A small hiccup

Yesterday the Fh spent the day largely asleep, and I began to get concerned that he wasn't actually as well as he had been the afternoon of his discharge.  Although the care at the hospital had been wonderful, I did feel that we could have had a little more support in the discharge process - what to expect, things to watch out for, potential problems etc.  I quietly rang our practice nurse at home, who had a quiet word with the doctor, at 8pm last night, and she came back to me with the advice to get the on call doctor out to have a check up.  I was immensely grateful that a doctor turned out at 10pm last night and came to look him over.  It was reassuring to know that he didn't find anything outstandingly wrong, and that he advised us to carry on as we were.

Today the FH has had an afternoon downstairs by the fire, and one of the ladies from the church came and sat with him whilst I made a much-needed shopping trip to town.  The girls and I were out for about 2 and a half hours, and the lady from the church managed to keep him awake the whole time!  She did very well, and they put the world to rights between them.

He has had rump steak and steamed veg for his supper, and retired to bed with the electric blanket on and the tv.  All the pills for the day are done, and we are looking forward to tomorrow.  Another day, and a step further into his recovery.

I have tomorrow's sermon spinning around in my brain and I am struggling to get it down on paper - the FH suggested that since I have a clear idea of the message, I should just trust God and go without having written it all down.  I am not yet that confident in my own abilities and will be spending as long as it takes tonight to get it down on paper!  It has been developing in my mind since last Thursday and I really should have committed it to paper by now, but sermons seem to keep developing even  once I have them on paper, and it has been intriguing to see how far this one would go.  I know it will change even as I deliver it tomorrow, so I am not too worried, but I do need to get the bare bones of it down, even if it is just an outline!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend, and enjoy the weather we are having in the UK at the moment - today was a glimmer of the spring that I hope is just around the corner...

The best news

He's home!

The FH is weak, tired and on more medications than before, but he is home, and back in his chair by the fire, asleep, already.  He really wanted a good cup of tea, which he has had, and now he needs a good night's sleep, but he is here with us, back where he belongs.  We are blessed indeed tonight.

Thank you for all your support and prayers - I would be grateful for the prayers for him to continue as he makes his recovery, please, as he doesn't look that great just yet.

Thursday's thoughts

We had a day off from visiting the FH yesterday, as my cousin popped in to see him in the afternoon and one of his old chaps from the village was taken in the evening.  The chap's daughter phoned me when they got home and said how happy the two men had been to see one another - so we were both pleased that we had arranged it.  The FH had been moved yesterday to a 4 bed room, so he has company now, which I think will be good for him.  There is talk [but no promises] of him coming home by the weekend, so I am quietly keeping my fingers crossed for that.

I took the girls and we met my sister for lunch yesterday, which was a first, and a very pleasant way to spend some time.  We all enjoyed it, and it was a lovely break from routine.  UJ was here as well for the village lunch club, so we spent some time with him once we all got back from lunches here and there.  He brought me some leeks, sprouting broccoli, sprouts and a lovely Savoy cabbage, so we have plenty of veg available at the moment.  More leek and potato soup will be on the menu, I think!

Today the weather is warmer than it has been of late, but it is wet again, so not ideal, and rather frustrating for getting anything done outside.  As it is the middle of February today, my thoughts had turned to sowing seeds for tomatoes, peppers and chillies, but it is not inspiring out there.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Monday's update

I came home from the hospital yesterday feeling more positive.  The fluid output has increased, showing that the medications are at last beginning to get rid of some of the water for the FH, and he was feeling more comfortable yesterday.  The doctors have identified that one of the transplant drugs needed to be withdrawn completely because of the damage it has been doing to his kidneys and stomach, and so they have doubled his dose of the other one to compensate.  The huge doses of steroids continue - the FH estimated that he took 28 pills yesterday morning.....and he continues to take oxygen.

I am sorry that this blog has temporarily become a medical diary, but I hope that you can appreciate that this is what occupies our thoughts and prayers here at the moment.  Finances are still on my mind, but not to any great degree in comparison to the thoughts of the FH.  My savings target for this month looks decidedly dodgy, given the amount I am spending on diesel and car parking, as well as new pjs that we have bought!  

The children are being very mature and supportive.  The EFG has had a night at a friend's house last night and then caught a bus into Cambridge for a day out today.  I will be collecting her tonight.  My sister has invited us to join her for lunch tomorrow, and then the YFG would like to go to the cinema with her friend on Friday, so my dad has offered to shout them lunch as well whilst I go and see him.  They are not having a "normal" half-term but the FH is determined that they should still have some fun.  There is no word of him coming home yet, so we continue with the visit schedule - I am going this afternoon with the YFG and UJ, my cousin is nipping in tomorrow and then we will be back on Thursday.  

