Hi Jules,

How's things?

My mum came home on Friday, I haven't been able to go and see her yet, but hopefully will be able to get across this week sometime. She's sooooo happy! And she said she couldn't stop eating before she came out for a couple of days so its even better now she can have what she actually fancies so she'll put plenty of weight back on and get her strength back soon all being well

Jamie's stepdad has to go on the 18th for a radical dose of chemo, he's to be there from 8am til 8pm, so think he's going to be a bit worse for wear leading up to Christmas poor fella cos the results came back and it said it was the aggressive type of cancer so they want to make sure.

I'm working most of Christmas this year. I'm in on boxing day, doing the early at my own store as that was already planned. I had boxing day off last year so I can't grumble. Me and the sm normally swap each year.

Can't wait for it all to be over in a way, sign off a rubbish year (only highlight was our wedding day) and start afresh. And get back to weightwatchers and start my weightloss journey again (trying my best not to call it a diet cos that just makes me want to eat more lol) cos I've put over a stone back on since we got wed, so I need to get my head (and bum!) in gear and get myself sorted.

Gosh a 5th birthday party......I'm dreading all that, seems like a lot of hard work and I don't really like kids (other people's I mean lol) we went to church on Friday for a Christmas tree festival- groups from the church and local schools all decorate a tree each to a theme and you have a quiz to find the odd item that's been put on it, we did it and then chose the best decorated one and put it in the draw with Charlie's name on (don't actually know what the prize was haha) and there was a class from a local school there and there were about 25 of them, aged about 7-8 gosh the noise lol I felt for the poor volunteers more, they were all older people ha, nah they seemed to enjoy it, but it was a real big difference when they left, we thought we'd gone deaf haha

I'm glad your grandson had a fab time though, but also feel for him, ear infections are horrid, but to have a double one, ouch! I'm sure he made up for telling then at school about his party when he got back!

Aww baby massage, I did t with Charlie, I really enjoyed it too, it was a lovely experience, I would do it again if we had anymore children too.

Did your mum approve of all the presents you bought then?

Yeah Charlie is getting really excited now, and thoroughly enjoying having his 'christmas chocolate ' every day I can't wait to see his face

How's the hubby doing? Is he looking forward to Christmas and more family time? And how about you? Are you having it at home? I think we're having it at our house this year and inviting Jamie's mums nd dad and brother (he still lives at home) and go from there

Anyway, hope you're doing ok

Speak soon, keep smiling

Terri xx

Hi terri

Fantastic news regarding your Mum and am sure  now that she is home and more relaxed she will soon be feeling so much better - hopefully she will be able tomake the most the Christmas goodies too.  Jamie's stepdad treatment for th 18th sounds like a better safe than sorry blast and I do hope he will not feel too bad afterwards.  My sister in law has a stomach op on the 20th and has been told she may not feel like eating over the festivities (her response was that's ok I will make do with the liquid variety which will numb any pain too!!). 

I have been very lucky with how Christmas falls this year - Xmas Eve (non work day anyway) Xmas Day closed, Boxing Day (not needed) Friday (non work day) so have a good break.  We are away from Xmas Eve (5ish) till the day after Boxing Day, with all the family taking up residence with hubby's older (single) sister.  There will be various family comings and goings over the festivities by for Christmas Eve night/Christrmas Day  there will be 14 plus 2 dogs so space will be tight (she lives in 16th century 2 bed cottage).  Thankfully she loves to cook (and very good at it too) and we all muck in anyway with clearing up etc.  Just hoping hubby keeps stable enough to be able to enjoy himself - so far so good. Physio seems to be helping his arm movement a little and at least it gets him out occasionally (still mainly sitting in chair glued to tv but hes entitled to deal with it in his own way).

I have a friend of very long standing  who has been battling cancer on and off for over 23 yrs and last week got the news no one wants to hear.  There is  no more to be done treatment wise and she is now desparately trying to keep going to enjoy a last Christmas - so sad but she is remarkably upbeat and has invited me round tomorrow evening for a gossip and drinks.  am going with a bottle in hand as she  has said her goal is to leave happy memories and I will do  my upmost to help that happen (even if it means a drink or two to keep her company).  She has been an inspiration in her courage during her long battle and has three grown up boys and two grandchildren (plus a hubby) who give a great support network.

On happier note, my daughter is back to normal health following problems after the birth of her second son.  He is doing well (no problems for him at all) and is now 2 mths old.  Time is just flying. He is quite long and is already growing out of 0-3mths (they might just cut the feet out of the bodysuits!!- had to do this with the elder boy too!!)  Have eldest grandson's Christmas assembly this Friday and he has a few words to say which he is saying all round the house.  His 5th birthday really went well and he now seems so grown up (probably due to having another baby in the family!!).  He only had a special party as he had been so good during/after his little brother's arrival. Normally its a couple of friends to tea as budgets are tight.

