Hello girls. So much been going on. Carol I hope you are feeling bit stronger each day. Take care of yourself. Julie good that Dave is feeling well and enjoying his food. Christmas appointments are not nice I know. Thinking of you Sue and Annie. All got our worries and sadness I know. My daughter somehow got me a cancellation to see my haematology Dr yesterday. He was very concerned about all the delays I’ve had. On looking at the sore he was pleased how it was healing like the others have and dident think a pet scan was necessary. Told him I d got appt through for biopsy after two and half months on Christmas Eve afternoon. He rolled his eyes and shock his head and just said cancel it. He told me I looked well and pleased with bloods . Haven’t got to see him now until 15 th Jan. Feeling relieved but not good as got water trouble and back ache. I tell you there’s always something to worry about. Sending love and hugs to all you lovely girls. Gloria xxx

Hi my girls , what a hard time we are all having, it's a wonder we are not all looking like "The Scream "  painting, mind I could have screamed when I saw myself in the mirror, bed head hair, grey skin and spots on my  chest, for some reason !  It's amazing how you can go from looking perfectly reasonable to scaring the neighbours in ten days!  Gloria , that is very good news apart from the cystitis , just  a suggestion but use petroleum jelly (you know where!)  It stops the infection  from travelling back up the uretha,  I did this and it helped a great deal.  Perhaps then you maybe better for Christmas,  a hot water bottle on your back should help as well.  Annie, men are so pathetically stupid sometimes I that I think their Mother's have raised them to never have  common sense.   That was hard for you but Paul probably felt embarrassed so would rather struggle with your assistance than go for help, a  bit like getting lost in the car but not asking anyone for directions !  I'm better today but coughing like a chimney.  I hope Faye doesn't face time us, Norman yells at them nd it gives me a headache,  I think he thinks it's like the olden days, bits of string and tin cans.  I am going to put my coat on and walk to the post box and pop my Christmas cards in, there are more and more coming each day.  Sue, my love I hope the weather is a little better , my brother arrives today but I doubt I will see him, I hope they have warm jumpers! !  Love to you all. Xx

I made tea last night,  a beef curry and we both enjoyed it.  I haven't had a drink for nearly two weeks, that means I'm ILL!   Whiskey and hot milk before bed (not counting that as drink because I don't drink whiskey normally ) and I slept until 4 am,  then my brain went into overdrive again, I hate that, when your brain won't shut up, popping thoughts in that you don't want.   I actually drove my car today and got the newspapers, lovely to be free again.  I've got the cardigan out for Ella to carry on knitting or she'll have grown out of it before its complete, it'll end up in a school Fayre.  I'm being lazy tonight,  egg and bacon then warm apple pie and custard,  sometimes it's nice to have a simple tea..   We're seeing the Oncologist tomorrow then we should have a new plan, it's weird not knowing what's going on , is it still stable,  is it growing,  how long have we got before things get worse?  I sometimes think I should be sweetness and light all the time with him but we live in the real world, so that's not going to happen! !  Hopefully you have all had a decent weekend.   Love Carol xx 

Hi Ladies, Well, poor Eli is back at the Children's Hospital.  Saturday evening he started getting a rash on his nexk and under his chin, then got a temp.  So Deana and Nick took him back to the local hospital emergency department.  They rang the Childrens hospital said they wanted him back there, he has been admitted, and they've taken samples, still waiting for results but they think there is infection.  So he has had a couple of iv's with antibiotics and 2 with fluids.  No idea yet when he can come home.  So I have been feeding their cats and gave them some attention tonight.  Both Deana and Nck are still in Melbourne, Deana is staying at the hospital with Eli and Nick has gone to his sisters.  Eli is more unsettled than he has been but doing quite well considering.  Hopefully they can get the infection controlled fairly quickly.
I went to Cass's and Hayley's birthday dinner last night, didn't get home till really late but it wasn't too bad a night.  Then tonight I have been to tea with friends in Melbourne.  I didn't drive though went with Brian and Jo, and was a lovely evening, even had a couple of glasses of wine.

