is okay which is all good.

How are you and your family doing?  Hope your Dad coping okay.  Children certainly help keep us all smiling (as well as on our toes!!).   Yesterday I bought a little something to give our grandson when the new edition arrives (my daughter already has a little gift that is for him from the baby (ready in her hospital bag) so he can find it when he visits. Mind you this might be at home as at the moment her 'after stay' is set for 2hrs!!!  So much will depend on the results of current tests as if her liver function is questionable they may well induce her  a little early.

Well with the weekend planned around everyone else I spent some of my birthday money yesterday on a couple of bits for myself (with the last six months on my 'doctor's orders' healthier eating to try and reduce cholesterol level without going onto tablets - check up sometime next month if I get the blood tests done leading to bonus weight loss of 1 stone) in smaller size.  Hopefully will find some time to touch base with my son and his girlfriend too.

Hope you have a lovely weekend and look foward to chatting again as and when.  Take care Julesxx

Morning Jules,

Was just wondering how you got on when you visited your Mum this week, and also how your daughter got on at hospital?  I do hope things are not too stressful for you and that you can try and have a relaxing weekend.

I'm waiting for my eldest to come home, he has spent somewhat of Freshers sleeping on fellow pupils floors after social events - latest was a toga party last night!  I'm off to my counsellor this morning, had originally been thinking I wouldn't need to see her for too much longer but have been so emotional this week so will talk things over with her.

The weather is forecast to be nice this weekend but is looking a bit gloomy at present.  Here's hoping it brightens up and the sun shines on us all.  Take care  Hope x

Hi Hope

Hope you visit to the counsellor was helpful and its good for you to be able to talk things through and this should last as long as you need it.

I have just returned from visiting Mum and she was ok though I am sure a little concerned at how long she will be able to stay where she.  She has amazed the staff at how forthright she was when social worker 'interviewed' her and they are left in no doubt as to what she wants. All the care staff came to see me whilst I was visiting to make sure I was okay too - very sweet.  I stayed until she was due to go into lunch and we even managed a bit of a laugh when I showed her latest photos of her great grandson.  He has really enjoyed his first week in Reception and keeps telling his mum that his teacher is the most beautiful one in the school!!

Hubby and I picked him up from school on Friday as my daughter had to return to hospital for a second day of tests and monitoring.  Specialist blood tests with regard to her liver function have been sent off and unless she hears otherwise she returns to clinic next Friday.  The last set of bloods were borderline but all readings for the baby were good.  If the new blood tests show certain 'rises' she may have to be taken in and possibly induced (she is now 37 weeks and would probably welcome is being over and done with!!).  Anyway so far so good.  I have an overnight bag ready and waiting and she has several friends on standby to get her to the hospital if her hubby is at work.  Mind you she is still driving herself at present!!

When we met our grandson at school (its only 10mins to his home) he told Grandad that he could meet us there as it was healthier to walk!!!  My hubby's face was a picture as he drove off and I walked the little tyke home!!

Life's stresses seem to come and go but having the forum to offload certainly helped me to see things in perspective this week though I think my mood swings are more due to hormones than current circumstances.

Sounds like your eldest having a great time during Freshers but will no doubt be looking forward to some home cooking.  Have a great weekend with the family and will catch up again soon.  All the best and look after yourself. Jules xx

Hi Jules,  Glad things went well with your Mum this week and that you are feeling a bit better.  As we all know on here, just one day at a time; afterall life has a strange way of throwing things upon us even if we do make plans.  Good to hear your daughter seems to be doing fine and I bet you can't wait for that phone call that new baby is imminent.  Expect your grandson will be excited too, bet he will tell everybody at his school especially his "beautiful teacher".

I'm feeling slightly better today, I think seeing the counsellor yesterday helped, I always seem to be more positive afterwards.  What I want to know now is "where is the sunshine?" it was forecast to be a nice weekend but so far has been fairly grey with rain yesterday!  Hope you enjoy your Sunday whatever the weather.  Hope x

Hi Hope

So glad to read that the counselling helps.  Its good to know there is somewhere to turn to when we need to talk things through.

My son in law had a boys night out last night  (first time in ages and probably last one for a good while!!) so this morning I went with our daughter and grandson  for a walk so he could have a lie in.  We began by visiting the local duck pond and I took a magnifying glass so we could look at the  bugs in the old wood laying around and we ran through the fallen leaves and watched the baby coots before moving on to the park and I played ball with him whilst my daughter had a sit down.  We found a few conkers and promised to return in a couple of weeks when more should be on the ground!!  Then we had lunch in the High Street before returning home and getting grandad some lunch plus they had ring doughnuts (I sent one home with them for my son in law).    The rest of the afternoon was quite peaceful. We watched the GP highlights and have just finished our evening meal.

My daughter got her blood results back and so far so good which was a great relief all round and next week our grandson stays for lunch at school with pick up at 1.30 so she will have a little more resting time.  The following week he will be full time so as I finish work at 1.45  I will be able to pick him up if necessary.

Well the sun showed up here very late on in the afternoon but at least its been quite warm and we did not need coats when we went out.  Supposed to  be good for the next couple of days so fingers crossed I can mow the lawn on Tuesday.

Stay well  and hope the coming week is peaceful for you and the family.  Take care Jules xx

Oh Jules,

You sound much less stressed than you did the earlier part of the week and not surprising to after the news from the S.S. brigade. You wonderful sense of humour is showing through again as you describe struggling with your shopping and brolley while trying to eat an ice cream in the rain. I have a visual picture of this now and it's making me smile.

Glad your visit to your mother went well, she sounds a very determined lady and so pleased to hear she didn't let the S.S./gestapo intimidate her with their tactics. Also pleased the news regarding your daughter is reassuring. Your young grandson sounds a great little character, preferring to walk home and getting there before granddad into the bargain.

Hope this week is a stress free week for you, do take care, Brian