Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Our "baby"
Another Day in the life
of us!
Simon and Shane started their 3rd school term yesterday, which meant Simon got to drive Shane to school. Good boy rang to let me know they arrived safely and it certainly freed up my morning.
In the afternoon John and I went to see his specialist at the smaller, closer hospital and his numbers have gone down again to 172. Still not fantastic, but as long as they don't go up again we may have beaten the rejection episode again. Today he needs to call and make an appointment for Monday or Tuesday at the big hospital, all going well then he is already booked in through to September at the smaller hospital. It is closer to home and if John can get back to fortnightly visits it will be much easier. But of course we have to hold our breathe and wait for the blood test results at each appointment.
Today I will stitch some more, probably on Fish City. It is growing, slowly, but it is 29" wide, so there is some serious stitching to do.
I also have to shop for food and hit the chemist again for more drugs for John. Thank goodness they are well subsidised by the government, if we had to pay full price we would really be battling to live. We certainly can't complain.
Since I can still not work out how to manipulate pictures within my blog, here somewhere you will see the latest Fish City update and Simon's school photo, such a nice photo this year, very rare that they actually smile for school photos. 
Oops I think I actually got the photos about where I wanted them LOL.
Oops I think I actually got the photos about where I wanted them LOL.Friday, July 20, 2007
TGIF!!
What a week it has been.
We visited the in laws on Sunday as it was BIL's birthday and I had a big bag of chicken scraps to drop off. Neither of us were in the mood, but we did it anyway.
The in laws go from one extreme to the other with John's health, either on the phone in tears or we don't hear from them all week. The latter is better :)
Monday was a busy day, John trotted off to the hospital again while I took Simon to get his braces off. It took just over an hour and I was so bored LOL my least favourite activity is walking around a shopping centre, even worse when none of the shops apart from the supermarket are actually open.
When we got home John was already here, not much happens with the hospital check ups until they get his blood work back.
Tuesday afternoon John took Simon back to the orthodontist to pick up his retainer. What fun that will be for him for the next 12 months, but his teeth do look great.
Wednesday Simon went to pick his girlfriend up so she could spend the day here. We are getting to know her a bit now. If her dad finds out she is visiting though she will be in trouble. But they have to make decisions and deal with the consequences.
Thursday we were back to the hospital for yet another check up. John's creatinine continues to be high, but that is due to the high levels of drugs he is on to prevent further rejection of the kidney. We are really lucky that he has a great team of doctors and his specialist in particular is great, nice to have a doctor that we like and who has a sense of humour. He pointed out that John is chronically sleep deprived because of his night shift, 'man cannot survive on little sleep.' When I asked "what about woman? since I get less sleep than John" he said "But you're a woman, remember if a man gets a cold it's an emergency, call the ambulance, it could be life threatening."
After the hospital we had to pay the mortgage and shopped for new shoes, what a nightmare. I have big feet so finding stuff in my size is hard enough. Harris Scarfe had a good sale on sneakers and I found a pair in a pile with a sign that said $39. Got to the check out and they rang up as $120. The girl serving had to call the manager for a price override, fair enough. The only trouble is this is a big store and there were a total of 7 staff on for the day, only 1 manager. When the manager finally arrived she did an override and rang the shoes up as $50. When I pointed out that they were marked $39 on the shelf the manager had to go and do a price check. It turned out that they display all of the same brand name of shoes under the special price but it is only certain models that are on sale, so annoying. But she did give them to me for $45. This is why I really dislike shopping.
Today I was hoping to do nothing, it is cold and I am tired, but we have to put the car in for a service as Simon will be driving back and forth to school from Tuesday. So we'll toddle off early and drop John's car in and then have to pick it up later today. Maybe Saturday I'll stay in my pjs and stitch.
We visited the in laws on Sunday as it was BIL's birthday and I had a big bag of chicken scraps to drop off. Neither of us were in the mood, but we did it anyway.
The in laws go from one extreme to the other with John's health, either on the phone in tears or we don't hear from them all week. The latter is better :)
Monday was a busy day, John trotted off to the hospital again while I took Simon to get his braces off. It took just over an hour and I was so bored LOL my least favourite activity is walking around a shopping centre, even worse when none of the shops apart from the supermarket are actually open.
When we got home John was already here, not much happens with the hospital check ups until they get his blood work back.
Tuesday afternoon John took Simon back to the orthodontist to pick up his retainer. What fun that will be for him for the next 12 months, but his teeth do look great.
Wednesday Simon went to pick his girlfriend up so she could spend the day here. We are getting to know her a bit now. If her dad finds out she is visiting though she will be in trouble. But they have to make decisions and deal with the consequences.
