Thank You Jordiegirl

Oh My - I can't believe how NORMAL I feel today!

The tablets finally kicked in, and I only feel my internal stitches if I happen to try and do something silly - and as you all know me I can't help doing silly things!

Anyway, I am sat in my recliner, laptop on lap, with the help of my little laptop table that Sally-Ann and Mike bought me for my birthday, and have been checking out some of the latest blogs updated on my blog-roll.

As you can see from the title of this post, I have been inspired. and as such, have created a new blog to showcase some of the cards that I have made over the years.

http://www.cardcraftbyjo.blogspot.com/

I have started with Kelly's Birthday card, and Dylan's Godson card, and will slowly upload some of my past works.

Please feel free to follow me on the other blog. Your comments on my creations would be very welcome, as this will steer me towards using some designs again and again if they are liked.

I have been card making for many years, and as such, will only select perhaps some of my favourites to date, but from now on will add pictures as I create a card.

On The Up

Tuesday did not quite go as planned.

I ended up on the phone to the Doctor at 08.20, and after various discussions it was decided that she would get someone out to check up on me.

The Doc turned up at 12.30 and after a good old poke and prod of the belly and back, confirmed that I have a bladder and kidney infection and needed more antibiotics. What I was told though, was that I had done entirely the right thing over the weekend, as if I had not done the cystitis remedies my kidneys would be protesting in pain far more than they were a the moment. Unfortunately, the kidney pain in my back, falls right behind where the appendix was in the front, and I had no idea if I had new pain or old, I just knew something was not at all right.

Mel popped around see me later in the afternoon, and filled me with gossip of the Pilate's classes I had been missing out on since just before Christmas, and how quiet it was without me - MOI! Little old me! Anyone would think I was loud, giggly and chatty LOL!

Mel, also bought me the biggest bunch of grapes she could find along with the entire dutch crop of Tulips. I have to say the Tulips are glorious and the grapes so sweet and moreish - good choice Mel.

It was so lovely to see her, and catch up.

Not long after Mel left me, Sharon and Chris arrived, and once again filled me in on the gossip from work. It seems there are some changes taking place, and I really can't wait to get back so I can get my teeth into the new workload that will be generated from the changes. Is that sad? I don't think so, I really miss my friends in the office, who have been such a huge support to me in the last 10 days or so since this began.

Anyway, yesterday, Wednesday, I decided that I would attempt some light sweeping in the living room. Fred is a loving dog, but OMG so mucky. He will go outside, and kick the mud with his back paws like any terrier, then run inside, all excited and fling great clods of earth everywhere. Needless to say I could look at it from my chair no longer, and had a go at cleaning it up. BAD IDEA! I ended up sat down again a few moments later, able to feel every internal stitch and lazered area in my belly.

So, consequently, today, Thursday, although I feel a lot better in myself, and the lessening pains in my belly allow me to sit for a longer period of time (albeit in a recliner chair) than I have up until now, I have decided to finally start listening to everyone and take it easy for another week or so.... after all it's been about 10 days since my op and they said 3-4 weeks recovery time, even pushing it to 6 weeks for certain things like exercise.

I am supposed to be in Birmingham this weekend, becoming Godmother to little Dylan. I finally had to concede that this was not going to happen as sitting upright in a car for 5 hours plus on the journey would just about finish me off. Kelly has managed to arrange for me to be Godmother by proxy and her mom has spoken to the Priest and organised it all - I am so relieved, but more gutted than you would think possible, to be missing out on such a special day.

We shall be getting together with Kel, Paul and Dylan once I am well for a nice celebratory meal, and although it's not the same it will be lovely to see them and spend time with them again.

It is Kels' birthday today, and I made her card, along with Dylan's Godchild card and Paul posted them up to Brum along with some gifts, and once I know she has received and opened them, I shall post pictures of the cards and how I made them.

