Update

The previous blog was actually written earlier this week but my wonderful laptop refused to sign into Blogger so it was sat in my document folder until I managed to trick it into doing what I wanted!

My infection is still doing really well and my foot is fine so long as I don't try to walk anywhere... Plus I've had to resort to wearing shoes that are far too big for me as they don't rub/put pressure on the wrong bits.

Thankfully Andy seems loads better than last weekend - right now he is trying to reason with an 11 month old who is refusing to go to sleep even though we can both see that he is shattered. He really doesn't react to well to logical reason - maybe we should try illogical next??? He certainly isn't going to be a Vulcan...but seeing as his father was trying to teach him Klingon yesterday I should have realised that logic wasn't going to be his strong suit! Plus his ears are certainly not pointed and his blood was red when he was in SCBU!

Mikey is actually trying to sing 'My Way' at the moment as we've just got around to watching last weeks episode if Britains Got Talent! As usual he is getting all the right notes, just not in the right order...

Yesterday we popped over the see Nanny and Grandad, Mikey had a great day but at one point I'm fairly sure he was trying to plan how to use Barley as a horse, the poor dog used to try to get behind Nanny for protection! Plus Golden Retriever tails are very tempting to small fingers and she is very good at wagging it near him

The poor dog kept retreating to the garden, especially when the stacking train  and cups came out as his aim is fairly random - and I'm sure he doesn't mean to throw things at the dog...they just happen to go in that direction all on their own!
This week we get the new computer system at work, it's actually the system I used to use at Norfolkline! But I think this is a newer more expensive version... Hopefully it won't have the month end hiccups I had to get used to before!

Yuk

That word pretty much sums up my weekend…and the week that has followed it to be brutally honest. It started on Saturday with some kind bug biting my neck on my trachy scar, it really really itched but I tried to be good and not scratch it – not an agreement my son managed to stick to and his fingers seemed drawn to it every time I picked him up!


Sunday started off a little better, until Andy woke up and then it was rush time to get Mikey up, dressed and fed before whizzing my other baby off to Casualty. I won’t go into too many details but blood was involved and I’ve seen parts of my husband I’ve never seen before and honestly don’t want to see again! I know hospitals are under pressure but I was bored as we waited for the hours in A&E and I watched a Sister walk between minor and major injuries over and over again without appearing to actually do/achieve anything – plus she only ever walked one way so I can only assume she nipped around the back before repeating her stroll!

Luckily Mikey was next door with Emma, probably terrifying her boyfriend! I just hope the relationship has survived my child!

On Monday I decided my back/kidney pain was not improving so I went back to the Drs. They tried to convince me that I needed to phone Tuesday morning as they had no appointments left (this was mid morning) I refused to accept that and got a tad forceful. Amazingly I got an appointment for that afternoon! I saw the Dr and provided yet another sample to be told that my 3 day antibiotic course last week hadn’t worked… I know I didn’t spend umpteen years at university but I already knew that! My sample has now been sent for testing as the nitrate and white cell level seem very high and I’m now on stronger tablets 4 times a day for the next week!

Tuesday morning was not great either – I was in more pain and apparently having a gout attack on my left foot. Getting any shoes on was painful to say the least and driving was a joke! I delivered Mikey to Debbie and retreated home with my sore foot. It must have been bad as I resorted to NHS Direct last night as I simply wanted the pain to go away, I have now been told to stay off it as much as possible and to keep my liquid intake up (As the Dr on Monday had already told me!) I am now drinking like the proverbial fish and have my foot up so I can’t walk on it. I’ve also been told to stop taking one lot of medication until the attack stops and then start it again as even though I take it to prevent attacks it actually makes them more painful f they do start… the joys of too many tablets I guess.

All I’d like to know is who have I upset to be given the sort of week I appear to be having??? In fact it’s more like a bad month… please bring June on, hopefully it will be better than May.

I need a change...

I feel as though I'm going even more insane than my usual levels of insanity…


I went to my Drs yesterday as my back has been getting more and more painful over the last few days (OK, maybe longer than a few days) and I've found out I have a kidney infection so am now on some decidedly horrible antibiotics. These are making me feel wobbly/dizzy/sick and basically awful. Or at least I'm blaming the pills but I suppose it could be my wonderful Kidneys as well…I'm just praying that the pills sort it out and I haven't created another set of stones. I really don't need those at the moment. The Dr did ask if the pain was like this 3 years ago, but I could honestly say I don’t know - I never really felt it last time plus my memory of that time is a little hazy to say the least! Andy is probably the best person to ask!

I feel even worse for yelling at Mikey this morning as he was just being a baby and refusing to lie still whilst I changed his nappy and got him dressed, I'll apologise to him later as I got very stressed when he decided to roll over and play with the curtains and he was nearly sent to Debbie in his babygro!