Thursday we were back to the hospital for yet another check up. John's creatinine continues to be high, but that is due to the high levels of drugs he is on to prevent further rejection of the kidney. We are really lucky that he has a great team of doctors and his specialist in particular is great, nice to have a doctor that we like and who has a sense of humour. He pointed out that John is chronically sleep deprived because of his night shift, 'man cannot survive on little sleep.' When I asked "what about woman? since I get less sleep than John" he said "But you're a woman, remember if a man gets a cold it's an emergency, call the ambulance, it could be life threatening."
After the hospital we had to pay the mortgage and shopped for new shoes, what a nightmare. I have big feet so finding stuff in my size is hard enough. Harris Scarfe had a good sale on sneakers and I found a pair in a pile with a sign that said $39. Got to the check out and they rang up as $120. The girl serving had to call the manager for a price override, fair enough. The only trouble is this is a big store and there were a total of 7 staff on for the day, only 1 manager. When the manager finally arrived she did an override and rang the shoes up as $50. When I pointed out that they were marked $39 on the shelf the manager had to go and do a price check. It turned out that they display all of the same brand name of shoes under the special price but it is only certain models that are on sale, so annoying. But she did give them to me for $45. This is why I really dislike shopping.
Today I was hoping to do nothing, it is cold and I am tired, but we have to put the car in for a service as Simon will be driving back and forth to school from Tuesday. So we'll toddle off early and drop John's car in and then have to pick it up later today. Maybe Saturday I'll stay in my pjs and stitch.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
All grown up
My babies are no longer babies (Hooray!!)
I wonder how long the novelty of driving will take to wear off?
And I wonder how long Shane will be so excited about going grocery shopping with his big brother LOL.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Good News and Bad News
Well the good news is Simon passed his driving test, so now he can drive himself and Shane to and from school.
He also performed live for a State Schools Administration Officers conference last night. He and his friend have formed a band and were invited to play as the pre-dinner entertainment. Simon sang and played guitar and his friend Luke played guitar, they did a great job. Very professional sounding and were each given a $40 gift voucher.
Now the bad news. We are off to the hospital again today. What's new? We have been every day since Friday.
Yesterday we were quite optimistic as John's creatinine had dropped back to 172 and we thought it was on the way down again. But more blood was taken yesterday and when John rang in the afternoon to get the results his level had jumped back to 201. Not good so back to hospital again today. You know it is not good when his regular specialist who is on holidays with his family interstate has rung 3 times this week.
Financially and emotionally this is so draining. While I would like to curl up and sleep for a few days I can't. Luckily the boys are all getting older and understand what is going on, but it is a lousy way to spend the school holidays.
So another few hours in hospital this morning, more blood tests and whatever else needs to be done. John said last night they keep telling us there is light at the end of the tunnel, but the light keeps moving further away. I told him he is taking this in sickness and in health part a bit far.
He also performed live for a State Schools Administration Officers conference last night. He and his friend have formed a band and were invited to play as the pre-dinner entertainment. Simon sang and played guitar and his friend Luke played guitar, they did a great job. Very professional sounding and were each given a $40 gift voucher.
Now the bad news. We are off to the hospital again today. What's new? We have been every day since Friday.
Yesterday we were quite optimistic as John's creatinine had dropped back to 172 and we thought it was on the way down again. But more blood was taken yesterday and when John rang in the afternoon to get the results his level had jumped back to 201. Not good so back to hospital again today. You know it is not good when his regular specialist who is on holidays with his family interstate has rung 3 times this week.
Financially and emotionally this is so draining. While I would like to curl up and sleep for a few days I can't. Luckily the boys are all getting older and understand what is going on, but it is a lousy way to spend the school holidays.
So another few hours in hospital this morning, more blood tests and whatever else needs to be done. John said last night they keep telling us there is light at the end of the tunnel, but the light keeps moving further away. I told him he is taking this in sickness and in health part a bit far.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Another day, another hospital visit
Well actually today makes the 4th day in a row for John.
Everything was looking good on Thursday, John felt good and had a blood test. Friday morning he went to the hospital for his regular weekly check up with his specialist and his creatinine level had jumped from 186 to 229. Normal is 120 or below. An urgent blood test then showed his levels had jumped again to 254. So instead of coming home John was admitted and given another biopsy - his 8th in 9 months. It showed ongoing rejection from 6 weeks ago when they did the last biopsy, so after several hours flat on his back John was hooked up to a methyl-prednisolone drip for an hour. He left home at 10pm Thursday and finally got home at 7pm Friday. His specialist did offer to keep him in hospital overnight but John preferred to come home.
Saturday morning bright and early we returned to the hospital for more blood work and another hour long drip for John. The same again Sunday. which was the worst day as the nurse didn't flush the jelco in his arm before attaching the drip, so the drip stopped 1/2 way through because the jelco kinked. She fiddled with it and got it going again, but a few minutes later it stopped again. The last 20 minutes she spent holding the jelco in his arm and massaging his vein - agony for him and he is very bruised and sore.