I know that things are getting better now, and am feeling far more positive than I have until now, primarily because I seemed to get one thing after another on top of the double op. As the additional infections and problems are bought under control I am feeling far more cheery, and can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Onwards and Upwards...

Until the next time my dear friends

Progress So Far

I have had so very many well wishes sent to me from my friends and bloggers.

Although sitting at home means you have no real news to tell, I thought I would at least let you all know how I am doing health wise.

Friday, was well, Black to say the least. Poor Lorna did a great job of consoling my wilting spirits, as you will already have read in my previous post. To say that things could not possibly get any worse would have been an understatement!

Unfortunately on Saturday and Sunday, this is exactly what did happen. For any of you ladies out there who have been on huge doses of antibiotics you will know that there are a couple of problems that you can acquire as an after effect of how they take their toll on your body.

Being polite, if that is possible, I shall just say two words. Nether Regions! With any luck you will know what I mean and I won't get my blog shut down for indecency, LOL!

Anyway, to begin with I thought I was just imagining it, as I was still very conscious of not being able to sit, bend, lift (even a kettle) and many other normal, take it for granted movements, because of the belly pain I had, caused by my surgeries.

As I was 'imagining' it, I asked a poor unsuspecting Paul to go out to buy my best bud a birthday present. This is the birthday present I had planned to buy the previous weekend, until I got rushed into hospital.

Paul looked at me as if I was a martian talking a strange language - what do I get he said.... I had that part sorted! I went online and printed off pictures of what I wanted, and where to go to get them. Once he was there, he just texted pictures for me to approve or disapprove. OK, not an ideal situation, and Paul was using a few choice words, but because of who it was for, he was happy to do it, bless him.

When he returned home he had even bought me a little PJ set with matching slippers so that I had enough sets to change each day into a fresh set without worrying - Bless!

All this time, please don't forget, he came off nights the previous day and was absolutely k'naggered (translation - very tired LOL).

By late afternoon, I sent poor Paul off again, this time to Tesco to buy me the first of my required remedies for the old water works. Off he trotted, no problem. He called me from Tesco to see if I would like the cranberry or lemon flavoured treatment - lemon of course - I hate cranberry, and then came back with said medication.

Sunday morning came round and I soon decided that I needed the next of the medication of the other rather delicate problem. Again he went off, without batting an eyelid, and returned a short while later, with exactly what I needed.

All this while I was unsure if I could use part of the 2nd box of tricks due to the surgeries, so eventually, after much persuasion from many friends, I called NHS Direct and spoke to a really nice male nurse.

Apart from being very thorough about my medical history, he also gave me some sound advise, but pretty much confirmed that everything Paul had bought me was the right way to go, and it was all OK to use together, including the bit I was the most unsure of.

And so that's it - my weekend in a nutshell. I attempted to do a bit of walking round on Saturday and that put me back to bed for the day Sunday.

The upside to all of this? I've lost 5lb. Woo Hoo! OK not a way you want to lose weight, but there has to be a bright side to any situation, don't you think?

So today is Monday, and although I have been dressed today, and sat under a duvet in the lounge, I can only get into joggers and look a right sight because of the swollen belly. I have a few visitors 'booked' in for tomorrow and am hoping that things are on the up.

Until next time dear friends

xx

999, Doctor, Doctor, ER - HELP!

To all of my loyal readers I apologise for my absence. And to everyone who has sent me well wishes, cards and gifts I thank you with all my heart.

Despite pain and being drugged to the eyeballs, a blogger is always a blogger, so I managed to get some pictures. I even thought of the consequences of showing peoples faces etc, so what you will see is, well, me! Looking quite frankly crap!

So this is what happened.

The snow outside had continued to fall for a couple of days and hence I could no longer use my beloved MX-5 Betty Blue to get to work. It was now down to shank's pony (that's by foot to anyone who needs it translated LOL).

Friday the 8th came around and I trudged into work, arriving on time and did my full shift. However, after I had returned to lunch I was suddenly doubled over with pain, and laughed it off with the girls as women's stuff - as you do!

