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 to hear the children's birthday party was a great success.  I hope you have a lovely week off work, I'm sure you will be kept very busy with your grandsons (may need another holiday to recover afterwards!), hope Zack continues to lift hubby's spirits.

I had a day in London yesterday with hubby and friends, out for a meal and drinks which was very nice.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend and fingers crossed the storm which is forecast doesn't affect us too badly!   Hope x

Hi Jules,

Thanks for the lovely message and all the updates, you really do sound like you are loving every minute of being a grandmother again and relishing looking after your daughter as well.  Also sounds like lots of other people re rallying around, which is also so welcome following the birth of a baby - I remember friends coming to visit and making me sandwiches or cups of tea, things liked that just seemed to get forgotten about during the first few weeks!  Fantastic that baby is sleeping and feeding so well, as that will make a huge difference to your daughter's recovery and energy levels. It must be both an exciting and slightly confusing time for your eldest grandson, but I am absolutely certain that all the love and and attention (and all those cuddles) from his family will help him adapt very quickly.  Good that he can sleep through the baby crying at night!!  And am sure he will have a lovely time this week on his half-term, and spending time with his other relatives -I hope your lunch with your daughter and baby Zack goes well!

It is no wonder you are not looking forward to going back to work, this will be a time that is full of special times and memories, it will be a shock to the system to get back to the world of work - even if you enjoy a job, I find it hard to go back after holidays let alone a time as special as that for your family at the moment....!!

How lovely to read about your visit to your Mum - it reminded me of when we first visited my Grandma, the idea of 4 generations of a family (and in our case 4 women!) is very special.  I have a lovely photo of my grandma, my mum (her daughter), me and Elizabeth that I look at regularly.  Lovely that your hubby is taking so much joy from his new grandson, and am sure it is helping him massively to spend time with him.  There is somethign about a new baby that just lifts people's spirits!

Thansk so much for the words of support about Elizabeth - it is such a worry at the moment, I appreciate an ear infection may not sound serious to some, but this latest one is recurring very couple of weeks, and seems to have combined with a chest infection.  She is on her second lot of anti-biotics, which we thought were working, but now her ear is bad again so it's back to the docs for us!  She is so miserable, and also just won't leave my side which is hard as she gets upset every time I leave the room....hopefully we will get sorted soon.  Fortunately work being very understanding.

Thanks also for asking after Dad, who continues to do well - we have a long weekend up with him next weekend, and then a couple of weeks after that he is taking a short break with a small group of close friends which I think will be great for him.

Well, I hope you enjoyed the rest of the weekend and were not too affected by 'The Storm' - we seem to have got off very lightly here, which is strange as I keep hearing on he radio that places very close by have been hit quite badly.  It is  very windy here still but not as bad as expected.

Take care, have a good week and thinking of you,

Catherine x

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

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

Morning Hope

Thanks for your reply and though hubby still keeps feelings close to his chest afterthe hospital appointment and visiting our daughter briefly he tucked into a large plate of egg and bacon so that 'said it all'.  As to Christmas shopping for him no problem as he will never buy himself clothes so his gift is always something new to wear - boring but appreciated!!  With such a small number of people to buy for I have it relatively easy which is why I like to get it done early (hate going round the shops after I have been working in one for nearly six hours).   For years as a family we have fixed a small budget for the adults (£10-15) as this makes it easy for everyone to cope with the expense and the grandchildren have money put in the bank plus a few little presents to enjoy on the day (usually spending more time making things with the boxes so always include drawing stuff!!). This year its my sister in law's turn to host so I get out of the cooking but we all muck in and it tends to be pretty traditional get-together with carols on the CD player and if the weather holds a long walk (2 dogs this year though we always went out anyway) as she lives in the country.   Once the little ones are in bed we get the board games out and generally play till the early hours (with a newish baby this year we may crawl under the covers a bit earlier) but most of us are staying from Christmas Eve through till 27th so valuable family time.  Strange this is so different to how it used to be when I was growing up. As soon as I was old enough to be left (mid-teens) my parents used to go away for Christmas (Mum never enjoys the festivities never having been a social person) to escape!!!  Luckily I married into a much more 'normal' family and when my in-laws were alive Christmas was  a revelation and think thats why the traditions have been continued ever since (over 30yrs since I lost my father in law and 20yrs for mother in law but still remember feeling part of their family. They always referred to me as the extra daughter they were lucky to have(made me so welcome from the first day I was introduce. My hubby introduced me to them on a night out saying .I would like to introduce you to my best friends, my Mum and Dad.  The rest as they say is history.

Well I had best think about  tidying up and getting breakfast for hubby before setting out - at least the sun is shining today.  Hope you did not suffer too much during the storm.  Enjoy the rest of your week off and have a peaceful weekend.  Take care Jules xx

Hi Jules

Sorry to intrude in your reply to Hope.  Typical men always keeping their feelings to themselves.  My father-in-law was exactly the same and anytime you asked if he was OK he would say I'm OK love even though you knew yourself he was in pain but wouldn't admit it.  I think it was a fear of being taken into hospital again.

