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 Annabel,  Thank you for your kind wishes, and I must admit I'm quite relieved to hear that other people say the bug hangs around for about 3 weeks since I usually shake things off quickly and was beginning to get a little worried.  I know it's only a bug ad usually wouldn't take a lot of notice but there have been so many bad things this year I almost seem to be expecting something else bad!.  I hope things are going OK for you and that you manage to avoid the dreaded lurgy.

Jules, sorry to jump in on your thread, I have left you a message earlier.  Take care both of you.   Hope x

Hi Hope

No problem with people jumping in when they fancy a chat, thats what so good about the forum, you just catch up where and when you want - no pressure.  Sorry to read you still suffering but from what Annabel says sounds like its doing the rounds. Am praying I  steer clear, really do not need that when I am doing 'granny duties' from tomorrow.  Heard from my daughter this afternoon (needs me to take in milk in the morning on my way round) that baby has been fractious during the day but very good at night so she is grateful he has got it the right way round!!

Would certainly recommend pacing yourself and not trying to do too much until your body has had time to recover.  It can be very lowering in itself without your added emotions playing a huge part.  As to going to the gym that would send me straight round the bend - manage to walk past regularly but never considered actually going inside.

Hubby was ok about going up to the factory (am sure secretly delighted they still need his imput) but unfortunately a 1hr journey turned into a 3hr nightmare when they shut the motorway because of a lorry fire so he did not get there until 1 p.m. thus missing lunch and returned home very weary about 4.  Has been asleep for the last hour or so, so have put dinner on low and it may be supper as I do not like to wake him just yet. Strange how things work out, originally he should have been going tomorrow but they changed their plans.  I expect tomorrow he will be glad to take it easy but may come and visit our daughter later in the day depending on how he feels. I am sure a cuddle will bring a smile back to his face.

Look after  yourself. Bye for now. Jules xx

Hi Jules,

Just catching up again with you.

Glad to hear you've had a bit of retail therapy recently, good time to do some when you are off from work.

Hope your daughter and family are all fine and your elder grandson is coping with the noise from the baby.

I am planning a bit of xmas therapy when I go to see the consultant in November.An excuse for a day out.!!!!

Have a good friend coming with me so we can have lunch out as well.

Your husbands loss of self identity is classic. Long may they keep asking for his advice at work.

You are absolutely right about it being easier to buy presents for women than men Jules.Maybe there's just more stuff we women use/like/want.!!!!!LOL.

Had a lovely email from my son in law recently thanking me for the crumbles I left for him in the freezer, I gather he has now run out of them!!!! Do you think thats a hint.?

Busy here until the Visit England inspecter comes in November, looking forward to a little more personal space after that to prepare for Christmas.

Hope you have a good time at your son's Jules.

Annabel. xx.

Hi Jules,

Glad to hear hubby made it to work despite the nightmare motorway journey!  I bet he does like giving them advice and it probably makes him still feel part of everything.  I did laugh about your comment on walking past the gym but never going in, I usually find it theraputic at the gym (that shows how mad I am!), but am definitely going to wait until fully recovered until I go again,  planning some retail therapy  today instead. Hope you have fun with your grandsons today, I'm sure a cuddle with baby will make your hubby smile.  Have a good day.  Hope x

Morning Annabel and Hope

Quick catch up before I head to my daughter'sfor the school run.  Thankfully she is slowly returning to normal.  She is managing to do most things albeit a little slower than she would like!!  By the time I got there yesterday both children and her had had their breakfast and her eldest was getting dressed for school.  So it was just a case of 'keeping an eye' whilst she got ready to go out and then we all did the walk to school.

