Yesterday was my youngest nephew’s first birthday. I’ve still not met him. I was getting really ill when he was born & went into hospital a month later & spent most of the summer there. Then was in & out for the rest of the year. And the start of this. Never got to being well enough for the trip down to see my sister. And now I’ve no idea when I’ll get to go. And his card didn’t arrive in time & somehow that’s upset me more than it really should. And I’m convinced I’m going to miss my niece’s birthday in October; & there’s a very real risk it will be her last. And it’s her 10th birthday, which is the last I had with my mother, for whom she’s named; and she was meant to be going on her Make A Wish trip, but we’ve no fecking idea what’ll happen with that now. And frankly I’m quite tired of utterly horrific things happening to my family. Clearly I have noticed the pandemic is happening to everyone, yes. But just in this moment I’m preoccupied with the fact my family would appear to be land-walking mermaids, some of whom decided to try on the red shoes just to up the endless torture ante.
@Babysharkdoodoodood
Excellent re: the takeaway. Also the blondies. I have failed epically at food today by eating 7.5 (admittedly INSANELY calorie-dense) biscuits & some vegan jelly sweets. And spreading biscuits over day = not having any Creon. Yes, I know, such a failure is TRULY epic; & of course now I’m hungry... well done me... Will hold my thumbs you can keep the UTI at bay without antibiotics. On the sfx (& obv don’t mean the cool film & TV sort) side of things, could you request a medication review specifically with a view to reducing that specific part of the profile? Weight gain as a side effect is most commonly caused by medications increasing appetite so hopefully you’re not working against too much stuff that’s actively messing with your ability to lose weight. Do you have access to a dietitian? Would you like mine?
@Pops4414
Am glad we were able to help. Being made to doubt yourself like that must have been incredibly distressing. Given the circumstances, your husband attempting to manipulate you like this & claiming you’re being selfish (etc) while he breaks lockdown & puts you at an insane amount of risk - I think it could even be considered gaslighting. Does he usually expect you [& your children] to live your lives round his desires regardless of your needs? Is he generally so selfish? Does he usually take your illness seriously, or does he behave as if it’s something you’ve dreamt up to inconvenience him? I know grief can make people behave very strangely, but he’s been behaving very badly for the last 6 weeks & putting you at terrible risk. I’m really glad you felt able to say no to him & to keep yourself safe. Always feel free to come back if you’re needing a chat - about anything at all, though I’m not planning to inflict my musings on [anthropomorphised] depictions of death on you all (even though I think Simberg’s skellingtons are super-adorbs & I urge you to check out his The Garden of Death where the central skelly is absolutely [Not-]Living His Best [Non-]Life; & Pratchett’s DEATH absolutely [music with] rocks [in]!).
Look after yourself pet 
@10brokengreenbottles
Hello 
Am sorry you’re worrying about your DD2 going back to Uni. As I posted a while back thread there’s a chance the Astra Zeneca vaccine might be ready by September, so it might be that you’ll not be without her for so long. Has her university announced labwork will definitely be restarting in September/has she been told by her supervisor? Everything in academia is pretty up in the air at the moment - I don’t know if you’ve seen the HUGE drama there’s been over people ignoring the clear statement issued by Cambridge that for 2020-2021 lectures will be online but supervisions will continue as usual & small-group teaching will continue as usual as far as is possible? Press release was totally clear that it was only lectures & that core teaching would still happen in person (with distancing measures). They’ve since had to issue umpteen clarifying statements because people decided to interpret it as meaning all teaching would be online. So the university have issued clarifications; the masters & principals have; the Colleges have; the Chancellor has; the faculties have; & the Alumni Association has - going to the press, to current students, to former students; to academics; & plastered all over social media. It’s caused a nightmare for other institutions. But yes, things may continue to be all online for some time yet while unis work out how to manage distancing & prioritising lab access & safe staffing etc.
Am so sorry your DS1 is struggling so much. Has he access to any online support?
I know it’s not much, but if it’s any reassurance, team sports won’t be happening for anyone for a while yet so your DS2 isn’t being/won’t be being kept from them [for some considerable time]. Totally understand he’s still missing them & would benefit from them & that’s rubbish, but at least there’s not feeling of missing OUT on them, iyswim?
Am sorry you’ve had to miss your holiday. I was meant to be visiting my twinthing (not actual twin; uni friend who shares my birthday + is same height as me + also did German for translation exam in first year + is woodwind player + also went to comp...) in Australia next month. No idea when that will come off now... Missing out is hard. Hope you’ll be able to rearrange into something special once it’s safe.
@Potentialmadcatlady
Really hope this doesn’t sound patronising, because I know that things don’t always translate well, but I believe enough in what I’m saying to risk it. I hope you’re really proud of your son having that trust in you. And having managed to advocate for him & provide a level of care such that he has beaten the odds. And for putting his needs over & above your ex-H’s desire to have a “normal” child & the immense damage he would have been willing to do your son to try to maintain that illusion-delusion. It’s so clear when you post that you’re really devoted to your children & to protecting their interests (& atm trying to navigate the difficulties of shielding late teens, balancing keeping them safe with not scaring them senseless). I think you’re taking totally the right stance with your DD, for what it’s worth: you’re looking at what she needs most just now & not trying to cling on to her because it’s what you want. Not easy to do. I hope you can manage plenty of FaceTime/Zoom/Google Hangout/Skype calls when she goes back.
@FuzzyPuffling
The footage from coastal areas has been really shocking. As soon as the shops open again London will be HEAVING. Not the public transport is able to cope with the people who’ve had to go back to work (or, you know, lose their jobs) as it is. In lots of the city you literally CAN’T socially distance because the pavements are so narrow. Whole thing is a nightmare. And while in some ways it’s excellent that supermarkets have now been told they need to provide disabled people with online shopping slots, if they’re not actually going to put any checks in place we’re going to end up with the shielding group once again struggling massively to get food delivered because heaps of people are claiming they need priority slots. I also didn’t think that people with disabilities were being disadvantaged by the system that was in place. Not to the point that supermarkets would be required to make further adjustments, anyway. It’s not as if there are normally priority slots available; & you don’t have to be shielding to request help from a mutual aid group. Really not convinced they’ve thought through adding any & all disabled people who ask to the priority list. But can’t exactly say that in most spaces...
@OneNightTimeMenaceStrikesBack
Yes, odd how a trip to hospital becomes almost appealing just for the change of scenery. Hope the x-rays go ok & you’ve not too long to wait for your EEG.