Olympic Park

[StitchingMoss]

Getting exciting now !

Dss still curls up to cuddle his dad aged 21. Both him and dsd are being lovely - so good with the baby gigs ...

All good vibes from me to you Gig. Xx Thinking of you all the time and really hoping its not v v horrible and that it works.

The horrible nature of hospital food is staggering. I couldn't believe how they make something that sounds perfectly reasonable taste so wrong, or that they still serve things like tapioca pudding.

I have just found out that DH has ordered the wrong colour wallpaper for the study. Instead of a neutral grey-beige he has typed in the wrong colour code and we will now be getting raspberry pink . This is an expensive mistake. The comfort is that he is the one that has been lobbying for this paper to keep his mind calm when he is working from home in "his" study, and that it is his mistake . I'm being a cow bag about this aren't I?

Yes but I can't blame you and am amused by his mistake. Is there no way to change it?

So far so good still- am having meds as I type. Have used it to order lots of princess party stuff for big gig birthday

Yes - broccoli flan and tuna surprise were interesting

I have left the problem of the wallpaper with DH. The bloke on the phone sounded decidedly "can't do" so I don't hold out much hope. It amuses me too although it shouldn't.

Your hospital food sounds delightful. DF having similar culinary revelations.

Oooops! Had a bit of a giggle at the wallpaper LG - can't quite work out how DP did that, but funny all the same .

Could you not sell it on ebay and buy the right one? Why won't they take returns?

Btw, I know I'm probably going to sound really paranoid but are you going to put some kind of venetian blind up in 'his' study? That's a lot of expensive equipment you have on show!

Gig, hospital food is so dire - I remember when my friend was in hospital having her chemo we used to take food in every night for her. We did once take in Chinese though which made the woman opposite feel really sick so we had to be a bit careful about how smelly it was. But so bad that the food is so inedible. Did I tell you about when I had DS1 and in my drug induced post-birth state filled in the form wrong and ordered a jacket potato and when the food arrived that was literally all there was. One sad, tiny, jacket in the middle of the plate with nothing else around it . Who in their right mind would plate up a plain potato and think that a patient had ordered that???

Anyway, must go to bed - went to bed at midnight last night and am knackered .

Quick post - LaG surely under the distant selling regulations they have to let you cancel the order though if it's been dispatched you would be liable for the cost of the return postage?

Agree re awfulness of hospital food! Hope you're doing ok Gig x

Doing ok- just waiting to see what offered next (all very school dinners here) on food front. And night nurse is lovely but super chatty which is a bit wearing. I had watched one day on DVD so was having a therapeutic cry at end (dexter is nicer in film than book) so she was concerned .

So far so no nausea etc so hope I have another good day. An knackered but think that is just normal and no worse than you.

Lag- agree about distant selling or maybe if bought on credit card that could help. How is your dad? Any news on when he can go home.

Waves to curvaceous

Oh and had similar thing when having mini- ordered tea and cereal... Should have also ordered milk as there are apparently swathes of people who like no milk and cornflakes.

DS1 is a fan of no milk and shreddies.

I think the company who are selling the wallpaper have contacted the manufacturers in France to try and cancel it. Not sure how successful they have been as I have handed it to DH as his problem.

We have roman blinds ready to go up in the study but not as private as venetians would be, I agree. I am more worried about the TV room which has the really serious equipment in it. We will do blinds in there too, when we can agree on fabric.

DF still in hospital as he has had fluid on the lungs that has had to be drained. He may be discharged in the next few days. He sounded much happier last night than he has done on the previous nights, i.e. instead I ringing off after 5 mins he delivered a monologue on anything and everything for 35 mins . DM has arranged a gardener to come in for them over the summer, so that's good news too. DM is also v tired from 100 mile round trips to Bristol every day. When questioned it turns out that she leaves at 10.30 in order to have lunch in Bristol/clothes shop in M&S/go to Ikea before visiting time. I don't begrudge her the shopping trips, but it isn't going to make her any less tired.