Carol, I don't mind cooking at all.  The casserole I made Friday is in the freezer,, 6 containers I have of it, lamb chump chops and veggies, some Italian herbs as well, should be good.  I posted all my Christmas cards last night on my way home, thought the police would come back (one just passed me as I pulled in to park) and ask what I was doing.  Early hours of this morning on my way home from Cass's birthday dinner, not many people would post letters at that hour of the morning,  Our weather has cooled considerably, mid 20's now, cloudy but pleasant.  I hope your brother has packed his winter woolies, it will be a shock  they diffference in temperature.  He is from queensland isn't he?  They generally have great weather.  I hope you do get to see him while he is there.  Hoping you get a favourable report from your Oncologist and a new plan.

Julie, Hopefully Dave's pancreatitis, won't take too much longer to clear up.  I remember my sil's taking too long before she was good again, but I guess everyone is different.  Has to be good though that Dave is eating well and feeling well.

Annie, I would have been cross that Paul stayed out till 8 o'clock, I'm sure it would have been dark and pretty cold by then.  Men don't seem to like taking advice, and do insist on doing things their way, despite the consequences.  I hope his chest doesn't get any worse from his ordeal.

Gloria, Good to hear that the haematology Dr doesn't think you have anything to worry about.  That should ease your mind and worry.  Hopefully your cystitis will clear up in no time.  The hot water bottle should help some too.  

Hope you are all doing as well as you can.  Take care amd lots of love.  Sue xx

 

Hi ladies.  Poor little Eli; let's hope this all gets cleared up soon.  I do hope he is back home soon.  I am not pleased with Paul, he was not feeling great today but one of his mates from the pub came round (actually the mate - Ian - is quite pleasant also he works for Sainsburys and buys anything large we need on his discount allowance).  So they both went off to the pub but Paul was back an hour or so later as his chest was bothering him. Why won't be just stay at home and keep warm for a little bit?  He was watching Strictly last time I went upstairs although he always claims he never watches the programme.  Am I the only person who is irritated by Stacey's screaming every time she gets excited?     Poor Gloria I see you are having a worrying time; you should keep warm and take care of yourself too.  I do hope things keep moving in the right direction for you.  Carol, you are getting about again.  I had to laugh about your not counting whiskey as drinking alcohol; we all have our little deceptions.  Also sounds as though things are improving between the two of you (until next time!)  I know what you mean about lying in bed and your brain won't go to sleep; once I have been disturbed it is gets more and more difficult to get back to sleep by which time Muffin is wandering around and wants some attention.  I usually get up and make myself a warm drink and read until I start to doze again.  Haven't forgotten you Julia and I hope that Dave continues to do well.  Am watching an old Agatha Christie film while writing this; I had read all her books before I was out of my teens.  Cheers.

So, all ready to go for our appointment,  instructions to my new cleaner on how to lock the door when she leaves then hubby shouts me, I've cocked up big time! He told me it was at

3pm,  it's  actually 13.00.  He looks crestfallen and I ring the hospital and apologise, new appointment next Monday,  I told you he has chemo brain,  he wouldn't let me check,  because he's not stupid and knows what he's doing,  I beg to differ! So I now have to let the girls know, rearrange the cleaner, my being unwell hasn't helped as normally I'd surreptitiously check anyway.  Sue, poor Eli, so worrying  but little ones are resilient and it's the parents who suffer worrying.  I hope he is doing well now.  I can just see you being stopped by the police,  they seem to get the wrong end of the stick quite often .  Annie, I've said it before , men don't have the common sense they were born with!  So another wasted day hanging around for nothing, I need a medicinal whiskey and hot milk!  Xx

I

Hi Ladies, I have been to Melbourne this afternoon.  Deana rang to ask if I would bring her and Nick more clothes as Eli will be in hospital until at least Wednesday but probably later in the week.  He has to have iv antibiotics till at least W.ednesday.  The swabs they took have come back with an infection but the antibiotics are working and his rash is slowly fading.  He was happy today though, so it appears he is feeling better.  Nick took Eli to have a look at the meerkats.  The hospital has 5 meerkats which is a great distraction for kids in hospital.  The cats must have missed me over the lat couple of days, both of them were wanting attention, not unusual for Cookie, but very unusual for Mr Higgins, but even he wanted time of my knee tonight, which was lovely.  At least tomorrow I will be having a day at home, have to do some housework, haven't done anything much for since last Friday.