I agree with your budgets for family at Christmas.  I think we have to draw the line somewhere.  I love your idea of the board games once the kids are all in bed.  I remember when we were younger my mum's brother used to call every Christmas Eve around 10.00pm to have a few pints with my father and his daughter would have a rummage through what Santa was leaving us.  The things you remember.

I like the traditional Christmas get-togethers.  My mother-in-law isn't one for these and never was never described as being a social person.  We go over to her house on Boxing Day.  She tells us to be there at a certain time and nothing gets done for another hour or so.   She isn't one to rush things.  We go to my mum's on Christmas Day and she usually has the dinner partly prepared from the night before.  Me and my husband buy the dinner and this has been the done thing since we got married over 15 years ago.

I hope you weren't affected too much with the storms.  It was a bit blowy here but nothing else.  Apparently Friday here isn't going to be too cold.

Glad to hear daughter and baby are signed off now by midwife.  It is such a relief to hear that there is no need for me to call out to see you.  I remember with my first nearly 13 years ago they called out to see me for almost 2 months.  They had told me to arrange for someone to get my Christmas shopping in as I was in no fit state to go about the shops but little did they know I was planning to go out that day to buy a new tree for our new arrival.

Take care Jules and chat soon

Mickied

Hi Jules,

Thanks once again for your kind words regarding my dad. I must apologise for not sending congratulations for the good news regarding your husband. That is great news the cancer is stable and the pain medication is still okay, you both must have been so relieved. It's always a time of concern when we go for tests etc so it's great when we get good results.

With regard to your husband not buying clothes, I have to put my hand up and admit I am just the same. My wife is like you and always buys clothes for me at Christmas and birthdays. I have never liked shopping for clothes, in fact I'd go so far as to say I hate it.

I have just spent most of the morning and part of the afternoon painting our porch and putting back the shelf and skirting's. Just realized how much this bug has affected me for I felt quite kn*****d when I'd finished it. I still have to buy some lacquer to treat the new floor with and then I'm finished or rather the porch is.

Take care and hope the meal for Saturdat goes well, Brian.

No apologies needed Mickied. Always good when someone wants to chat.  Have had today to myself (with hubby indoors) as my daughter had a friend coming round this afternoon and I have spent the morning at the local town centre and managed to get most of my Christmas shopping sorted. Such a relief that I wont have to do it after work in the coming weeks.  Spent the first hour out visiting my friend.  She has been fighting different cancers for over 20 years (she is 59 next week) but has now been told it has travelled to her  brain and unless the current chemo helps (previous treatment failed) she probably only has 3 months. Its heartbreaking but she is so positive and has already compiled her short bucket list and begun ticking things off.  She says she will only stop fighting it when they cart her off. Don't know where she finds her strength but her and her husband know where I can be reached anytime.  Life can be so cruel.

To cheerier thoughts, have just had a text from my son's other half and she wanted to know if hubby and I would like to  be guinea pigs for her latest cooking endeavours!!  She makes wonderful cakes but has now decided to try savory pastries and is planning on a quiche and sausage roll bake day and would we be up to trying them for lunch on Friday.  How could we say no!!  Just as well I have had my blood tests (awaiting results) as I am not sure the doc would be happy with that on my diet but sure a little treat wont do any permanent harm.

Nice that you can share Christmas with your Mum (sounds just like me when I do it, preparations done Christmas Eve, so that I can enjoy myself too!!!)  Am sure  your children love going there too and its the youngsters who make it all worthwhile.

Hope you hear something on the workfront soon - can't be easy at this time of year.  Take care and have a good weekend.  Jules xx

Thanks Brian, I am sure you have enough on your mind to be going on with and now you have physically cream-crackered yourself  too.  Must need to revitalise with a big bag of energy boosting NUTS!!!  Hope you can take some time to relax after the laquering is done and take time to admire your handiwork.  Did you get your results on Tuesday? Hope all is well with you and Mrs B.

Managed to get most of our Christmas present shopping completed today and like you now feel rather shattered but fingers crossed unless we have to help our daughter later (now unlikely as her hubby due home in a couple of hours) I have a quiet evening once dinner is out of the way - huge jacket potatoes so think just a topping will be enough.

Take care and chat again soon.  Kind thoughts   Jules xx

Hi Jules

You are well prepared for Christmas.  Was in my local B & M today at lunchtime and noticed people buying tonnes of Christmas decorations.  Too early for me.

Sorry to hear about your friend Jules she must be one amazing person and I hope she does live her life to the full.  In spite of all you have to contend with yourself you are always there for others including your friend.  You are right about life being so cruel for some people but you will always find those type of people always make time for others.  They never resort to being self-pitied.

I recall my husband's niece decided to make some scones one day so we noticed there were green bits in them and asked her what it is was.  She said it was spring onions.  My husband spat his out and refused to eat another bite hence she never made them again.  Hope you enjoy your son's other half cooking.  At least that will be lunch sorted for you on Friday.

Hope the blood test results go well.  When will you get the results.