This morning I also had to go to the William Harvey to see my consultant about my creaking knees. He is a very sweet man (for a consultant) and to be honest it was a bit of a waste of time as pretty much all I did was tell him I had another acute attack at the start of May but other than that they have behave almost normally (I forgot to tell him about the feeling I have when I think they are bending the wrong way - but then again there is nothing he can do about that anyway!) He very kindly sent me off for yet more blood tests (Well only 1 bottle this time) The whole load he did last time were fine except for the one which got repeated again today, I have to discuss these results with my GP in 4 weeks (If I manage to get an appointment) and it could be my medication will need to be increased. As it is he's told me I'll have to take the tablets I'm on now for the rest of my life - not a nice thought but at least they don’t taste too bad!

I also have physio again this afternoon - not my favourite thing in the world but at least I know now he hasn't caused the pain I've been suffering over the past few (!!) days, hopefully when I tell him what is happening he'll be nice and gentle, a massage would be wonderful right now!

Andy has been at home for the last few days with some kind of stomach bug - I think originally I (or my cooking ) was being blamed but he has now confessed that lots of people at work have been off with the same sort of thing. I really don't care what has caused it so long as I don't catch it too! Maybe I just need a way of venting at the moment as I can feel myself getting more and more stressed which really can't be helping too much and isn't the sort of thing I want Mikey to pick up on…And seeing as he is growing up so fast at the moment he may well pick it up. It's scary that he's 11 months old tomorrow and next month is a year - where on earth has the last year gone? The monkey is still not crawling but is trying really hard to talk, and being a cruel mother I've started trying to teach him the alphabet, we've got A and B although he can sound like Ali G at times and when he's been a bit of a pickle he will start reciting them! We haven't got to C yet as he loses interest after the first two! This could be a long process…I suppose I ought to get flash cards or something - or maybe some nice colourful, educational posters for his walls!?!?!?

I am trying to be good at the moment and drink lots of water - I confess that I'm starting to get really bored with the taste now…maybe I'll have to bring some squash in tomorrow to keep my liquid levels up! What I really need right now is something fun to look forward to…Mikey's birthday is one thing but I'm all too aware of the horrendous even that follows 17 days later - which is something I would quite happily forget if I could.

One good thing that has happened this week is I caught up with Julia…I've known her for probably about 20 years now (that has scared me) and we've asked her to be Mikey's Godmother once we get that sorted out/arranged. I really miss working with her and she has a wonderful mix of sane calmness and an ability to provide a similar sense of humour to mine (poor Mikey - he has a Mother and a Godmother with a terrible sense of humour!!) Mikey demonstrated his rolling skills and I'm sure she was given an A B recital! I think Mikey's best bit was the fact she loves cuddling small people and our small person can appreciate all the cuddles he can get in the evenings (or afternoons, mornings, lunchtimes etc) I really must meet up with some other Maidstone friends soon as well…It may help me feel less cut off over here in Ashford…

I drove round Drovers roundabout for the first time this morning since they switched the traffic lights on…now they need to be sorted out. I didn't believe the news stories on Tuesday saying they were only letting 3 cars at a time through - well they were right and at rush hour that is down right stupid, I'm sure at one point this morning they were stopping after 2 cars rather than 3. Plus I got into the wrong lane as there is no signage except for the stuff painted on the road surface - but I wasn't the only person to get it wrong and my speedy little car is good at going through small gaps! But traffic cones make me dizzy I found today - although that could have been the tablets I suppose. (Maybe driving at the moment is not my brightest idea) Luckily I had left loads of time to get to the hospital as I spent at least 10 minutes queuing up past Waitrose. It was tempting to nip in for breakfast, but I wasn't sure they did it! Yet another thing in Ashford winding me up and reinforcing my desire to move somewhere/anywhere else as soon as possible.

Strange flashbacks...

I've been doing the first 50% or the training courses work want me to complete today, including one to check whether people are fit to work... it was looking at work place stress at one point and listed the main causes as;
1. Deadlines


2. Excessively high workloads

3. Insufficient workloads

4. Insufficient training

5. Bullying or harassment

6. Over & Under management

7. Multiple reporting lines

8. Poor physical working environment



I feel I have experienced several of these in the past, luckily I am now working for a company who seem to value their staff much more and are looking for potential problems/issues and actively working to avoid/solve them before they get too bad! Such a wonderful change and a breath of fresh air so far as I'm concerned. I should have listened to myself and walked out years ago... I know how they affected me and how hard it is to drag myself out of the mess they reduced me to. I think I'm more the type of person I used to be and probably should be. I feel far stronger now than I have done for a very long time and I have a new focus - I want my little boy to be proud of me and also I need to be proud of myself and what I am capable of. I feel positive for the first time in years.

