That's happened to me as well Annie!  

Well I had Matilda for a few hours yesterday while her dad visited his dad.  Gosh I'd forgotten how lively she is!! I was exhausted by the time he picked her up....doesn't bode well for next week (half term) when I'm having her for 3 days!!  I can't wait really :). I'll take. Her to visit Dave but we'll have to keep it short.

Dave continues to improve and will have another scan next Monday, hopefully they will give us a date for the op.  I haven't started to think yet what that day will be like.  Not sure if I want someone with me for all that time.  How did you cope Carole, when Norman was in surgery all that time?  The BBC are filming at the hospital at the moment and one of the surgeons asked Dave if he would like to be involved as his case was rare.  He refused outright!  Could've been on TV in his hospital gown...

Although it's no fun cooking for one, (I do enjoy cooking), I'm getting fed up of ready meals!  Tonight's tasted ok but looked like mush.  Also nearly time to make my Christmas cake.

It's good to hear about everyone's ups and downs as we go through this. Take care everyone.

Julie xx

Hi girls, Annie you re funny, it's bad enough coping with a man when you're married to him never mind when you're not!  With everything going on I forgot to ask about the foot, when are you getting your own computer?   Julie, I have Harry coming Saturday for four days, he's seven now but loves to be on the go all the time, then he goes and Alfie amd Ella arrive a few days later. The trouble is we try to keep up but our bodies say NO!   At least when they all go I'll have three days to recover before my own celebrations start.  Fancy not wanting to be on the television,  we could all see who we're talking about!  The plumber has been and we have water coming out the taps now, yippee.   Having swept all my lawn, Norman my neighbour came out with his leaf blower, I wish he'd said as I would have left them,  talk about sods law.  I used to enjoy cooking but I'm finding it more of a chore because there are so many things he's gone off since chemo.  Anyway girls,signing off now, speak tomorrow. X

Eh Carol I would just love to have hubby back, aye even with everything that comes with them.!!! Sorry am just feeling a bit sorry for myself, it was his birthday last week, he would have been 64. Everybody tells you that things get easier but sometimes I wonder, maybe because in the early days you expect family occasions and anniversaries to be hard but you get through them. Now 2 years down the line it is all so real, here I am and this is my life now and it  is bloody hard at times.

Still like to read your blog, some good laughs mixed in with much sadness and frustration that cancer brings. Warm wishes to all Lynne x. 

Oh trust me Lynne & would miss him so very much but as you know by now  this is a true version of cancer life.. So the last twenty four hours have been interesting!   I'm shown where the stop *** is and the little valve that the plumber needs to drain the system, told that the drain is under my plant pot (oh so that's what that big metal lid is!)  And then he disappeared to the golf club.   So I ignore the information  and sit down having been so busy.  An hour later his back, all the power lines were down at the golf club so it was shut.  I cook his tea, leave mine as the plumber is coming.  When he arrives hubby starts giving me instructions to pass on to him, so I get cross and say if he's a plumber he should know what he's doing, no need to get nasty he huffs!   Half an hour later we have taps, running water and he's left.  How far has he turned the stop *** on I'm asked, for God's sake get off your backside and have a look yourself, I'm sick of running around, he looks suitably guilty and I finally get my tea by 7pm.  So today there's water pouring out the overflow and the toilet has gone belly up!!  Another phone call and I'm told to look in the garage for a ball *** set, I have to put the light on to see and end up with the cord and pull in my hand because it snapped!  So off I go again get the ladders out to put the new one up and I can't thread it through the hole, finally I cover it in nail varnish, let it dry, the plumber arrives again and it's worse than what we thought.   Hubby goes up on his stair lift which promptly stops half way up, so none of us can get up or down. I really could do with a handyman in the cupboard that would be so easy to get out when I need him!  So I love my man but he admits he's pretty useless and I drew the short straw in the long run.  I agree, we have a laugh and let's hope that's it for today. See you tomorrow 

Hi Ladies,

Annie, How many sessions of hydrotherapy did you have?  I have been going for a couple of years now, usually twice a week, and it does help but can take a while before you notice any real results.  When I don't go for a few weeks or over the Christmas break when they close, you do notice a slight decline.  Neil doesn't usually have any problems when he has done his tax previously, so not expecting any this time, it just that I still can't find everything I need to get it done.  I'm going to have to talk to his boss and get a duplicate group certificate.

Julie, That is one of the joys of Grandkids, when we get tired we can can hand them back to Mum and Dad.  I babysit my grandson every Tuesday afternoon, and while I love it, it's tiring, and I'm happy when Dad to get him.  He's nearly 9 months old and it feels like he weighs a ton.  Most of the meals I cook are for 4 people so I get lots of leftovers.  Only occassionally do I cook something that just serves 1 meal.

Carol, You'll have just enough time to recover before your Birthday celebrations.  You do need a handyman in the cupboard with the day you've had.

Lynne, I'm dreading Christmas this year, It's going to be so different.  I have told the girls I'm not having Christmas this year,    Have only just put the Christmas tree away from last year as Neil couldn't pull two of the pieces apart, they would be the biggest pieces so it wouldn't fit in the box, and has been undecorated in the loungeroom.  I'll get Nick (my son in law) to put the lights up outside.  Like you this is my life now.

Take care all, Lots of love.  Sue xx

Julie, I just realised I forgot to say how I coped, basically I didn't!   I went to work but apparently I was useless according to my workmates. Every hour seemed like two and it was a long day, but I don't think it would have mattered what I did, the girls stayed South and that meant I didn't have to spend all day worrying about them worrying about me.  Its like a day in the life of cancer, you cope!   

I suppose like everything else to do with this vile thing, there is no right or wrong way to deal with it!  But thanks for the response.  Best not to think too far ahead... I'll deal with it nearer the time.

Anyway, Dave's coming home on Friday! The op won't be for another 3-4 weeks and he's finished the antibiotics (I know, they said it would a 4 week course...) so he can come home until the op date.  I may not get chance to post much while he's home as we share this iPad, but I'll be back girls, and you will all be in my thoughts in the meantime.  

I can't wait for him to be home but I've kind of gotten used to being home alone so I'm sure we'll clash a little as we readjust to living under one roof again!  Wish me luck!

Julie

ps Carol, enjoy your big birthday celebrations and look forward to hearing all about them! Xx

Good luck Julie, we'll miss your posts.  Very exciting to get Dave home you can feed him up.  Yes there will be friction, just go and scream into your pillow!  I've learnt more swear words over this past year than I ever knew and I worked with the bad lads!   Grab the I pad while his dozing in a comfy chair,  lots of love to you and I'll definitely let you know how it goes.  Xx

Will do and thanks again for helping me through this difficult patch.  I've got till Friday....x