My father used to spend all of Christmas Eve in the kitchen preparing the turkey and now my mum has taken over.  I used to tease her about her cooking not being up to the same standards as my fathers and she said well you will just have to put up with it then.

The youngest one is already counting the day until Santa arrives.  She thinks it is just after Halloween.  She asked for a Play Doh Icecream Shoppe last year but I ended up getting her a different version.  The other day she said I hope Santa brings me the right icecream shoppe this year because he didn't last year.  She forgets nothing.  I have tried to order it online but it is currently out of stock in most of the stores.  Smyths Toys had a great deal last week but when we called to the store there were none available.  Can't have Santa not being able to get it this year too can we.

Take care Jules and chat soon

Mickied

Hi Jules,

I think that plate of egg and bacon that your hubby ate spoke volumes.  Sounds like you are sorted for your Christmas arrangements,  I agree a budget is a great idea, it is so easy to overspend and that's not what Christmas is about.  It should be about family and friends getting together and it sounds like you are doing all of that.  We are going away this year, I couldn't bear to stay here.  I have spent every year with Mum and Dad and mostly at my house, I had worried how it would be when Dad died but never expected them both to be gone.  So this year I am looking at the season as being more of a holiday than Christmas celebrations.  We weren't really affected much by the storm, we were in London Sunday night as we took eldest back to Uni.  Kept expected something to be brewing so came home early just is case but it didn't get windy here until early hours of Monday and no damage done thankfully.  Take care and speak soon.  Hope x

BRIAN,  I'm so sorry to read that your Dad's operation has been cancelled.  I expect they don't want to take any unnecessary risks with elderly patients having to undergo anaesthetic, I hope they can give him something to relieve the pain though.  Take care.  Hope x

Morning Mickied

Can well imagine you looking frantically around for the 'proper' present for Santa to bring.  My eldest grandson is 5 at the end of Nov. so at the  moment when he asks for something from Santa we have the excuse that he needs to wait and see what birthday gifts he may get and then he will 'write to santa' for his special gift.  Last year it was a specific toy car (and my daughter found it for £1 so that was wonderful).  This year he asked for a new drinks bottle(having chewed the top off the current one!!) but of course all the ads on tv tend to draw their attention to other things along the way.  Baby's present this year (lets face it he wont have any idea of what is going on at just 3months) will be money in the bank and NAPPIES.

Am just awaiting the call to say that eldest grandson has gone with his aunt and uncle for their day out (visiting small annimal sanctuary and having a 'spoiling' day for being so good and helpful since baby Zack arrived).  Once the coast is clear we will nip over and take our daughter out for lunch.  Nothing fancy (she chose a Wimpy because its walkable and has easy pushchair access and baby friendly staff and they dont often get the chance to eat out!!).

I am also shopping for lactose free options as my son's partner has been diagnosed dairy intolerant (so pleased to find out the cause of her stomach pains!! which has taken a while to narrow down) and as I have all the family for dinner on Saturday I want her to be able to eat what I have rather than her arriving with her own meal.  Just the dessert really plus the cheese board (boys prefer this to the sweet stuff!).  Thankfully a lot more available these days than there used to be so can make a trifle using soya milk custard (even I liked this when I tried it and probably better for my cholesterol levels too!!).

Take care of yourself, sending virtual hugs. Jules xx

Morning Hope

Can understand why you  are treating Christmas as a general holiday and think its lovely that you can manage to get away.  No doubt you will have mixed emotions wherever you are but you will be in the hearts of your own family for support and will certainly be ready for some relaxation.  Do take care Hope. You are so good at offering support to others on this forum (I think like me you find this helps you in some way too) but give yourself some TLC too.

Had just been telling others that my daughter had chosen to go to a Wimpy for her lunch treat today!!  Now I have had a text to say change of plans as she has to register baby with doctors and open his bank account so could we do that first and then lunch in the town centre.  Since it saves me a 20min walk in the rain who am I to argue!!  Her eldest woke this morning with a nosebleed (has them from time to time but does not seem to bother him!!) but it soon stopped as he deals with it very well and is very eagerly awaiting his day out with his aunt and uncle (special treat for being such a good big brother).  My son also suffered with nosebleeds as a youngster so he knows what its like!!  One thing for sure life is never routine with young children.

Well my holiday will soon be over and I cant say that I am feeling eager about returning to work!!  Think I have enjoyed not having that added stress in my life for the last couple of weeks and this time of year is always so manic.  No doubt I will be 'glum' on Monday morning but once there it will be 'back to the grind'.  Normally only have 1 day off for Christmas but all being well this year I will not have to work Boxing Day and that will mean a 5 day break (as I do not work Fridays) so keeping my fingers crossed as I would have to travel in from Hertfordshire where we are spending Christmas (leaving everyone else to enjoy themselves).

Well enough of  my wittering for now.  Take care and sending virtual hugs and wishing you and the family a peaceful weekend ahead.  Jules xx

HI JULES,

Just thought you might like to know you can get lactose free milk these days in most of the big supermarkets. More expensive than normal milk of course.!!!!!

Annabel. xx