More than just a bag lady

I have so much to write about but am currently lying in bed with a banging headache, sweats, all over body aches and feeling on the whole pretty lousy (and a tinsy winsy bit sorry for myself) Here's what's to come when I feel well enough to write a proper post: Easter in Nottingham The new sign The bath Pinterest Irish Teresa  Physiology test (and the pain in the arse) Poo corner Back to school Going back to work Skydiving Can't wait to get it all out of my head and written down. Hopefully this is just one of those 24 hour bugs (and not, as Hubby is panicking about, the start of a line infection) NB x  

So the Easter holidays are almost over. My kids have an inset day today then back to school tomorrow. Although I've had loads of fun with them I am completely shattered and ready for them to go back to school so I can have a bit if a rest during the day.  NB x

We decided that we would spend Easter weekend in Nottingham with the family. Hubby and I couldn't decide when we were going to go so thought that we would just go with the flow; maybe going Thursday or if not, Friday morning.  Thursday morning we were all up and awake by 8.30am. The plan was to get packed, make a picnic and leave about 11am. We thought we would drive up the A1, stop at Rutland Water for a picnic and maybe even let the kids ride their bikes for an hour before continuing on the journey to Nottingham.  Well, the best laid plans and all that.  I starting packing with the kids. Big Girl, for once, was no problem but Big Fella was very tired and whiny, refusing to get dressed or to help me pack his clothes. Exasperated I gave up and Hubby took over but he now refused to do anything unless it was 'with Mummy'.  A friend then popped round to get a few bits and as is usual in my house, a one minute thing turned into 25 minutes and a cup of tea. I can't help i...

I was going to write an interesting post for you to read but I'm quite simply too tired. I think if I started one then Hubby would find me slumped something like this within half an hour! So I will leave you this happy thought instead... NB x

Hubby is off work so we are trying to have some quality family time together. It's made even better by the sunshine. This is how we spent yesterday... We went to the country park to feed the ducks. The doctors have told me to try and walk to increase the circulation in my legs as this might help with the numbness.  After doing this though I was worn out so spent the afternoon like this, watching Hubby jet washing the decking.  After dinner I went upstairs to talk to Big Girl and I was so tired I fell asleep on the floor of her bedroom. Hubby said he found me fast asleep, face down on the carpet so he put me to bed before the kids!! NB x

Following my recent A&E visit with my numb leg I had an appointment to have an MRI scan. On a Sunday. Apparently in order to keep up with demand they now offer appointments 7 days a week. Still, it was quite a novelty being in a hospital on a Sunday and not being an inpatient! MRI scans involve going into the tunnel which is so tight you can barely move.  Luckily I'm not claustrophobic but I can understand why people don't like it. You have to wear headphones because there's a lot of clanking, banging and other loud noises. Despite this I tend to fall asleep!   To be honest, I'm really not too sure what they're looking for. I'm guessing that there has been some nerve damage given the numbness. The results go to the orthopaedic team at the Princess Alexandra hospital so I'm sure they will be in contact if it needs following up.  I can't believe how different I feel this week compared to last. I don't know if I have an energy hangover (love that ph...

I haven't posted at all this week. I went to stay in Nottingham with my parents as it's the Easter holidays and I didn't feel up to looking after the kids on my own. I also invited my bestie and her kids to come with me as it would be a little holiday for them, plus she drove, meaning that I didn't have to.  So there were going to be four kids and four adults at my parents three bedroom semi. The kids topped and tailed in bunk beds and me and my friend shared the double room. My parents were great though, not minding the mess we made, playing with the kids and taking them out to give me and my friend a break (as she's 35 weeks pregnant!) We spent a day with my sister in law and her two children at Sherwood Forest where, after buying the children some inexpensive wooden swords and bows and arrows, they spent hours climbing trees, hiding out in the forest and pretending to be part of Robin Hoods gang. It was great to see them having good old fashioned fun... There was...

Over the last year I've either not felt well enough to get my hair cut or been in hospital. Because of the huge doses of steroids I spent the end of 2012 and half of 2013 taking my weight ballooned and I felt so crappy about how I looked I thought it didn't seem worth getting my hair done when I felt I looked so terrible.  So in the hope that my health has finally turned a corner and because I've managed to lose 4 stone in the last 9 months I decided maybe it was time to book the hairdresser. This was quite a big thing for me as it was one of the first steps in getting back to me. Me how I used to be as opposed to me how I am. Me well instead of me sick. Me living a normal life instead of living in hospital.  So on Saturday morning the hairdresser arrived.  This was before...long hair that could easily be pulled into a hair bobble and piled on top of my head when I was too tired to a) brush it, b) wash it or c) care! This is the during... And this was the after (4 hours l...

I'm wrote most of this post from a stretcher in the A&E department of Princess Alexandra hospital yesterday.  Remember how my left leg went numb after the procedure of Friday? Well it started to not feel right again on Wednesday and the outside of my thigh started to go numb.  I didn't think much of it, assuming it would go away. Well it didn't. I didn't sleep a wink Wednesday night. Literally not a minute. I think the fact that my leg was playing up coupled with the fact that my mind is in overtime with mental to do lists meant that I had insomnia.  So by 4am I had enough of lying in bed listening to Hubby snore so got up and went down to watch some TV. Having caught up on Gogglebox it was time to get the kids up for school.  There was a mass at the school and the parish had gotten a new priest while I've been in hospital so I was keen to go and see what he was like. I got dressed (news flash - Natalie wears real clothes instead of pjs!) and a friend picked me ...

As you probably know I was discharged from hospital on Monday evening. It was supposed to be Tuesday, so how did I get out early? Let me tell you... On Monday morning there was the big ward round as usual. Dr8 was back from his annual leave and I was pleased to see him. He couldn't believe how much better I was and the fact that so many of his patients had been discharged while he was away. "Perhaps I should go leave more often" he joked to me. "All of my patients get better while I am away!" Dr7 was also there as well as the Ward Manager, dietician and nutrition nurse. Dr7 began by asking how my leg was. (It had been numb from the local anaesthetic injected into my spine during Fridays procedure but had improved by Saturday morning.) We reviewed what had been done during the procedure, how my hydration and nutrition was and my pain levels. To be honest, everything had vastly improved. The pain was still gone, I was able to eat more of a variety of foods alt...

Just a very quick update to say that I made it home on Monday evening.  I've spent the last two days settling in and having some quality time with Hubby and the kids. A more detailed post will follow giving all my discharge details and the interesting Monday morning ward round I had.  NB x