Hi Annabel.

Sounds like you really enjoyed your time with daughter and grand-daughter. Know what  you mean about the 'weight' issues though.  Also now little Zac is moving more he tends to fling himself backwards so have to be on your toes when carrying him around.  Very good exercise for the upper arms though .  Hubby cannot lift him but he is happy to sit with him on his lap.  Have to say got plenty of exercise today, walked five miles, stopped for lunch then came back and had some time on the swingball.  They left around half hour ago as they have visitors tonight and want to get the boys sorted and into bed beforehand.  Both of them still go together at around 6.45 and most nights are 11/12 hrs long now so daughter getting more rest.  The eldest boy has lots of energy and is now doing tennis, swimming and disco each week after school and they are busy planning the six week break in the summer.  They are away to friends (with two boys also) in Norfolk for a week which will be their main holiday (its coastal) and then son in law has another five days to take off so hoping to have a few days out.  As I do not work on Tuesdays and Fridays if she is stuck for company no doubt I can be of use.  Really enjoy it - today the eldest boy had his notebook with him and was writing down interesting things he saw whilst we were walking to show his Dad later.

Making a teepee for Ava sounds great fun and am sure she will love it (we cheated and bought one for the garden a few years back and it had plenty of use - also idea to shelter out of the sun for the little ones.  Have to say now that I have lopped back the shrubs and mowed the lawn the rest of my time in the garden will be on the  lounger with a book and a drink- beautiful here again today and same promised for tomorrow so once my shopping trip complete no guesses as to where I will be found!!  Will visit Mum again on Tuesday and that's another week done and dusted - its going so quickly.

Hope you and yours are keeping well. Sending hugs. Jules x

Hi Jules

Sorry had a rough couple of days and have not been online.  I think it was just a case of overdoing things in getting ready to back to work.  Will take it more slowly from now.

Glad to hear you had a good time and sorry that hubby was not so well.  I know having slept badly myself on Sunday night that I was not up to much at all yesterday - all I seemed to do was doze on the couch and go the loo - .no doubt that is hw hubby felt.  Much better today.

Hubby is lucky he has you to nag him occassionally.  He might not like increasing his meds but if it does help it has to to be worth it.  He is obviously is one of those who do not like to make a fuss and disapper in the background.  This might be ok some of the time but this is not the time.  At leastyou will call the nurses if he does not.

Have just sent Alice a good luck text as her exam is at 2pm.  She was sounding quite positive yesterday which is a good sign.

Best wishes.

Gill

Hi Annabel

Thanks for your good wishes.  Sorry for delay in getting back to you but have had a rough couple of days.  Think I have just been overdoing things in getting ready to go back to work.  The dutvet cover might have to wait a bit but given how quickly the time has gone since my treatment started I have no doubt before I can turn around she will be back for the summer. 

Alice has a house share organised with some friends from August but only has a single bed.  As she has a double at home I will probably end up making a couple of singles as well.  Not done that for a very long time but with the overlocker it shoudl be easier - I just have to work out how to use it properly.  Perhaps in next few days.

Best wishes.

Gill

Hi Gill

Sounds like your body letting you know you did a little too much but at least you 'listened' to it and are taking it easier now.  You have managed  your treatment so well so now have to 'manage' a paced recovery so that when you do return to work you feel okay.  Do you have to travel far for your job?  Hope you will feel better over the next few days.

Bet you were doing a 'Mum thinking of daughter in exam' thing too.  Its impossible to switch off from these things and am sure Alice really appreciated the text.  How many exams does she have before the year ends and I suppose it will be a bit of a wait before results are in.

Hubby has caught up with his sleep the last couple of days but spends a good deal of time asleep now during the day too.  His appetite is okay at the moment again - real rollercoaster but we are both trying to 'go with the flow'.  He had only just got up when I got back from visiting Mum(12.30) and was about to have breakfast and has just now managed buttered crumpet so pretty good going.

Mum was doing her 'non communicating bit' but I joined in the 'crossword activity' session and showed her some of the latest pictures I had taken and generally chatted to 'thin air' for nearly an hour.  As I was going she asked me to tell the staff she would like a birthday cake (birthday is in around two weeks) and then told me to take the rest of her uneaten Easter egg home (the care staff gave every resident one).  I took  down some new clothes for her and she reminded me that they needed to have her name in for the laundry lady to know where to return them to  (I had already performed the necessary task) but just goes to show she is 'with it' when she wants to be.