Tomorrow I'm learning about the new time sheets and stuff like that - I already have a few certificates as I've passed all my tests so far...and bled over the print room (just after passing health & safety!?!?! Ironic or what - I managed to take a chunk out of my thumb!)

Mikey has mastered falling asleep this evening - he fell asleep on me whilst having his bottle and was fast asleep before Andy put him into his cot!! For the last 2 days he's also managed to only have 1 outfit per day! The bibs have taken the brunt of Mikey's dirt onslaught - I wonder if we can make it 3 days running???

And tomorrow is Friday for me! I'm not actually working on Friday, Mikey and I are going to see Nanny and Grandad - who knows what words Grandad will teach Mikey this time!

First Planned Day off!

Today was my first planned day off! It was great... Mikey still went to the child minder and had a lovely day - I think he was annoyed that I picked him up a little earlier than usual though! I went home after I'd delivered him, washed my hair and conditioned it (something I usually don't have time for) and had a chat with Emma before attacking various bits of the garden...at times with a saw! I love my style of gardening!

I also got through about a weeks worth of ER - so much Clooney, a perfect way to waste some time...plus I cleared some more space on the Sky Box! Probably needed now The Apprentice is starting again, I wonder which candidate will wind me up first this year! The one claiming to have been rained by Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama is already annoying me big time!

Other than the sawing/pruning I let myself just relax today... I felt I had earned it - after all last week in my 4 working days I collected over £1million! Now that doesn't happen too often and I am feeling rather proud of myself if I'm honest! I already know I won't be anywhere near that figure this week though - and if I did manage that sort of amount every week everyone else working for URS Scott Wilson will need to do a load more work! Unless I can get clients paying on account.... Could lead to some interesting discussions!

Next stage????

I might send Mikey to my parents more often! OK, he's now worn 3 different outfits as he's felt the need to christen every item of clothing he's worn - but we now own 3 Teeth!! 2 at the bottom and 1 at the top! He's also decided the Florries Dragons on Disney Junior is not good and when Nanny W left him sat watching it went into cry mode until she came back to provide the necessary cuddles! It's safe to say my son is not daft! He's already worked out that cuddles are good!


I have a day off tomorrow but Mikey is still going to his child minder - I really don't want to disrupt his routine plus with the notice I had (last Friday) I'd still have to pay any way! Plus it means I get some 'me time' and I could start sorting out my wardrobe if I really get bored (Like that is going to happen!!!) I think what is more likely is that my hair will get conditioned and I'll catch up on all the ER's I have sat on the sky box! A morning drooling over Mr Clooney - sounds heavenly to me! I could always wash my car as well… I had intended to do that over the weekend but managed to get distracted/find other thing to do instead! I also have to start planning the birthday cake for next month and it will need a couple of practice runs I think… So cake testers may also be required (that will probably wait until Friday…Maybe Nanny Z would like to come and spend some time with Mikey at ours then I can go ingredient shopping etc!?!?!?)

I've also got 'glitter & glue' on Thursday…. 2 hours making cards once a month - another bit of 'me time' which makes me feel great! It's hard to explain why - but it just works for me! Mikey and Daddy get some bonding time and Mummy gets to forget about things for a while and just create something that a small person isn't going to then destroy! Unfortunately before it I have a physio session…but last time at least he didn't crack my back and concentrated more on my neck which is the bit that hurts the most and gives me the most trouble. I suppose I should go back to my GP - but I really don’t trust them…which may be why the Trust are putting a new management team or something in - I got a letter on Friday but I didn't really understand what they were going on about and Andy put it somewhere and I haven't seen it since! I know I'm not the only person who isn't impressed with the surgery - hopefully the nurses won't change but it would be good to have a few Dr's who stay put and don't keep going off sick and leaving locums there who you never see again! At least I kept the same midwife all through my pregnancy - although I did only see her once after I had Mikey…

Not much else has happened recently, I think Mikey got fed up over the weekend that he only saw Andy and I - he's used to seeing far more people than that so that could be one reason he got so tearful - although the new tooth could also have something to do with that I guess! He did perk up when Emma popped in, she keeps asking when he's moving in with her - if it was up to Mikey he'd be moving now! I know I'll have to let go eventually - but I never thought I'd be doing that at 10 months! We also need to get a new seat for him - he is trying so hard to sit up and the bouncy chair we have doesn't help him and he is really trying to escape from it most of the time. Nanny W has said we can borrow the circular cushion thing they have which he sits up in happily - I think we're going to have to as the bouncy chair is not going to survive him much longer and I'd rather return it whole rather than the 2 or more pieces that Mikey seems determined to change it into!