My daughter needed a 20 min sit down by the time we got back to get her enegy back.  I have now learnt the full extent of the trouble she had after the birth, the report basically saying we are still lucky to have her because of the level of blood loss/blood clots.Once again a reminder of how life is so precious.  Anyway no need for any cooking on my part (phew) as she already prepared the freezer with meals and her hubby is also cooking. Concentrated on hoovering and washing up (along with a cuddle along the way).  The new baby has so far been pretty good and is mostly on a good four hourly feed routine which fits nicely round the school runs!!!  Now that he is home my eldest grandson is coping with the 'crying noise' (sleeps through the night undisturbed by it and says if its too bad he goes into his bedroom and wears the ear defenders Grandad gave him when he went to watch the drag racing!!).  The baby also has no problem sleeping through noise of hoovering/thunderstorm and children playing around him so fingers crossed it stays this way.

My daughter thankfully pretty laid back second time around despite the scary start for the new family.

Yesterday morning she decided to take her first drive so we took the new edition to see his great gran (my Mum)..  Not much interest (none expected knowing her feelings about children!!) from her but other residents and the staff were lovely and we stayed around half an hour (and had a photo taken of the four generations).  She felt happy enough doing short drive and has been told not to take long journeys for at least six weeks.  She has clinic check up on Monday and they are hoping the iron tablets/antibiotics she is on will all help her recovery.  Still taking mild painkillers three times a day.  Grandad came round in the afternoon and after we all walked round to pick up the eldest boy (he had a friend coming to play for an hour) he took me home (and then he slept for much of the evening).  No doubt my hubby is enjoying the new edition but also feeling more discomfort and showing his usual withdrawn self as we get closer to his check up.

Annabel, hope your parents and hubby are beginning to feel a little better and that you are still managing to steer clear of the bug and Hope keep that recovery/rest going and both take care and have a peaceful weekend.

Hope, I know today is a difficult one for you but still wanted to send you good wishes for your Birthday.  Thinking of you and sending virtual hugs.  Bye for now.  Jules xx

Hi Jules,

So very sorry for the late reply to this message, but just wanted to say massive congrats to you, your daughter and all the family on the arrival of Baby Zack.  Sounds like your daughter has had a pretty hard time, but glad all seems to be getting better, and hope she will be fully recovered soon.  Sounds like you have been giving her masses of support which I'm sure has been much appreciated.

Sorry to hear as well that your hubby has had a few ups and downs, but am sure the arrival of his new grandson is helping keep his mind distracted - I hope his pain has eased a bit now.

All ok here - it was my birthday last week, which I spent as a quiet, lazy day off work, for obvious reasons didn't want to do too much this year.  My husband and I then had a long weekend away, and left our daughter with her grandparents at our house.  The weekend away was not really for my birthday, just ended up being coincidence that it was so close, due to work commitments and availability of babysitters!  It worked ok, except Elizabeth has been suffering with recurring ear infections, which came back whilst away so she was a bit miserable (and not sleeping well) the last couple of days.  I think it took Grandma back 30 years or so....!!

Well, like I say, huge congratulations again and hope to hear from you soon,

Catherine xx

Hi Jules,

I'm so glad to hear that your daughter is doing well now, didn't realise things had been so dodgy at the birth.  Yes life is precious and we have to try our best to make the most of every moment.  Thank you for the birthday wishes, I have posted on my site.  Everybody has been very kind to me today and I'm feeling more positive, as well as feeling a lot better from the "bug".  Speak soon.  Hope x

Hi Catharine

Thanks so much for your message and good wishes, really appreciated.  So glad you managed a relaxing birthday and weekend away (probably long overdue and much needed).   Ear infections are a real pain in the ..... and my eldest grandson suffered with them a lot during his first 3 years, so much so he ended up under the hospital to be monitored and was borderline at one point at having grommits fitted but then miraculously seemed to grow out of them and was eventually signed off!!  Now, nearly 2 years on only seems to get a bit of trouble when he has a really bad cold. Hope Elizabeth is feeling better now and am sure got lots of attention from her grandparents.  Just seems so typical that these little problems crop up when you having a break.  Hope too that your Dad is keeping well.