It was a lovely walk back in warm sunshine and I shopped en route so will not need to do that after work tomorrow.

Take it easy and hope you will feel better day by day.  Sending hugs   Jules x

Hi Jules

Thanks for the encouragement.  Was at the hospital this afternoon for a blood test and the top-up of the trial drug.  Unfortunately one of the results was high and there was talk of admitting me.  I knew the reason and resisted this as best I could becuase I felt fine and knew that by later on today or tomorrow morning I would be fine.  Was finally allowed home at just after 6pm but told to go back tomorrow for a check up.  Basically the trial drug gives me a bit of constipation.  It ony lasts for a couple of days but had I told the hospital they would have admitted me and put me on laxatives for three days minimum and I would then spend two days running to the loo about 5 times a day in addition to the usual amount because of the two litres of fluid I drink everyday.  Normally this sorts itself out in the morning before I get to the hospital but today it waited until I had got home.  Will go back tomorrow morning to be told that I am fine and they will see me again in two weeks for partial chemo!

What fun.

Sorry your mum was her usual uncommunicative self.   It must be very difficult for you talking to thin air for so long although I guess you have had a lot of practice.  I do hope you enjoy the easter egg assuming that you did take it home.  Did you tell the staff about the birthday cake or is it something they do in any event?  I assume there is no more news about her move as yet?

Best wishes.

Gill

Morning Gill

Hope alls well when you return for your check up today - constipation has a lot to answer for (hubby has had all sorts of liquid meds to try for this too) but as you know your own body can understand why you kept it to yourself and glad you were able to get home albeit later than you would have liked.   Hubby's is not helped by his diet, lack of exercise and of course most of the meds he is on have this as a side effect.  You can lead a horse to water but cannot make him drink (not that he looks like a horse).  At least you know the cause of the high reading which means you are not worried by it.

Mum's communication problems are always the same when she is in a bipolar episode (usually she is as bad as me with chat!) but think now its set in for good - hell you never really know so just go visit by visit.  I did chat to the staff regarding cake (last year we took one down) and they do it for everyone as its the 'norm'.  Mum still managing with her own funding at present so said  not to 'rock the boat' just yet.  Keeping an eye on it and will probably be in contact with Housing Dept in around 4/5months when she will have little choice but to do what they want - its a worry but will be out of my hands as we cannot afford the monthly fees on her behalf.

Back to work today.  Take care of yourself and hope Alice happy with how her exam went. Chat soon. Hugs  Jules x

Good morning Jules,

Glad to hear the tube strike was suspended for I know it make your journey much longer. Have just about caught up with all the e-mails that built up. The second and third days of the exhibition were much better and we had a lot of interest. Had plenty of laughs with both visitors and exhibitors alike. Have now figured out how to improve my turned owls and make a deluxe version. I love doing these shows but I come home more tired than if I have done a hard days work. I feel sure you would love walking round the gardens Jules. They have some magnificent giant redwood trees which I love looking at. As I was there early one morning I walked over to the large pond and saw a heron take off and fly up into the trees, Marvelous

Sorry to read your visit to your mother was not that good. It must be difficult for you to see your mother like this, even though she has been like it for some time. Hope you enjoyed your swing-ball. I have a few more photos of peoples work including a picture of a dolphing I did some years ago.

Take care jules and will talk again soon, hugs Brian.

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Morning Jules,  How are you?  Sorry that your Mum is not in a good place at the moment, as you say you can never really tell what her mood will be like on a daily basis I guess you can only hope it will have improved a bit by your next visit.  Hope you managed to have a nice Bank Holiday and that hubby has caught up on his sleep now.  I've managed to get into the garden a little - it was completely abandoned last summer with my time taken up with my parents, so is in desperate need of some TLC.  Raining today so looks like I'm forced to tackle the ironing instead!  Take care.  Hope x

Hi Annabel,

Thanks for the kind words and sorry it has taken time for me to reply. The Sunday and Monday were much better attended and we all had a good laugh. My books sold quite well and now have a lot more to print out.  The weather was excellent for all three days.  We do have some very talented people in our wood club.

I hope you got your tepee poles sorted out. Glad to read you enjoyed you visit and had lots of cuddles with Ava. Dont work too hard in the garden

Take care and hope to talk again soon, hugs, Brian