Annie, Maybe Paul will stay in for a couple of days as it seems his chest was not great after going out the last couple of days.  Men will do what they want usually, even when they are ill and shouldn't...A bad chest, or any other illness for that matter, wouldn't have stopped Neil from going fishing, even though he would end up worse that he was prior to going.

Carol, I used to write all Neil's appointments in my diary, it was the only way to keep track of them as Neil didn't always remember them all or the time.  At least you don't have to wait too long for the rescheduled appointment, it's just the waiting again to find out what the new plan will be.  I was surprised the police didn't stop and check on what I was doing, they did brake for a second but kept going, but I dare say it wouldn't be often they would come across a 60+ year old by herself after 1am wandering the main street.  After I posted my letters I drove down further to turn down a street heading home and there the police were talking to 6 young males, I'd say under 18 as there wasn't a car in sight.

Going to head to bed. hope you're all doing as well as you can.

Take care, and love to all.  Sue xx

Well the missed appointment was apparently down to the normal secretary being on the sick!  It would seem this husband of mine takes no responsibility for his mistakes, never has and never will!  I think he was joking it's difficult to tell some days.  His cough is harsh and cuts through my poorly head but no, he's fine.   Hands are a mess but doesn't want to take steroids in case he gets fat,  I hate to tell him but that's already happened,  tons of blue ribbons,  cups of tea and sugar have piled the weight on, his jumpers don't fit him over his tummy because I have bought a shorter version and he has to pull them down all the time!  I've made it into our little town today, paper bill to pay, cards to post and we've run out of soap.  I'm back home and exhausted!   Poor little Eli, at least he's in the right place and should be home soon, it's a good job you can help them Sue, I'm too far away to help unfortunately , it's horrible when you aren't there to offer help. We had a beautiful card from Faye, saying what lovely parents we are and thanks for everything we do for them.  I did laugh as she rang to say they put the tree up on Saturday and wanted it to be a nice experience for the children,  that all went down the pan, Alfie wouldn't get off his game, Ella wanted to stick stickers on her windows and there were not enough, so it ended up as a screaming match, happy families! So that is it for today, hope  all is going along as it should.   Love Carol xx 

 Hi Ladies, Well after the last few day sof going here, there and everywhere, I've had such a lazy day today... have achieved nothing as far as housework goes, Then this afternoon my neighbour popped in for a cuppa, she came with a plate of assorted biscuits, which was lovely, so we had a good chat.  Then Deana's mother in law called in as she is getting a friend of hers to do a little gardening for them.  So that was my afternoon, then just as I was heating my tea my sister in law sent a photo of Melanie and her baby.  I refuse to use the word little though, she is a whopping 11lb or 4.6kg, looks more like a 3 month old with the chubbiest cheeks I've ever seen on a new born.  Then rang to fill me in and we chatted for a good hour.  Mel and bub are both doing well. Unmaned as yet but Allyson says they will decide in the next day or two.  Savannah or Freya is high on the list of names.  It was her baby shower I went to a few weeks ago.  A bit of good news.

Carol, It's funny how they always blame us when they put on weight.  Neil always used to say I shrunk his clothes washing them.  Where it was quite obvious he had put of weight,  I remember years ago I asked Neil to go to the pharmacy.  He didn't want to go and was extremely unhappy when he got home (after taking ages for what should have been maybe 20 mins), he had run over something on the road, and it ruined the sidewall of one of the tyres, (he took so long as he had to change the tyre), that was my fault though as I'd asked him to go.  So yes, they will blame us.  I don't mind helping them kids and while it's not just round the corner, it's only 2 hours to the children's hospital and it was good that it's an area I'm familiar with.  Traffic doesn't worry me but I really don't like driving in unfamilar areas.  I still would have done it but would have been stressing the whole time until I got there.
Cookie has been so funny today, she has found a rubber band somewhere and she loves them,  She flings it all over the place, gives chase, then flings it again.  Picks it up in her mouth, carries it around.  Then when she has had enough  for a while comes and sits on my knee with her rubber band close by so she can grab it again if Mr Higgins looks like he is going to try and play with it.  He has all the cat toys, she likes her rubber bands.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Take care and love, Sue xx