My daughter is slowly regaining her strength and is managing really well.  We visited my Mum on Thursday for about 30mins and managed to get a photo of the four generations (she was not so happy about being snapped!!) and that was first time driving for four weeks and managed well.  Think now its more a case of building her energy levels back and being careful.  Certainly all very frightening at the time but she says she has learnt a great deal more about how precious life is no matter how old you are!  I have been helping out the last couple days (housework and being that extra pair of hands) and the mums up the school have been so supportive - one even dropped in a family sized casserole (along with present for baby and big brother!!).  Big brother very proud and being such a good boy though did not like leaving Mum the other morning (first time she had had tears before school) but once in his classroom with his friends was all smiles and no problems since.  Lots of extra cuddles from Mum and Dad and the grandparents all helping no doubt.

My hubby is, of course, enjoying seeing the new edition and has had cuddles galore (baby very relaxed and already settled into my daughter's routine feeding wise  and apart from a couple of evening yelling sessions has  been just waking for his night feed and going back in his moses basket  till the next feed - long may that last).  Big brother also sleeps through baby crying which has helped enormously.  I have next week off (its half-term and we can help with outings to the park, shops etc.  My son and his girlfriend are also on holiday from work and are taking the eldest nephew out for the day so if all goes to plan I am taking my daughter/baby out for lunch as their treat).

I hate to admit it but I am so enjoying not having to go into work and its going to be very hard when I h ave to go back!!

Well enough of my rambling, have visitors coming this morning and helping out at a kids party this afternoon (that extra pair of hands syndrome again!!).  Hubby is out this evening with his friend as their local pub is having its official opening night (following re-fit and new landlords) so I shall sit down and watch Strictly Come Dancing and enjoy a little peace and quiet.  Have a good weekend and take care of yourself.  Jules xx

Morning Hope,

Was so pleased to read that you are feeling better and that the bug seems to be going at long last. Am sure you appreciated being surrounded by hubby and sons for your birthday and hope you have a relaxing and peaceful weekend and some R&R during half-term week.  Take things easy and get  your strength back and look forward to chatting again soon.

My daughter continuing to make slow an stready progress though still having to take mild painkillers (not surprised) alongside iron tablets and antibiotics.  Has managed first drive and also doing the walk to and from school (not one to sit around)  so I have been doing the housework and keeping her company (lovely to have time to chat too).  Baby so far so good, quite content and feeding well.  They both have appointments at clinic on Monday and then first Health Visitor visit in the afternoon so as its half-term  I am going in to keep the older brother amused.  Am really  enjoying being useful, having someone to talk to and NOT having to go into work for another week.

Have a good weekend.  Best wishes and virtual hugs. Jules x

Good morning Jules,

So pleased to read daughter and baby are doing well and that you are enjoying helping out. You sound like a very proud mother and grandparent.  Glad your husband got the phone call from work and he is also enjoying the new addition to the family. Your daughter is very lucky to have you helping out as it must take a lot of strain off her. I hope you continue to enjoy your well deserved holiday and the children's party today.

Take care, sending best wishes to you and your family, Brian.

Good morning Jules,

So pleased to read daughter and baby are doing well and that you are enjoying helping out. You sound like a very proud mother and grandparent.  Glad your husband got the phone call from work and he is also enjoying the new addition to the family. Your daughter is very lucky to have you helping out as it must take a lot of strain off her. I hope you continue to enjoy your well deserved holiday and the children's party today.

Take care, sending best wishes to you and your family, Brian.

Morning Brian

Well I remembered to turn the clocks back but hubby didn't so for once we have had breakfast together.  The children's party was fun (been a good few years since I had been to one for 4/5yr olds!!) and though there were around 25 children the majority were girls so it was not as noisy as I though it might be.  My grandson only actually knew about 4 of them (mainly the birthday girl and her siblings) but initial reluctance to join in (first game) soon disappeared when the second game involved balloons and then balls (they had an entertainer).  There were only a couple of games where they needed adults to help and that was when I stepped 'up to the plate' as my daughter not able to 'run around' yet bless her.  Baby was happy when the loud music played (stayed asleep but a bit cranky when they played pass the parcel as the music kept stopping!!). Our daughter took him for a short walk and then he snoozed until we left. By the time they would have got home he would nearly be due his next feed so it all worked out well.  The last 'dance' of the party was the Hokey Cokey (seemed to go on forever) so after all my excertions I happily walked home (we were only 5mins from our house) and as hubby was out for the evening I adopted a spot of Brianitus and ate a small bag of chocolate to help my energy levels.