An hour later Paul collected me for the end of my shift, so that I didn't have to walk home again - thank god for Paul! As soon as I got home I doubled up again and went to bed with a hot water bottle.

I got home at about 2.15pm, but by 19.30 I was crying in pain and begging Paul to take me to the local medical drop in centre that was open until 8pm.

I threw on a pair of joggers and a jog top, pulled my water bottle to my belly and got in the car. It's OK I thought - coupla tablets and I'll be right as reign.

Having fallen through the doors of the drop in centre and burst into tears on the receptionist, I was being seen by the on call doctor that was there.

Needless to say, I had no handbag, no money, no keys, nothing, nada, zip with me. Despite this I was booked a bed in hospital and sent directly there, no stopping, no messing!

This was not going according to plan - I was only supposed to be out 5 minutes - not 5 days!

By this time it was 20.30 and I was on a ward and in my bed. The consultant and his #1 sidekick came to see me, and were very concerned, considering my history that I may have a burst ovary, if not it was my appendix. I needed a scan. You shall have one first thing tomorrow he said meanwhile we will give you any drug you desire.... well no actually he didn't say that, but I was very happy with the huge bolus of morphine that I received directly into my arm - after that everything was lovely Ha Ha!

They kept me drugged on oromorph all night to help the pain, and I took the opportunity whilst I could to get a glimpse of the snow outside the window. A few minutes later they came to take me for my ultra sound scan.

Chappy decided that my ovaries we OK - relief! But could also find no problem with my appendix - it could be low lying and out of view he said - typical nothing normal for me eh!

Anyway - here I am looking thoroughly miserable , and more to the point morphed up, as I await for the consultant to make a decision from the ultra sound slides he was to receive.

I did not sleep at all well on the Saturday night - probably too many drugs, or not enough, but I wanted to hear the end of the nurses conversation about ghosts and missed is as someone pulled their call button!

My IV became my point of interest at this point LOL.

I was taken to surgery at 11.30am on Sunday morning, and did not return to the ward until just gone 15.30pm. It was a long surgery.

It seems that along with my appendix going bad, (which they removed for me), I also had about a hundred adhesion's (endometriosos) that needed lazering and cauterising. This came as a huge shock to me, as I had only had surgery in April 2007 to remove a dozen or so and thought that was all over.

The long and short of it is that it was a triple whammy! URTI (urinary tract infection that I knew nothing about), appendix bursting and endometriosis adhesion's.

All I can say is that I am so glad my appendix burst as the adhesion's would have taken a long long time to diagnose and have done, just like they did last time.

The doctors were fantastic - I did actually keep telling them this however, and I was actually scoring them out of 1o - to their faces - I even married one off and told him he was so handsome in normal clothes and it was a damn shame he was single. OUTRAGEOUS I KNOW! but how many times do I have to tell you I WAS MORPHED UP!!!

Anyway, they released me on Tuesday afternoon, and Paul's Dad picked me up, as he happened to be in the same block for a appointment himself. I was never so glad to see anyone in my life and gave him such a big hug.

The whole while I had been inside we were on lock down to the Noro Virus outbreak the week before, so only patients were allowed inside the hospital. My friends were wonderful and kept me going with phone calls and texts though.

Wednesday evening Sharon and Chris arrived to see me - and I have to apologise for the state of how I looked, PJ's, unwashed hair, duvet pillows and generally not a welcoming sight for them, but they bought me two bunches of gorgeous roses in pinks and yellows, and Chris had me laughing albeit is very painfully, for the short while they visited me.

Sally-Ann and Mike also visited that day, and I have since received these lovely orchids from them, along with my favourite coffee cake, which will come out once I have an appetite again.

Thursday and Friday have been black!

I spent all day Friday crying, and after a visit from my friend Lorna, who happens to be a nurse, she made me feel better, and confirmed it was normal as I had had quite a traumatic few days, been drugged out of my eyeballs, had general anaesthetic, and been through effectively 2 very painful procedures all at once.