Today John will head off to the hospital again, more blood tests and another check up with the transplant team.
I won't go today as I have to go with Simon to pick his girlfriend up.
Planning a quiet day today and hopefully some sleep tonight.
It has been a very, very long 9 months.
Everything was looking good on Thursday, John felt good and had a blood test. Friday morning he went to the hospital for his regular weekly check up with his specialist and his creatinine level had jumped from 186 to 229. Normal is 120 or below. An urgent blood test then showed his levels had jumped again to 254. So instead of coming home John was admitted and given another biopsy - his 8th in 9 months. It showed ongoing rejection from 6 weeks ago when they did the last biopsy, so after several hours flat on his back John was hooked up to a methyl-prednisolone drip for an hour. He left home at 10pm Thursday and finally got home at 7pm Friday. His specialist did offer to keep him in hospital overnight but John preferred to come home.
Saturday morning bright and early we returned to the hospital for more blood work and another hour long drip for John. The same again Sunday. which was the worst day as the nurse didn't flush the jelco in his arm before attaching the drip, so the drip stopped 1/2 way through because the jelco kinked. She fiddled with it and got it going again, but a few minutes later it stopped again. The last 20 minutes she spent holding the jelco in his arm and massaging his vein - agony for him and he is very bruised and sore.
Today John will head off to the hospital again, more blood tests and another check up with the transplant team.
I won't go today as I have to go with Simon to pick his girlfriend up.
Planning a quiet day today and hopefully some sleep tonight.
It has been a very, very long 9 months.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Slow but steady
Fish City is growing at a slow and steady pace.
It is definitely a big project, but will be great when it is finally done. Hopefully sometime this year LOL.
I do need to work on a few more things too though so I'll give Fish City another week and then get back to Nature's Home.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Life
Stepping off the whirlwind of life to remember my Aunt Betty - Elizabeth Margaret Rose Gambie who passed away overnight on Sunday. Although I don't remember her physically as we left England when I was 3 years old, Aunt Betty has always been there. The first family member to send birthday cards, always writing letters and the only family member to ever remember John and I on our wedding anniversary. She would always send 2 cards in one envelope at the beginning of October, one for John's birthday and one for our anniversary. I have kept them all and all of her letters. Aunt Betty had her second hip replacement surgery recently and seemed to be doing well, but developed a blood clot in her lung. Aunt Betty leaves behind her husband Arthur, 5 children and several grandchildren.
Rest in peace Aunt Betty you will be missed.
Rest in peace Aunt Betty you will be missed.
Monday, July 02, 2007
A week between blogging
How time flies.
Very much the same old, same old happening here though. Doctors, school, stitching, cooking, cleaning. Life is busy, but pretty mundane.
Waiting to hear from the Children's Hospital about an appointment time for Shane. Hopefully not too long a wait.
The boys have one week of school left and then a 2 week holiday. Hopefully the weather won't be too disgusting as they have started helping dig a big flower bed. John will be getting a new work shed and it will be going where my garden is at the moment, so we are making new beds and moving the plants. Muddy work, but it is the best time of the year to do it.
The week ahead brings more appointments. Tuesday I'll take 3 boys to the orthodontist, actually Simon will drive and we'll spend some time driving around the area because it is where he will take his driving test.
John has more bloodwork Thursday and is back to the hospital again on Friday. All going well enough he won't have to go back for 2 weeks. So fingers crossed.
On the stitching front I have been busy working on Fish City. No new pictures yet, but I have stitched right along the top border. I'm doing all of the big blocks of colour and later will fill in the smaller details and the fish.
Very much the same old, same old happening here though. Doctors, school, stitching, cooking, cleaning. Life is busy, but pretty mundane.
Waiting to hear from the Children's Hospital about an appointment time for Shane. Hopefully not too long a wait.
The boys have one week of school left and then a 2 week holiday. Hopefully the weather won't be too disgusting as they have started helping dig a big flower bed. John will be getting a new work shed and it will be going where my garden is at the moment, so we are making new beds and moving the plants. Muddy work, but it is the best time of the year to do it.
The week ahead brings more appointments. Tuesday I'll take 3 boys to the orthodontist, actually Simon will drive and we'll spend some time driving around the area because it is where he will take his driving test.
John has more bloodwork Thursday and is back to the hospital again on Friday. All going well enough he won't have to go back for 2 weeks. So fingers crossed.
On the stitching front I have been busy working on Fish City. No new pictures yet, but I have stitched right along the top border. I'm doing all of the big blocks of colour and later will fill in the smaller details and the fish.