We are about to settle down to watch the Indian Grand Prix and I have promised myself a lazy day which will be nicely rounded off with dinner at my Son and girlfriends place.  Her parents are picking us up en route as they are just a few minutes away from us which means my hubby will be able to have a glass of wine with the meal.

Hope you and your wife are having a peaceful weekend and that you are  both feeling better having recovered from the tumble and cold.  Chat again soon. virtual hugs  Jules xx

Good morning Jules,

Pleased to hear the party went well and everyone enjoyed themselves. As regards to the dance, I have to admit that is something I have never been any good at. I'm like an elephant on the dance floor, one with four left feet and no co-ordination whatsoever. The government has stipulated I have to have a big red warning sign stapled to me when I get near a dance floor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mrs B went round yesterday putting the clocks back in the afternoon. As a result I was quite surprised when she said it's time for tea!!!!!!  Have virtually recovered from my cold but it has given me very bad tooth ache and the dentist has told me I have an infection under one of my teeth that has a deep filling, I have been given some antibiotics but if they don't work I will have to have the tooth out which will mean I will have to have a new denture made which could cost quite a lot. Just hoping the medication works as cant really afford it with Christmas coming up. Mrs B has almost fully recovered from her fall thank you for asking Jules. I am due a blood test for my psa (re the prostate cancer) next Tuesday and feel confident it will be the same as the last one.

Hope you enjoy the Grand Prix and your meal later on. The weather doesnt look too good for later on so do take care.

Have a pleasant and peaceful weekend, best wishes to you and your family, Brian

Hi Jules,

Have just spoken to both my sister and father in Canada. He is going into hospital tomorow for a hip replacement. My sister is quite concerned because of his age. He has been in so much pain, he has not been able to walk at all much recently. So I spoke to him but the phone was bad and kept going so quiet when I spoke both to him and my sister. I guess it could be because of last nights storm. Hope you are still enjoying your time off, take care, Brian.

Hi Brian, Jules and Everyone

Brian - sorry to hear about your father and of course age does come into it but with all your father has been through lately Brian hopefully this will prove to be a walk in the park for him.

Jules - hope you are still enjoying your time off with your new little grandson.  Your daughter needs to take things easy.  I had a similar birth with my second and it did take me some time to get back to some sort of normality.  Sometimes I felt as if I was on autopilot because my iron levels had dropped so much but I got there in the end thanks to my mum being there to help out just like you are doing.

I have been thinking about you all after hearing about the storms which affected parts of England and I hope you are got through it.  It is very cold here this morning and someone joked that the snow could be on its way.  I hope not.

Still no further word on the work front but I do recall the same thing happening this time last year and we survived for another year let's hope that is the case.

Take care and chat soon

Mickied

Afternoon friends

Sorry this has to be a response to you all at once but as you have probably realised am a bit of a busy bee at present.  Seems like the last couple of days has been a whirlwind and thats not just with the weather!!  We were out for a meal at our sons on Sunday evening and had a lovely few hours with them (son cooked the main and his girlfriend the dessert - all beautiful).  Our son then told us the good news that he has got a new job, still within the University campus but more business/marketing based which incorporates his degree better.  He is very happy as it will be back to mon to fri instead of the shift work he is on now and there is a better chance of advancement in his field.

