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,

Hope you are not too tired after work today. Brother in law will see the specialist on Friday and I will be pleased for I don't think his new local doctor has much knowledge of prostate cancer. For he should have had his second hormone injection about two/three weeks ago and yet this doctor has said he doesn't need it for another month. Sister in law has no faith in him either. Haven't heard wither my father had heard when his operation can go ahead.

My wife likes her new table top for her puzzles as she has been able to put all the pieces on it at once. Have not been able to see my grandchildren tonight as two of them have bad colds. Tomorow night I have another meeting of the small local cancer charity.

I bet you are looking forward to your weekend away. How did hubby get onwhen he drove in to work on Monday? Hope it all went well.

Hope work starts to be a little easier for you tomorow. Do take care, Brian.

Hi Brian

Well.have to say doing over 2hrs extra on my feet has left its mark!!!!  ( I was lucky some of the staff have been doing 12hr shifts during this audit)  Was so glad to get home and flop in chair but it did not last long as we both needed a drink and there is only one person in this house who knows where the kitchen is.

How annoying for your brother and sister in law that they feel let down by their local GP.Trouble with new faces is they do not know family history etc and really hope his appointment on Friday goes well and his injection programme can be sorted quickly.  Added stress is not what the doctor ordered!! Iam sure you will h ear from Canada as soon as they know anything - it cant be easy worrying from a distance.

Hubby managed reasonably well with the trip into work though was tired by time he got back (still know he would rather be there than here but nothing to be done about that - at least they are keeping his brain active by phoning when they need advice).

Well its only 24hrs since his appointment and already the consultant has been in touch with the GP to set the wheels turning so to speak.  He also gets to see the GPnext week so that she is kept in the loop.  Still waiting to see if he gets new medication before we go away.  Have been very impressed with his hospital consultant and her support team which apparently also now includes community nurses attached to her so when that need arises she will arrange that to as she says that will save some trips to the hospital later on.  I know how lucky we are to be be within a 20min drive (when traffic light).

Hope your grandchildrens'colds soon clear up as I am sure you all miss seeing each other and it great that MrsB can now spread her puzzle pieces out as it makes it much easier to see whats going on. Keep sayingI will get us one to do (I quite enjoyed doing the ones with our grandson though they were only 100 pieces - he 'let me start them' as long as he put in the last couple of pieces when he then announced 'he had finished it!! ).

Well looking forward to a quiet evening as we have just finished dinner and myManager  wondered whether I would like to start at 6.30 a.m. tomorrow (he knows I have trouble sleeping) - needless to say I dont think I will be that eager to leave the comfort of home!!!

Have a lovely weekend.  Jules xx

Morning Susananne

Many thanks for  your encouraging words and your lovely tale about rusty - really made me smile.  Animals certainly have a way of lifting the spirits.  My son has a little westie and she is full of life at just over a year old now.  They have lots of lovely walks locally but being white they are getting used to the bathing process with so much mud around.  We actually have no pets of our own now (plenty when the children were  young but the biggest was a cat!!) but two cats who live locally regularly come and visit and spend time being fussed by hubby (and me when i am in).

Hubby's consultant wasted no time and he has already had contact from GP  following up after his appointment.  We are very lucky to get such good medical support and hope the new regime (another one to master!!) helps with his backache.  After a long day shifting lots of books yesterday its debatable whose back ached the most!!! At least after today I get a little break from work and the kitchen sink and plan to make the most of it.  Hope you have a peaceful weekend and that you see more of the sun (not great here yesterday - got soaked walking home from the station despite a  brolly). By the looks of the forecast might be worth taking wellies with me but there is plenty to do where we are going so do not expect to be worried by a bit more rain.

Take care and chat again soon I hope. Jules xx

Hi Annabel

Thanks for your kind message and I am counting down the hours till tomorrow I can tell  you.  Just need to get through work today (more book moving about to make sure we get our returns done on time).  My manager actually wanted me to get in early today and possibly stay on again but I have politely refused as I would like to enjoy my short break, not spend it recovering!!!

