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 Hope

Well, we spent an hour with my daughter and then went with her to pick up our grandson so that we know where to go when called on!!!  Hubby came too and we did a slow walk (5 mins walk from home to school normally for my daughter but as she has only just over a week to due date her pace really suited hubby!!) of around 15mins and must say if felt very strange for me being back in the playground surrounded with loads of parents and children as we waited for the classroom doors to be opened. Just time for a drink and fruit for our grandson before we left to come home and he was off to tennis (one of the dad's runs it once a week at a nearby court) - just wish I had his energy.  We came home, had dinner and having taken his usual cocktail of drugs hubby dozed for a bit and then we watched tv.   A pretty restful evening and I even managed 5hrs straight sleep last night.  Into work today so have to switch my head 'off home' to cope - sure y ou know that feeling.

Take care and hope you have a good day. Jules x

Hi Everyone

I haven't been on here for a few weeks now and then discovered this morning my uncle died this morning from cancer.  He was diagnosed back in the summer.  A funny thing happened this morning I kept thinking about one of my cousins who I haven't seen in a while before I heard the news.  I expect the funeral to be this Friday or Saturday.

Jules I read your story about your mum's situation.  Not a bit of wonder you were exhausted and frustrated due to everything going on at present.  You really are a tower of strength for everyone in your family and you are always prepared to put everyone else first.  It can't be long now until the new addition arrives.  I am sure you can't wait.  Is your daughter keeping OK.

How is your wee grandson getting on a school?  Has he settled in well?

Well nothing else to report for now just hope that everyone else is keeping well.

Take care Jules and chat soon

Mickied

Hi Jules, Brian & Mickied,

Just want to start by saying Mickied I am so sorry to read about your Uncle, I hope and pray that someday we will find a cure for this terrible disease that claims the lives of so many and affects their families so deeply.  Thinking of you.

Brian, thanks for your kind words - this site really seems to help and I'm feeling a bit better the past few days.

Jules, Hope you haven't worked too hard today.  So lovely that you (and now hubby) spend such quality time with your grandson, sounds like he really is enjoying school.  I caught up with a friend for lunch today (day off) which was nice.  Also touched base with the law firm who are sorting out probate - seems that I completed all the forms completely correctly (miracle!) but they are now waiting for the original will which is with another solicitor.  Everything takes so long; as an ex secretary myself I can't believe people in offices are so disorganised today, and that they can't sort out basic paperwork quickly!  Anyway I will leave it up to them now and let things take their time.  Have a good evening.  Hope x

Hi Mickied

Lovely to hear from you and thanks for your supportive words as usual.

  So sorry to read of yet another loss in your family to cancer - sometimes you wonder when the next bit of good news will come for the family. It seems to hit you like a brick wall and just as you are pulling yourself up again you get knocked back.  Its such a rollercoaster of emotional turmoil and yet here we all are chatting and somehow coping - this forum is just an awesome source of support.  Do hope all goes as well as it can for the funeral. Come and chat whenever you need to bend someone's ear - you have been so supportive to others and we can return the favour anytime.

My daughter is doing well at the moment (just over a week to due date) and our grandson has settled well into his new school class, loves his teacher and though a bit tired (for about an hour after he gets home) is no problem getting him to go.  We went with our daughter yesterday to see where his new classroom is as it will be us picking him up when daughter first has the new addition.  Next hospital check up one day before due date unless something happens beforehand.  Fingers crossed and yes it will be very exciting.

Hubby has now taken early retirement and so is pretty miserable at present and probably needs time to re-adjust. Am taking it day at a time but he needs a little help now and spends most of his time watching tv or sleeping. I am still doing part time at the moment and we shall have to see how his illness progresses as to if and when I need to be at home.  Will cross that bridge as and when necessary. Am refusing to worry about it until it becomes neccessary.  He can still drive short distances and also walk slowly but the motivation is difficult so its easy does it. Our son visited today and he always perks up when the kids pop in.  We are so very lucky to have them fairly close by but want them to live their own lives too.  We are all 'talking Christmas' at present and trying to sort out Christmas ideas/shopping. Before that we have our grandson's 5th birthday at end of November and the thought of 30 kids in a hall is pretty daunting but my son in law is absolutely brilliant and loves children so am sure it will go very well. I am going along as a 'pair of arms' for the 'newbie' all being well so that my grandson has his special day.  Best laid plans............

Sending virtual hugs and best wishes   Jules xx

Hi Hope,

Quite a coincidence, I was a secretary in a former life (pre children so a good few years ago).  How we managed to be so organised (and little technology) seems amazing now but if anything we appear to have gone backwords with all the form filling and waiting around.  Hope you can get things sorted re probate soon but these things seem to have a pace all of their own!!

Work was busy but no complaints; it makes the time go quickly.  Our store is set over two floors so have been up and down all day moving stock (~kids annuals mainly) into thier new Christmas layout - amazing how many different titles there are.  Was certainly  giving me plenty of exercise (so was quite hungry when I left).  Managed to last till I got home at 2.45 and had a very large banana and a yoghurt!!  My son had popped in as it was a day off for him and we chatted gardens/wildlife and he has made a great pond which we saw the new pictures off.  When he left he was off to the garden centre to buy some trellis as he wants climbing plants to cover the small brick outbuilding(shed to you and  me!!).and has decided that maybe sweet peas might do the job!