Spent all day yesterday at my daughters. She had midwife check up at clinic in the morning. Went well and they have signed her and the baby off.  Baby has regained and then passed his birth weight, now a very healthy 9lb ish at 2 weeks.  Daughter is healing well and just has to take things a little slower than she would like (somewhat frustrated with this!!) and remain on iron supplements for up to 3 months.   She also had first health visitor appointment in the afternoon and this is being repeated in another 2 weeks to check on her emotionally (had a few babyblue days with her first and so they keeping an eye bearing in mind what she has been through).  She is otherwise coping very well and our eldest grandson still continues to help (in exchange I was invited to play cars in his bedroom as a guest) and we have been colouring his worksheets whilst baby sleeps and his Mum had a rest hour.

The storm bought a few branches and one tree down in the immediate vicinity but think we got off quite lightly having seen other areas of North London.  Our front garden looked a mess but was mainly dustbins being overturned and rubbish needed to be cleared up (10mins before dustmen came!!) - the lid now appears to have gone for good (typical as we only bought new bin a couple of weeks back, hey ho!!).  Hope everyone else did okay and Mickied hope that mention of snow is a long way off!!  Today is lovely here, chilly but sunny.

Brian, hope your Dad does okay with  his hip replacement - what a guy!!  Nervous time for the family awaiting news and will be thinking of you all.  Also hope y our results are good (am sure they will be).

Hope, trust you doing okay and enjoying the work break.

Catharine, hope Elizabeth responds to the second round of antibiotics - earache is so painful. Pleased to read that your Dad is managing okay and hope you enjoy your next stay with him.  Take care yourself.

Lastly but probably (for me) most important we visited the  Consultant for my hubby's check up this morning and GREAT NEWS, he is still stable and does  not need to change his medication and also unless he feels there is a change in his condition does not have to go back to see her until end of Jan.  In the meantime they are arranging physio/aromatherapy treatments as he has some stiffness in his shoulder and they do not think it is related to his cancer (scan shows no spread since his holding chemo treatment) so he has agreed to go and have the physio to see if this helps his muscles rotational ability!!   Worth a try.  We actually both came out smiling.

Well my forum buddies thank you so much for your kinds words and support and hope to be chatting again in the near future.  Tomorrow I am Christmas shopping (hopefully to a finish) and on Thursday I am taking my daughter( and baby) out to lunch locally as our son is taking elder grandson for a day out as he has been so good he has certainly earned it and is very excited).  With a bit of luck I will have Friday free as I have everyone coming to me Saturday for Dinner and would like to wet the baby's head in style.

Take care everyone.  Jules xx

Jules,

Wow! You are a busy bee! So glad to hear that your daughter and baby have been signed off! And what great news for your son, on the job front.

The news about your husband is absolutely fantastic! I'm so thrilled and no wonder you both came out smiling!

Enjoy all the lovely things you've got planned over the next few days.

Big hugs to you and your family, Jo xxx

Hi Jo

Thanks so much. Must say I have been kept busy but so much more appreciated than if I was at work so does not seem like its a chore if that makes sense!!

Hope you and the family are all doing okay and you are still getting plenty of rest. Take care and have a good week/weekend ahead.  Best wishes Jules xx

Hi Jules,

Glad to hear your keeping busy. Thank for the words about my dad but i have just got an e-mail from my sister in Canada to say dads operation has been cancelled indefinitely as when they did the pre op they found has has heart problems and a bladder infection. He is apparently quite upset as he was looking forward to getting rid of the pain he's been experiencing.

That's great news about your son's new job. Please take care, Brian.

Oh  Brian

So sad to read the news about your Dad, after all he has been through this year I expect he must be devastated to have the op postponed.  Will keep everything crossed that having found these problems they can treat them and get him as fit as possible.  Sending peaceful thoughts to you and the family during this difficult time.  Jules x

Hi Jules,

Fantastic news about hubby, that must be the best Christmas present he could wish for, so you may have a problem shopping for him tomorrow!  Also good news about your son's job as well as your new grandson doing well and of course your daughter - a good October eh!  Hope you enjoy wetting the baby's head on Saturday.  Speak soon  Hope x