Thank you.

Back to business

There is unfortunately no progress to report for the FH; he continues on his oxygen, with his fluid intake and output being measured, and with tests still ongoing.  He is stable, but not making any improvements yet.  His cousin took over the reins of the visiting today for me, and I had a break.  I slept in until 8am, didn't go to the church service this morning but just popped in to see folk afterwards, and have had two naps this afternoon! I have been in touch with relatives and friends, and watched some tv.  The fire was lit for the first time since Wednesday, and we have had a cosy day in.

I have had a look at some websites that I thought I might share with you, and see what you thought to them.  Some I like, and some I don't think suit me and our lifestyle.

I think that Petrolprices is a useful tool to keep track of local prices if you have a number of suppliers in your area, but there is no sense in travelling extra miles to get fuel a few pence cheaper.  

I do use Quidco quite often, especially when I am shopping around for insurance or larger purchases.  I also use TopCashBack for money back on shopping - if I am going to have to spend the money, I might as well get a little back if at all possible!

Supersavvyme is an interesting one - some aspects of it I like, and some I am not so keen on - but it is well worth a trawl around it to pick out the gems and find the parts of it which are relevant to your life.

I feel similarly ambivalent about Moneymagpie - if you can cope with the headline style of the home page, there is a lot in there but one could easily get distracted by "47 ways to find a date" instead of finding the really good stuff which you need to read if you are interested in saving money.  I think this one is another which is worthy of further investigation.

I feel like I should be as the BBC and point out that there are other moneysaving websites available!  But some are not to my taste at all - the ones which still encourage you to spend, but to acquire the items using coupons and deals which just allow you to get the item a little cheaper.  Too many people will use the coupons and still put the balance on the credit cards, and not enough people are encouraging the world to go back to the basics and just not to buy if one doesn't have the money to pay!

But, do you know what, I don't like any of these websites as much as I love the personal ones, written by MeanQueen, Frugal Queen and Sue, for example, where we hear about the realities of day to day life and get the personal touch.  There is a lot to be said for knowing that other people are living the experience and not just writing about it as journalists to do a day job.  Long live the real bloggers who practice what they preach.  They are an inspiration to us all.

If you can recommend a "real" blogger who is not in my blogroll, and who you think I would like to read, please mention them in the comments and I will go and have a read.  I am always interested to find new blogs and would love to add new ones to the blogroll.  Thanks xx

A new secret weapon

The hospital may be taking wonderful care of the FH but I am frustrated at never being able to actually speak to a doctor about what they are doing and what they are hoping to achieve, and what the long term outlook is.  I have spoken to a nurse twice on the phone today: the first time all I got was that the FH was "comfortable" and was due for an ultrasound at 10am, as I said earlier - and guess what he said this afternoon: the FH has had a scan and is "comfortable".....I asked the questions, but the nurse was very reluctant to say more than that.  When I asked to speak with a doctor, he said that they only talk with relatives face-to-face.

BUT I met a lady in there yesterday who I know - she is a student nurse.  I didn't know that as I only know her as the mother of two lads who come to gym, but I spoke with her tonight and explained my frustrations.  She will be at the hospital when we visit tomorrow and has promised to help me to find someone to speak with, to get some answers.  She was very sympathetic when I spoke with her, and said that there are a number of people we could speak with, so I have hopes of moving forward tomorrow.

We are going to gym in the morning till 1pm and then we will go straight from there to the hospital for afternoon visiting.  Keep your fingers crossed for me that there is not too much snow in this area, please, as I am not keen on driving in snow...

Thanks for all your lovely messages again.  You are beyond kind.

Quick update

Attention has shifted from the FH's kidneys to his heart, and he began a three day course of intravenous steroids [sorry - must have been distracted this morning when I put antibiotics] yesterday.  I rang this morning and the nurse said he had had a comfortable night.  He wasn't terribly happy when I was there yesterday afternoon, so that was an improvement, I hope.  He is looking forward to his sister visiting him this afternoon, and I will be going with the girls tomorrow now.  I will ring for an update from the nurse around 3pm as he was going to have some more tests done this morning.

Thank you for your prayers - please keep them coming - we are not out of the woods yet.  In fact, the doctors don't yet seem clear of the path, so we have a way to go.