More than just a bag lady

Over the years a few 'traditions' have become associated with me either being in hospital or coming home from hospital.  For example I will only drink Ribena in hospital, never at home. And of course you never get toast in hospital so that's one of the first things I have when I get home.  One of the other rituals is that the children cut off my hospital wristbands. I think it helps them to know that I'm home to stay and not just out on day release and it helps them feel involved in the whole hospital/home journey.  So here they are, cutting the most recent wristbands off.  There's always a fight to cut off the red one so now they take it in turns. As I'm  in hospital so often at the moment they know it will only be a few weeks until the next time they get to cut a band off!! So that's another set of bands in the bin and two happy children who know that, at least for now, Mummy is back where she should be. At home.  NB x

On the way home from hospital this afternoon I missed a call from a blocked number. Knowing this can often be the hospital ward or the doctors I listened to the voicemail straight away and nearly had a heart attack.  The 'fanny assessment' as it's becoming (fondly) known among my friends was due to take place at the end of February.   To jog your memory this is to check that there is no lasting damage to my vagina after it was accidentally sewn to my bowel in the op in July and also to make sure that if/when I get joined back up there is no way that there can be any leakage of bowel content into the vagina-nice.  The voicemail was from the admissions clerk at St Marks saying that they'd had a cancellation and Surgeon A wants to know if I can come in for the fanny assessment earlier than planned.  Great, you might think. Everything's moving on nice and quickly.  No.  The date of the cancellation is 19th December.  ...

I'm home! I'm waiting for the kids to get back from school so that I can surprise them. I can't wait to see the look on their faces.  I'm so excited to see them and my hubby that I'm almost wetting myself!! All the way home I could hardly believe it but it's real, it is happening and I am at home.  See, miracles do happen NB x

So yesterday in 'X marks the spot' you saw that I has been marked up for a new Hickman line. I was told I was on the afternoon list and that they would come for me about 5pm. Well 5pm came and went and by 6pm I was starting to get twitchy. I asked a nurse if they were definitely coming and she said that another lady on the ward had had hers cancelled so she had better check if mine was cancelled too.  The thought of it being cancelled made me feel sick as I'd already started to think about going home, seeing the kids and our family day out at winter wonderland on Friday.  She came back to say they were running behind but they were still coming for me. Phew! At 7pm the porter came and I asked the nurses if they would lock my handbag away for me. This sent them into meltdown as apparently they would have to log every single item in there, every coin and credit card in my purse to ensure that no-one could be accused of taking anything while I was off the ward....

Some of you may remember seeing a picture very similar to this a few months ago.  I've been marked up for the insertion of a new Hickman line. If the line works I may be home as soon as tomorrow!! Just waiting now to be called down to the Interventional Radiology suite where they have a small theatre like room where the line is inserted in sterile conditions with the aid of ultrasound and X-rays.  And even better is the promise of sedation! Having had the Groshong and Picc line inserted at Princess Alexandra hospital without any sedation, this bit of news was very welcome. Although it doesn't make you go to sleep, being a little bit groggy does help to numb the effects of the pushing, pulling, prodding and poking from the insertion of the line in your neck and it exiting through your chest.  So here's hoping my next post will show off another new accessory along with some discharge paperwork! NB x

The doctor yesterday promised he would get me home in time for Christmas.  If today goes to plan then his promise could come good.  Fingers crossed. 

So today is my husbands birthday. And to continue this years tradition of missing birthdays, I won't be there to see him open his presents or read his cards cause I'm stuck in hospital.  I thought that given today was his special day it was only fitting that I tell everyone how amazing my husband truly is and a bit about how we got together.   So the story begins in Nottingham, Arnold more specifically in a not very glamorous Asda store on the high street. I was 17 and had started working on the deli counter there in the evenings after 6th form college and at weekends and he was the dairy supervisor (and 6 years older than me- which all most caused my Dad a heart attack at the time!)   Being young and naive I never thought anything about the fact he would always get me to make him a pizza every time I was working- I just thought he loved pizza! I later found out that was a ruse to be able to come and chat to me.   We socialised in a big group after ...