A Quiet Weekend

As I write this Mikey has Andy in a headlock! The original plan I believe was for Andy to sniff the infamous nappy but Mikey just grabbed hold instead. I have a feeling this may lead to a series of raspberries being blown on Mikey and serious giggling from the smallest wrestler in this bout! Earlier I spent a while trying to stop him sticking his fingers in his ears - I still haven't worked out why he has a real fascination with sticking his fingers in there but he does! Probably I don't want to know....

One thing that is going to have to happen soon is the loss of some of Mikey's curls! They are growing fast behind his ears whilst the hair at the back of his head is growing far slower. This morning I threatened to tie them into bunches...and the speed those bits are growing at the moment I'll be able to soon! Failing that I'll just have to be brave and trim the curls myself if only to tidy him up a bit! I don't want people thinking he's a girl after all! Mind you with the mess he gets himself into most days that should be unlikely! He really is such a boy at times! Why simply eat food when you can wear it and save some for later!?!??!

We have been trying the crawling motion today - but it mostly ended up with Mikey landing on his face! We don't seem to have the coordination needed quite yet - but I don't think it will be too long... I found out today that I didn't really bother with crawling, I simply shuffled around on my bottom (and according to my sister I haven't improved...) And Andy went straight to walking so who knows what Mikey will end up doing - but he'll do it in his own time and when he is ready rather than whatever the books and websites say... After all he hasn't read any of them simply as they don't make enough noise or have flashing lights!

As someone who loves books I'm trying to convince Mikey they're good - but as a 10 month old wriggle monster all Mikey wants to do is eat and suck books!! Not quite what I want but there is still time for him to decide he loves losing himself in a good story...

Although he may prefer comics...he's just headbutted his father quite happily and violence seems to really appeal! We just need a super hero who loves fromage frais and Mikey will adore him or her!

Why do so called short weeks seem to last 100 times longer than a normal one? This week was only 4 days thanks to the bank holiday on Monday for May Day (which may well be the last one we get) - I don't care that it's not politically correct, it's part of MY heritage and English History so it should stay. Unlike our Celtic cousins we don't get our Saints day off so why should we lose May Day??


Mikey this week has decided he has a new favourite toy - it's purple, bug shaped and makes one heck of a racket! I had been trying to convince him this week that it doesn't work in Mummy's car, but today I was kinder and let him take it with him… Luckily it fell on the floor fairly quickly and cruel, evil Mummy refused to stop to pick it up! I then left it with him with Nanny - I just wonder if it will still be working when I collect him! It does have an off switch but no volume control…although I'm sure a large hammer would have an effect! On other news we are still working on teeth, but we still only have 2 through - but from the various signs there have been this week I feel other arrivals are imminent! He's certainly creating enough fuss! And to think we'll go through it all again once they start falling out - how does one get in touch with the Tooth Fairy?? I know I threatened to wear Fairy wings for Emily's christening but I think they ended up in the loft! I also remember once swallowing a tooth myself and being totally devastated in case the tooth fairy didn't believe - I think I wrote her a letter and I know I got more than I usually did! Although I do remember being warned she wasn't always so understanding so I was very careful after that to try and pull them out before they got loose enough to fall out and be swallowed!

Otherwise our son is still decidedly vocal - he adores having the radio/cd on in the car and warbles along with it happily! Usually the right notes but more often than note in completely the wrong order! How old does he have to be before I can sign him up for a Cathedral Choir?? He did seem very intrigued by the choristers at the Royal Wedding last week! But I don't envy anyone trying to get him to wear a dress!! I had enough trouble with jeans this morning! And there are the odd word we can identify! He certainly says Daddy, sometime we get Mummy and he's working on Nanny - but poor Grandad doesn't get a look in! For some reason he also comes out with Baby fairly often….according to Daddy there is no chance of that!

In other news not much has been going on - Andy and I managed to lose exactly the same amount of weight this week - probably due to me not having my chocolate stash in the fridge. It may be good for my waistline but it really doesn't help stress levels when it gets to late evening and I go into chocolate craving mode…and at time like that Basics Chocolate mousse just doesn't fill the gap! Plus I couldn't 'borrow' any from Mikey as all his is White… Not even proper chocolate and so safe from the Mummy shaped Chocolate fairy! I can't guarantee the Daddy Shaped one won't succumb eventually though…! Other than that I'm seriously thinking about hitting the baking bug again next week… Hopefully we will be having our semi annual Eurovision gathering and food will be needed. I have Friday off and may just use the time to see if I can be creative (plus it will let me practice for possibly creating a small persons birthday cake!) For some reason I have a desire to make a red velvet cake…no idea why but I know I'm going to have to make it before I can move onto something else! Maybe I'll make small cup cakes and try to think of something European for the icing! Now that should be a challenge! Other than that I will confess food ideas are fairly slim and pretty none existent!