Do hope you all manage to enjoy the festivities (even though your work schedule is heavy) and am sure Charlie will thoroughly enjoy Santa coming to visit.   Can understand you wanting this year done and dusted and hopefully 2014 will be better all round.  Having your Mum back home is a good start.

My Mum thankfully was happy with my shopping and sent me off again to do a  bit more.  All done and wrapped now and just as well really as she has slipped back into the doldrums and wants northing to do with Christmas any more (always a time of year she has disliked so this did not come as a surprise).  We will visit just before we go away even though been told not to bother - I have learnt to do what I think I should do rather than what she would like me to do!!

Well, thats a bit of a long ramble.  Hope you are all okay and send virtual hugs to help you through the 'busy period'.  Take care Jules xx

Hi terri

What a shame that your Mum has had to return to hospital but sounds as though she did the right thing and do hope they can sort her out in time to enjoy the festive season.  Provided she gets on okay with the trachy going back in, they may be still able to send her home (do have a friend who has one and she is out of hospital and just has to go for regular checks.  Suspect it will depend on how she gets on in the next few days.  I expect y ou will all be glad when 2013 disappears and hope things improve greatly in the New Year.

It can't be easy trying to fit work, home, son (with illness which I hope soon clears up), dog -  goodness knows how you fit it all in and stay sane!!

Hope your hsuband's stepdad coping okay.  Sometimes wonder where we get all the enegy from to get through the emotions that run riot but am sure having the little one helps.

Its a non workday for me today and my daughter had her postnatel check up plus baby's 8 week check plus his first injections today.  So we started at 9.15 at the docs (who was running 15mins late!!)  I  kept them company and was an extra pair of hands when needed.  Then it was into the nurse for jabs - he gave a little cry but was very good (daughter hates needles but coped well) and then it being half an hour late for his feed (and  now letting everyone know about it!!) we stayed at the surgery and he had his milk and was soon content.  He has gained weight really nicely (called robust by the nurse!!) and we then returned to the car and visited my Mum at the care home.  I think the baby was amazed at all the different faces who came to say hello (staff and residents) but he is smiling and gurgling now so had them all in the palm of his hands.  My Mum was quiet but not too bad and we managed to get her to hold her great grandson and no sooner than it was done the staff whipped out a camera, took a couple of photos ( I had my camera too) and before we left had printed us all copies - my daughter and I were really touched that they would go to so much effort and Mum now has an extra family picture in her room and we left her smiling which was a bit of an improvement on last week.  I will be visiting again on Sunday (with my son) as we go away on the 24th to hubby's sister for three days.  The care home has different entertainment virtually every day now up until Christmas/New Year and the local community helps out with carols/visits etc.  She has never been a fan of Christmas and will never join the family (even before Dad died), preferring to be left to herself so I think the staff are doing a wonderful job.

Love the idea of constant repeats of the DVD for your son - our 5yr old grandson is just like that with Scooby Doo/Cars - my daughter says it does her head in!!! though what can you say when it keeps them happy especially when they are under the weather.  Our grandson has just recovered from a double ear infection (very painful) and now waiting to see if they have to refer him again (he was under the hospital as a  baby for repeat infections but they decided to leave it until he was older before deciding if he needs grommits) so expect it will be more appointments in the New Year.  My daughter is fully restored to health (though still on iron tablets until her next blood test results come through) and all in all life is plodding on.

Hubby got a call today from his consultant's support worker to check he has everything in place that he needs for the festive period and I expect he chatted to her more than he does to me (he did not deny it when I asked!!).  Anyway I think having the forum to chat on relieves some of the tension I sometimes feel and as you know shop work keeps you pretty busy (exhausted) at this time of year.

Sadly I was unable to visit my friend as she gave me a call and had been on an emotional rollercoaster with a family member (nothing to do with her cancer) and was absolutely drained and just wanted to go to bed so we postponed the get-together but had a chat on the phone and the following day I got a text saying she felt a lot brighter and so I am hoping to pop in one day after work (just have to ring beforehand to check she is up to it).  Her youngest son is home from Australia (he was supposed to stay until the New Year but decided to surprise his Mum) so she is quite happy now.  Although they have been told there is  no more treatment for the brain cancer, she is continuing with infusions for her bone cancer on the advice of her consultants - her stamina is truly awe inspiring.

Well hope your visit to see your Mum (with her treats) gives you a promising outlook and as I have been having access problems with our Internet recently (on and off) will take this opportunity to wish you and all your family the very best for Christmas and the New Year.  Virtual hugs and thanks for the chance to chat (that should be ramble I think!!) regularly.  Take care Jules xxx

Hi Jules, will talk properly after Christmas just wanted to say I hope you and your family have the very best Christmas and all the best for the new year, hope you see this before you go off!