Hope you are keeping okay and that your son is enjoying his new job and Ava is giving you some lovely smiles 'over the web'.  How long before the family visits again?  My daughter was happy earlier in the week as Zack slept through the night two nights running (she hope it carries on this time - that last time he did this it did not last long!!!).  They are enjoying baby massage classes locally for four weeks and then she will re-join mum and baby group (has a couple to go to) much the same as she used to with her eldest.  Time is passing all too quickly but they bring a lot of joy.

Have a peaceful weekend, speak when I return.  Jules xx 

Hi Jules,

Hope you didn't work too hard yesterday and that you and hubby have a relaxing time in Bournemouth tomorrow.  Fingers crossed the weather is better for you.  I am a little nervous today as I have a meeting at the hospital with the consultant who was in charge of my Mum.  Won't go into detail but there were some issues when both my Mum and Dad were diagnosed and I wrote a letter a short while ago.  A&E have already replied regarding my Dad admitting that I was correct and that errors were made, which I still fail to understand; but my Mum's consultant wants to meet with me.  People have told me I will make myself feel worse by going over things again, but I just want to highlight things so that hopefully nobody else has to go through what I did.  Anyway wishing you a peaceful weekend.  Hope x

Hi Jules,

Hope today flies by at work and all that book shifting doesn't leave you sore!

Enjoy your pre-weekend pamper tomorrow (hair appt and manicure,)  have a safe trip to Bournemouth and enjoy a fabulous weekend!

Look forward to hearing about it when you return!

Love and hugs to you and hubby, Jo xxx

P.S. Annabel, have PM'd you xx

Hi Jules

Great news you can still make your weekend away which you truly deserve.  Forgot to ask have you now recovered from your tumble on the stairs.

Hope hubby gets some relief from the backache he has been experiencing and hopefully the steroids will give him more of an appetite.

I don't know how you do it Jules and then having to visit your mum and then hold down a job at the same time.

You are one true superwoman.

Take care and enjoy your weekend and chat soon

Mickied

Hi Jules,

It's yet another wet day here today, not raining hard but enough to get you wet and it's quite dark so if I have any typos it's because I am having trouble seeing the keyboard.

Hope your back is not so bad today; books are deceptively heavy. Don't blame you for not going in for 6.30 a.m. and glad you didn't have the 12 hour shift. I am very impressed with your husbands specialist and pleased you have someone who cares so much. It makes such a difference.

My youngest grandson was quite upset that he didnt get his story last night. He told his dad to phone me up so I could do one over the telephone for him, cheeky monkey.

Hope you both have an enjoyable weekend, take care and look forward to talking again soon, Brian.

Hi Hope,

Just read your post to Jules. I think you are doing the right thing by making the hospitals aware of the errors. Too many people seem to be prepared to accept bad treatment which in my humble opinion only makes things worse in the long term. I admire you for for taking action for as you say it may stop it happening again. Yes there is the possibility it may brings things back that you would perhaps sooner like to try and forget but if what you are doing changes the system, it may even make you feel better. For if you had done nothing and had just accepted what had happenned, that in itself could have played on your mind and end up being something you had regrets about in time to come. So well done Hope and as always, if today's meeting does cause you upset, your forum friends are here ready and willing to try and help you, you have only to let us know.

Best wishes, Brian.

Hi Hope

I haven't spoke to you in ages now.  Just saw your reply to Jules and noticed you have a meeting at the hospital today with your mum's consultant.

Sending you thoughts of staying strong throughout the meeting.

Take care and chat soon

Mickied

Hi Hope

I haven't spoke to you in ages now.  Just saw your reply to Jules and noticed you have a meeting at the hospital today with your mum's consultant.

Sending you thoughts of staying strong throughout the meeting.

Take care and chat soon

Mickied