I have just got an emergency GP appointment for DS2 this afternoon an hour after calling up. Overnight the eczema on his hands has all gone a bit nuts with pustules. It looks very itchy an he was howling for ages after his sleep. Very impressed with being able to see a dr so easily on the day of the strikes. I am now worrying about taking an emergency appointment on a tricky day for them. Calpol has worked wonders.

Glad to hear that there is no sickness yet gig. Long may it last. Xx

Nice lag...

Glad dad more chirpy even if does sound like not out yet. That kind of over tiring trip is exactly kind of thing my mum would do .

Still doing ok but my shoulder/neck (pregnancy / op/baby strain) killing me- am all strapped up like a weightlifter now. Food no better and constant interrupting and noise means I will be glad to be home tomorrow.

What are everyone's weekend plans
?

My weekend plans will no doubt involve weeping at the cost of car repairs - my brakes failed while driving home tonight. incredibly scary!

Shit. Horrible Scottish.

My weekend may or may not be spent in Gloucestershire visiting M&D. Dad won't be discharged tomorrow so not sure what they want/need/would like.

DS2 has been given a combination of A-Bs, thrush cream and more emollient. GP wasn't too sure of exact problem but seemed to think it was worth the visit. She said that strike day was the ideal day to get an emergency appointment as there are no pre booked appointments today so they can see everyone who had called up.

Poor Scottish and poor ds2 - hope cream combos help

Hope DS2 is better soon LaG.

Yes, brake failure was incredibly scary. Just very relieved it happened while I was in slow moving traffic. I still had to drive the car a bit afterwards (with DS in the back) which was nerve wracking. I'm quite proud of myself for keeping a cool head - if I'd just abandoned the car when it first happened it is no exaggeration to say that it would have brought city centre traffic to a standstill. So many roads are closed at the moment and I would have stopped traffic moving completely accross the only road from West to East across the city.

Are you back home now Gig? Hope you get a restful weekend with your family. Xx

I am halfway along the m4 eating a pasty at the services. DF getting discharged later on today and I have been summoned to help out.

DH and boys back home. I think DS2's infected eczema may be hand,foot and mouth. I had a light bulb moment last night when I realised the spots are now on his hands, feet, and mouth . If I'm right the prescriptions from dr will make the rash more difficult to clear up. DS2 reasonably happy in himself not itchy, no temp, eating etc so I feel reasonably ok about leaving him this weekend.

Home now and doing ok -so far would say its like ok first trimester- tired, bit sensitive to certain foods but not actually sick.

How is df lag? How is everyone else? We had quite one tho I did make it to poundland today for party supplies (got a week to go but planning head as my low may be mid/end of this week).

Just checking on you Gig, glad to hear that you're not actually sick yet, lovely photo of mini Gig on FB

LaG, had to laugh at the pink paper, sorry. Great that your df is discharged

Hi Pirate and SP

Stefan home from France with case full of washing, smelly feet and endless photos of the Eiffel tower from every angle. Lovely to have all of us back together, what a mother hen!!Have to say it was very quiet without him though

Mega busy week this week, starting with Ethan's paediatricians referral tomorrow, will let you know how we get on. Still working in Autumn term as the teacher has been given the boot. Don't know how long it will be for but I've agreed to do full time as Ethan will also be full time then

Lots of luck with paed appt- hope you get some answers deb. at least they have resolved issue with teacher as that sounded like could drag on but hopefully will work ok with full time school.

How is ds2 lag? I had forgotten about hand foot and mouth til you said but know that it is very contagious as few friends kids have had it.

Just as well still feeling ok as got wrapping to do for big gig tomorrow - do you think it's ok to leave family parcels (mainly my mum who goes mad on birthdays ) in their amazon type packing rather than wrapping them? Also tempted to put some things to one side as there is a lot. It's lovely but a bit Ott

Good luck with the paed Deb. Are you teaching at Ethan's new school?

Gig - glad you are avoiding the sickness so far. Sounds fine to leave presents aside. Last year we unwrapped presents for DS1 at a rate of 2 a day for about a fortnight. He enjoyed each toy much more as he opened them. Another Christmas we had stuff unopened from us that I stashed for 6 months until his birthday.