I feel awful but I asked some friends that wanted to visit on Friday and over the weekend that I was not up to it - I'm really sorry guys, but honestly you would not have wanted to see me!

Meanwhile.....

All this time.... Poor Paul had been on nights and was trying to hold it all together - one thing is for sure though, Fred loves his Daddy even more now and won't leave his side - after all Mommy left him for the best part of a week!

Apologises

I am in hospital, but shall return with the details soon x

An Ode For Miss Frugal

This one is totally for my new bloggy friend Miss Frugal.

I discovered her blog only yesterday, after following one of the links from another lady I follow regularly. The post I saw was for a lovely recipe for Chocolate Cinnamon Cake, and I just had to have a go at making it.

If you click on Miss Frugals name above you can go directly to her post for the recipe, and a look around her lovely blog, but if you want to get right down to the chocolate cake experience here is the recipe again for you

Chocolate Cinnamon Cake

175g butter
175g brown sugar
200g self raising flour
3 eggs
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
60ml milk
Chocolate spread

• Pre-heat the oven to 180 c.
• Grease and line a 8 inch round cake tin.
• Put the butter, sugar, flour, eggs, cinnamon, baking powder and milk into mixing bowl and mix until smooth and creamy.
• Tip about half of the mixture into your baking tin and then spoon four or five blobs of chocolate spread on top of it.
• Put the rest of your mix into the baking tray and smooth it out.
• Use the skinny end of your spoon and swirl the mixture around a bit.
• Smooth it out again.
• Put the cake in the oven for about an hour or until the cake is springy to the touch

As you can see from the pictures, it was really really easy to make. I would say a total of about 7-10 minutes prep/mix time and then up to an hour in the oven depending on it's fierceness.

(Yes that is my laptop you can see - I needed to follow the recipe from Miss Frugal Blog!)

The best and I suppose only good bit of not having any children is that I get to lick the spoons - YUM!
and this is how my cake came out of the oven 40 minutes later...
it had risen beautifully and got a lovely deep brown colour to it.

When it had finally cooled enough to eat it, we cut a slice each and squirted some cream next to it and got stuck in. By droppping dollops of choccy spread into the mix pre cooking, you have a lotto as to whether you get a gorgeous mouthful of squidgy lovliness in your slice.... mmmm

We have to say that we decided it was far nicer without the cream, and I even think that a thin layer of the left over chocolate spread over the top as an icing may be a good idea, but it was so light and delicious that it will certainly be on my cooking agenda again.

Thank you Miss Frugal x

Unexpected Day Out

Whilst just coming around from our lazy morning, the telephone rang. It was Sally-Ann to see if we wanted to join them, Pam and the boys, Jamie, Phill and Simon, in a trip to Falmouth and a little sneaky treat of something nice at the boat club.

Well, I said, I'm about the go the Tesco to do the weeks shopping...... give me 5 minutes and we'll be ready. Oh now come on! Falmouth. Tesco. No brainer really is it!

Jamie pulled up a few minutes later with a car full of excited explorers, and we followed them over to Falmouth and parked up.

The main order of the day..... A cuppa and a giant toasted tea cake at the boat club. The weather was fantastic, with blue skies and the boats tinkled away in their moorings looking back at us as we ate.

Once our bodies were fully charged again, Phill, Simon, Sally-Ann and I left the rest of them and headed off to our favourite store for a mooch. Trago didn't get much business today from us, as the sale prices are only in play on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, but at least we got a chance to do a pre rekkie to decide if the journey was worth a 2nd trip in one week.

We rejoined the rest of the gang a little later and decided to head off to Pendennis Point for the obligatory ice-cream. Yes it is freezing cold but it has to be done OK!

Having enjoyed our ice creams, we made arrangements to go to the beach with the dogs tomorrow, and then we headed off home for the shopping list and the trip to Tesco that we had been putting off.

What a lovely morning, and a great start to 2010.

Happy 2010