Hubby promptly dropped off to sleep as soon as our son left so dinner will be a little delayed as he usually sleeps for around an hour or so and would rather he woke naturally.  Well thats today sorted and as they say tomorrow is another day.  Take care, chat soon. Jules xx

Morning Jules,

Seems like we have quite a lot in common other than just our experiences that brought us to this site - only children, work etc!  Talking of work I expect you will be getting busy now, Christmas shoppers seem to start earlier and earlier every year.  I'm not bothering too much this year, intend to have a low key Christmas after all that's happened.

Well latest news is that eldest has got halls at Uni; didn't get them automatically hence the commuting which has been fine. However he has decided to take them to gain the whole Uni experience of being away and with friends etc, (will probably commute other years anyway especially clinicals).  So looks like he'll probably move in at the weekend.  I'm OK about it as he will be home every weekend (with his washing!) and I can always go up to London on my days off sometimes.  I think my youngest will probably miss him, especially when he needs help with his A levels!  Anyway may not log on for a few days as likely to be busy.  Have a good weekend and speak again soon.  Hope x

Hi Hope

Thank you for your words of support as always.  How have you been coping lately yourself and how is being back to work going.  The funeral is tomorrow so I have booked a half day off to attend.

We didn't see much of him but in the end he is still my father's brother.

I know all about office work Hope because I work in a solicitors office and have done so for the last 21 years.  Some probates can take some time to be sorted and you are completely right about the forms that have to be completed.  I take it the law firm has requested the original will from the other firm.  I know from experience here in N. Ireland that if someone requests a document relating to another person a certain procedure has to be followed through before the document can be released.  It has all to do with the new Data Protection Scheme but let's hope you don't have much longer to wait.

Take care and chat soon

Mickied

Hi Jules

Yes the funeral is tomorrow so I have booked a half day off to attend and then back to work.  Sometimes you wonder how you cope Jules but somehow we always manage to.

Everyone used to say this uncle was my father's double whereby I could never see the resemblance but maybe when I go to the house this evening I may notice how much they looked alike.

He was 71 a year older than my father.  Thank you for the invitation to "bend" someone's ear mainly yours because you have been a tower of strength to others on this forum me included.

Jules the other night I had a dream about my birth aunt.  I saw her clearly and I asked if everything was OK.  She told me the reason she hadn't been in touch was because her two nieces had only had two babies and no mention of her husband or daughter.  I see her other daughter still posts on FB as I was checking her profile for any clues about her sister but nothing.

It will fly in Jules for the rest of you but not for your poor daughter.  Glad to see your little grandson settled into school.  Sometimes they surprise you.  Our Sarah was off school on Monday for teacher training day and she will be off again at the end of this month for Halloween.

How is retirement going for your hubby.  I know you said he always enjoyed his work but had cut it down to a few days a week.  You are right about waiting until the time arrives when you are needed much more at home and let's hope it is a long time off Jules.  My father-in-law used to always perk up too whenever he saw my kids and used to keep the both of them going.

Our Sarah still mentions that she misses her granda every so often and sometimes it sets me off too.  I can get so emotional sometimes Jules it is unbelievable.

We had our Sarah's 6th birthday at the weekend and invited three of her friends to a kids play centre.  The food was awful and the kids didn't eat it but enjoyed the rest of the day then they all went back to my house and up to her room.  About half an hour later she came down and said she wanted to put on her pyjamas because she had saw enough of her friends and wanted them to go home.

She wouldn't even go with her dad to drop them off home.  About an hour later she was fast asleep.

Well nothing else to report for now.  Take care and take it easy

Mickied

Hi Mickied, Thanks for replying to me individually.  I really hope the funeral goes as best as it can tomorrow, will be thinking of you

As for me I am coping the best I can, I think I'm doing OK but as you know emotions creep up on us out of nowhere at any time!  I guess I wouldn't be human if I didn't feel the way I do after losing both parents, especially so quickly and close together.  The paperwork seems to really get to me, I think it is because it is something out of my control and I am a very "in control" sort of person.  Yes it is the law firm I'm using that has requested the original Will from the other firm; thanks for your advice speaking from experience of working at a solicitors, I just have to leave things in their capable hands and let things take their course - easier said than done for somebody as impatient as me!  For some reason I think I'll feel better when all the estate is sorted out legally but in truth I probably won't feel a lot different

Anyway best wishes for tomorrow and let us know how it goes.  Hope x

Hi Hope

No need to thank me.  I really feel for you losing your parents in such a short space of time.  The same happened to my father's brother and his wife.  He died in April that year and his wife died in July 3 months apart.  I remember someone saying to his daughters they didn't get much time to grieve for their father and then to lose their mother.

You don't need to talk about being impatient Hope.  I must be the worst impatient person known.  Sometimes I wish I was more laid back like the rest of my family and let things take their course.

You are right about feeling you are coping well one moment and then the next you feel you are about to have a nervous breakdown.

A few weeks ago I was going through my telephone calls in work and came across the date my father-in-law died and I got a bit emotional as that date brought it all back what happened.

Dreading tomorrow but these things have to be done.

Take care and chat soon

Mickied

Hi Hope

No need to thank me.  I really feel for you losing your parents in such a short space of time.  The same happened to my father's brother and his wife.  He died in April that year and his wife died in July 3 months apart.  I remember someone saying to his daughters they didn't get much time to grieve for their father and then to lose their mother.

You don't need to talk about being impatient Hope.  I must be the worst impatient person known.  Sometimes I wish I was more laid back like the rest of my family and let things take their course.

You are right about feeling you are coping well one moment and then the next you feel you are about to have a nervous breakdown.

A few weeks ago I was going through my telephone calls in work and came across the date my father-in-law died and I got a bit emotional as that date brought it all back what happened.

Dreading tomorrow but these things have to be done.

Take care and chat soon

Mickied