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

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

Brian - I hope this message finds you well (and thanks Jules for letting me use your thread to send it...). but I just saw your message about your father.  So sorry to hear about this setback, but try to tell yourself that as much as it will extend some of his difficulties, going ahead with the surgery might have been much more difficutl for him, so as hard as it it, this is for the best.

Hope you are keeping well yourself, as always, I try to keep up to date with your news on other threads.

All the best to you, your Father and you family,

Catherine

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

Hi Jules,

Lovely to keep getting the updates on your daughter and the new baby, growing very nicely indeed by the sound of it.  Hope your daughter continues to feel well both emotionally and physically, and that all the support is helping her.

Thanks for your kind words about Elizabeth - she has picked up a bit and is returning to her normal cheeky but cheerful self.  The doctor called yesterday to advise they are not going to give her more anti-bioitcs as they are only superficially helping, and have referred her to ENT which we are comfortable with as don't want to keep giving her medicines when they are only partially working.

We are off to Dad's tomorrow, and the closer it has got, the more mixed my feelings about being back in Mum and Dad's house and all the memories that go with that.

Fantastic news about your hubby and long may that continue to be the case - great to hear about the smiles from both of you afterwards, and hope you have a few months of being bale to put this further back in your minds and get on with enjoying life and all the wonderful things you have to enjoy.

With very best wishes,

Catherine x

Hi Jules

Kids can be so craft can't they.  When it was Sarah's birthday near the end of September she said she wanted a double pram for her two baby dolls.  She already has a pram and then thought on it and said maybe I will ask Santa for that instead needless to say she hasn't mentioned it again only the Play Doh Icecream Shoppe and I only noticed today there are two versions of it.

I am sure your daughter was delighted as being to get the car your grandson wanted for £1.00 - what a bargain.  You are right about the ads on every morning when they know kids are more aware of what is going on.

Hope you enjoy your lunch with your daughter.  Glad to hear she is getting out and about more.  My mum has all us for dinner on Sunday - I don't know how she does it sometimes but she always manages.  I told her the other day I was worried about work and she said well if it is going to happen there is nothing you can do about it you just have to learn how to cope because it happens to people day and daily now.  Your poor son's partner suffering with stomach cramps there is nothing as bad at least they can treat it now with the right type of foods.

Any word about your blood test results?

Have a nice day and chat soon

Mickied

Hi Catherine

Just noticed your post to Jules.  Just want to check you are keeping OK.   Hope little Elizabeth gets better soon.  Has she said what she wants for Christmas yet?

My eldest is after the latest IPad.  I priced one today at £400.00 and Sarah the youngest just rhymes off a load off stuff.

I am sure you will be glad to see your dad again even though all the memories of him and your mum will come flooding back.  Hope he is keeping OK too.

I had thought I had lost this message because when I was typing it the computer went on the blink - me and technology do not mix.

My father-in-law first anniversary is next month.  We are planning going out for a meal that night with most of his family.  His sister arranged it all.

Well take care and look after yourself

Mickied

Hi Mickied,

Really lovely to hear from you, sorry it's been so long since I wrote, but trust you and all the family are doing well.  Glad technology didn't get the better of you and this message found me well!

I will be thinking of you as you approach the anniversary of the loss of your Father-in-Law, it will be a very tough time but I think a family meal is a great idea as means you will all be together, but maybe in an environment that is happy and supportive as well.

Thanks for your kind words about Elizabeth - she has certainly given us a few worries of late, but I am pleased we are able to get some extra support.  The saddest thing is that she is such a happy little girl, and these ear issues make her so unhappy, that it feels like weeks now since she was herself.  She is still not too aware of Christmas (although I think will come home today well and truly Halloweened!) so we may escape another year!  Sounds like Christmas requires more forward planning and perhaps gets more expensive the older they get.....!!

As you say, it will be great to see Dad, although being in the house again will be hard.  We are planning to do a bit of sorting of some of Mum's things, but are also planning to see a few close family friends who are up that way as well.

Thanks again for the note, take care and catch up again soon,

Catherine x

Hi Mickied,

Really lovely to hear from you, sorry it's been so long since I wrote, but trust you and all the family are doing well.  Glad technology didn't get the better of you and this message found me well!

I will be thinking of you as you approach the anniversary of the loss of your Father-in-Law, it will be a very tough time but I think a family meal is a great idea as means you will all be together, but maybe in an environment that is happy and supportive as well.

Thanks for your kind words about Elizabeth - she has certainly given us a few worries of late, but I am pleased we are able to get some extra support.  The saddest thing is that she is such a happy little girl, and these ear issues make her so unhappy, that it feels like weeks now since she was herself.  She is still not too aware of Christmas (although I think will come home today well and truly Halloweened!) so we may escape another year!  Sounds like Christmas requires more forward planning and perhaps gets more expensive the older they get.....!!

As you say, it will be great to see Dad, although being in the house again will be hard.  We are planning to do a bit of sorting of some of Mum's things, but are also planning to see a few close family friends who are up that way as well.

Thanks again for the note, take care and catch up again soon,

Catherine x

Hi Catherine

No need to apologise.  It is going to be tough because the dinner is being planned for the night he actually passed away.  I know it is going to be hard for my husband that night practically reliving what happened that same time the previous year but you have to try and move on Catherine for your own sake though it can be very hard.

Hope little Elizabeth's ear improves soon because I remember my youngest having an ear infection a few years back around Christmas time and she was squealing because of the pain.

I put it down to being the cold and kept giving her paracetamol which did relieve it until it flared up again.  It was only after I took her to see the doctor the day after Boxing Day they discovered she had an ear infection and there was also traces of blood no wonder the child was in so much pain but we got it sorted out.  I always make the excuse now for her to wear her ear muffs whenever it is cold incase her ears get sore again and she never refuses.

You are right about Christmas getting expensive as they get older especially when the younger ones start to notice DS games etc.  My nephew has had one of these since he turned 3 and his mum bought him the latest DS for his birthday in October.  At her age you can always get by with dolls and puzzles like I used to do.

I remember the first time we called to his mum's house after his father died I felt emotional just looking at his empty chair when he should have been sitting in it.  He only got used to the chair a few weeks before he died because before this he was confined to the hospital bed that was in the house.  Will be thinking of you tomorrow.

Take care and chat soon

Mickied