Safe travels

Take care and keep smiling

Terri xx

Thanks Terri

Internet spasmodic to say the least (especially with the current weather!!)..Hope you manage a few valuable hours with your family and enjoy the festivities.  Sendingbestwishes to you all for Christmas and 2014 which I hope will be better for your Mum too. Chat when we are back home.Thank you for  your continued support. Hugs  Jules xxxx

Hi Jules,

Happy new year!

Hope you and the family had a very good one!

We had a quiet one with just us three at home (Jamie's stepdad didn't want to eat with us because of the smell with his trachy he said so they stayed at home too, didn't find this out til after, very frustrating!)

Anyway, no real change with mum, still up and down, no sign of coming home for a while)

Everyone else ok.

Charlie had a fantastic time, and it was brilliant watching him, he understood everything this year so it was ace.

I was back at work on boxing day at half five, Nooooo! Haha

Hope you're all ok

Speak soon, take care x

Terri

Hi Terri

Happy New Year to you and your family too.  Sad to read that your Mum still unable to get home but she is at least being well looked after and in the right place.  Hope that 2014 finds her problems can be treated and she will once again be out and about.  Hope too that Jamie's  stepdad is doing well.

We had a lovely Christmas with all the family and as you know the little ones really make it!!  Unlike you I was really lucky workwise.Finished on the 23rd and did not go back till 30th.We were at hubby's sisters for 3 days and good fun had by all (absolutely great that I had no cooking to do), including Christmas Eve treasure hunt (something her grandmother always did and she has carried on family tradition) , some lovely festive food, dog walking and a visit to the playground with the children despite it being rather windy and cold and of course our gifts (we all did very well). We also had the added surprise of hubbys sister and brother (and wife) announcing they are hoping to sell up their homes and move together to the Isle of Man and will be going inthe Spring to house hunt.  They have been planning since last May but did not want to say anything to us until it was definitiely an option (they had however told a few of their friends!!!).

I am at present a bit bruised and battered.Managed to miss the last two steps coming downstairs and leg, elbow and back rather sore!!(Tuesday) but was lucky not to break anything. Still managed to visit Mum though she was not really bothered bless her.  Hubby is still plodding along but has now finished his physio and has improved movement in his arms which is a plus.  Still very much stuck in the rut of sitting all day in front of tv so do not think thats going to change, despite medication.  Think its just his character, being unable to work he has lost interest.

Later this morning (after visit to launderette) we arebabysitting as our eldest grandson has to go to hospital for an indepth hearing test and a crying baby would not be helpful.

Take care and hope to chat again soon.  Jules xxx

Hi Jules,

Sorry to hear of your trip, hope you're bruises have healed now.

Sounds like you had a good Christmas, the treasure hunt sounds fun!

My mum is still in hospital, no change, I'm going on Friday to see her and hopefully catch a doctor while I'm there and see if I can get anything out of them, because she can't stay in hospital forever, but they don't seem to have any more ideas or if they have they're not saying anything.

Jamie's stepdad is ok, he's been having radiotherapy daily so his mouth is pretty sore at the moment so he's lost a bit of weight cos he's not eating so well because of that. He's going for a long chemo session today. Don't know how many more he's got, but I do know everything ends on 31st Jan, so it much more to endure.

Hope you're all well and good

Keep smiling

Terri x

Hi Terri

You poor Mum really is going through the mill and its so hard finding time to visit that can fit in around work and family - you must feel exhausted at times. Hope when you see her today she is feeling a little brighter.  Do you go alone or take the family with you?   Most of my visits to my Mum are now done 'solo' to the care home though both my son and daughter visited just prior to Christmas.

Hope Jamie's stepdad's chemo went okay.  He only has a few weeks to go before current treatment ends and I suppose then will find out how he is doing overall. We have visit to consultant on 28th to assess hubby's current situation/forward palliative care plan.  His GP has changed his pain meds from twice daily slow release to 3 times daily to see if that helps with some breakthrough discomfort (his words) he has been noticing (never complains/discusses it with me of course) so will see if that works.  He is still suffering from the after effects of the cold/cough and suspect his lungs struggling to cope with the extra infection but otherwise seems much the same (don't think the anti-depressants have made a lot of difference but the GP is  keeping him on them for now).

Fingers crossed you get to see a doctor when you visit Mum; it would be good to find out how the land lies so to speak.

Take care of yourself as I suspect like me work has been pretty hands on as we get the stores back to 'normality' after Christmas.   We have a full store audit towards the end of the month so will probably be doing a few extra hours as and when needed.

Chat soon.  Jules xx