DF is doing ok. More mobile than I had expected, so I'm not worried about my DM's capacity to look after him given her arthritis. His biggest problem is that he is a massive pessimist at the best of times, so he tends towards being quite gloomy about his recovery. Quite tricky talking to him without provoking tears etc.

DS2 is crusty. Still don't conclusively know what it is, but it is improving. It leaves me in a quandary about taking him to playgroup (as I have just done) as HFM is contagious, but then he is probably past the contagious stage anyway, and that assumes he had something contagious in the first place.

And to complete the health round up DH has "the most streaming cold of my life". as a result I have quite a messy house to sort out having been away for a night.

Hi everyone, well unfortunately my googling was correct and Ethan has been diagnosed with a form of cerebral palsy called hemiplegia . There's been some damage/lack of oxygen to his left side of the brain, resulting in the weakness down the right side of his body. Thankfully it is only slight and there are lots worse cases but you still don't want your child to have a condition.It won't get any worse and we can help by carrying on with the physio. It might also explain why he has the speech problems. The paediatrician didn't say anything but I did see the big exclamation mark written when I told her that the orthopaedic consultant had said that peer pressure would make him walk properly.What a good job the Nursery had referred him to occupational therapy as this got the ball rolling.Next step is an MRI scan under sedation so they can see where the damage is. I'll feel better when that's over.

Oh deb- you must feel very conflicted. Although its good to have a diagnosis , frustrating it took so long .
Any idea when MRI will be? I think sedation a good idea as they are not the most comfortable of things.

Lag- my god did you say you had man flu outbreak in the house?!!! I don't know hoy you will cope... I do hope you are getting help with this and anything we can do (only last week the nurses told me to be grateful I didn't have man flu ).

Glad ds2 ok- if he is crusty then that's usually good. And have also hidden some presents for later as you suggest (I also have a box for Xmas, special occasions of stuff bought that is just too Ott to give on Xmas etc so it waits).

Glad df on mend (and your dm consequently not finding it too much). I think recovery does play tricks on your mind ESP if you are maybe of a more half glass empty way of being (I know I have felt like that). Also it was a big op and df presumably got a cocktail of drugs , which ESP if opiate will be depressant.

What I would say is that when you feel down (or df) is no one can ever tell you what is going to happen to you. They can advise or go over facts based on experience ,stats etc but that is not going to tell you what happens to you whoever you hope/fear. No more accurately than when I used to read the stars in more mag ages 15 to see if I would be asked out . So have to try and balance the fears with that.

Let's face It if we had listened to the stats and prognosis neither pirate or me would be here posting about our dc.

On which philosophical note I am off to get a drink (nightly postings are cos between hot night and dh snoring I can't sleep- nor anything more sinister).

Quick post - Deb sorry to hear about E, but really glad you got a diagnosis and that they don't think it will get worse.

LaG - sorry to hear about DF's pessimism. I know I'd find that really hard to deal with.

My computer at work really doesn't like MN so can't type anymore!

Hi all, Deb sorry to hear about CP diagnosis - although good that it's been identified and addressed now. As we both know, early intervention is vital with these things. Hope MRI is not too stressful .

LG, you have my every sympathy re your DF - as you know my dad had a massive heart attack on the eve of his 70th birthday. He wasn't expected to survive . He recovered physically but has never recovered mentally and sadly did nothing to help himself either. He turned 79 last week and seems genuinely pissed off that he's still here as he's been telling us for the last nine years that he's on his last legs . It drives me mental, but I've never suffered anything like it, so try not to be too judgemental .

Gig, love the birthday photos of your gorgeous girl x

SP, your brakes story made my blood run cold - you poor thing .

Right, off to knit x

It's me, from North of the Border. MN tweeted a thread I started (I'm really sorry Deb, but it was in the Christmas topic ) and it freaked me out a bit. So I'm going to have this name for here and another name for general thread posting.