AHHHHHHHHHH

My assignment is nearly due (unless the powers that be -PLEASE- give me an extension) and I have an exam in 3 weeks of which I have done no revision for. Give me a 36 hour day and lots of energy please (and a well child too would help!). oh and of course MOTIVATION - lots of. I want to be a children's nurse but sometimes life gets in the way!!!

thanking you kindly

(oh and patience not to throw the phone across the room with frustration when people need chasing all the friggin time!)

Oh my gosh, look at my girl

B tried out a new walker this week. She uses a walker in school for therapy reasons so does a little walking a few times a week. It's a slightly more supportive Meywalker than her last one and encloses her from all sides as well as giving her a leaning stool seat to rest on behind her.

Look at her!! She looks very supported and very straight! How long she can keep that stance who knows but I don't care, its fab!

Quick update

Sorry it's been a while. B is much better. Went back to school Monday night. Very reluctantly and cried buckets all the way there and until I left= me crying buckets all the way home :)...she was fine though, laughing and joking later apparently....kids!

I went back to placement on Tuesday and have had a great week. Took on more responsibility and had 2 patients of my own most of the time. I like the ward I am placed on. Perhaps a future possibility for work. Who knows. The only issue is my back. It has not been right since before Christmas and its twinging like mad. I am hoping some regular massage will sort it out and its not going to turn into something else....please!!!

B in terms of health...well not sure. She vomited spontaneously again this week (interestingly after just leaving the doctors office at school - great timing!) Protein in urine dip on tuesday could indicate an infection or leaky kidneys. Paediatrician is apparently waiting results for some urinary/kidney conditions they have tested her for. I didn't know this until yesterday so hoping it isn't anything. In the meantime due to increased seizures over the holidays and the kidney stones she is going to be changed onto a different epilepsy medication - Lamotrigine. It will be a slow steady changeover with dosages being upped gradually. Her pill is also being changed to a progesterone only one - research has shown this can often reduce seizures which are occurring just before menstruation (which B has been having). She also still has this weird leg and arm itching which she has had since discharge from hospital. She has regained 1.4 kg of weight (out of 5 she lost) since being better which is good news. Her compression sores on her feet are still there but not causing her pain which is good.

So some questions that need answering still and some changes to medication which will hopefully help with seizures. In the meantime she is back to her dry witted self which is fab.

Take care xx

Happy New Year

Well B finally left hospital on Monday 29th, better but very tired and thin and with two small kidney stones in situ. We went to the hospice for two nights and by the time we left she was almost back to herself.

We then packed within an hour and drove to Lincolnshire to be with our friends, 5 days later than planned but there for New Year. It was strange arriving mid week when all had been there for a few days already but by the evening we were full swing with New Year partying and the following day a lovely (cold) walk down Skegness beach..watching in amazement at the mad fellow who decided to have a dip

parent helping child or child helping parent?

....followed by fish and chips (or similar) and another night of wine, cheese and chatter.

A memorable christmas, I hope not a marker of things to come, followed by comfortable cottages in the presence of 32 friends.

and then we came home.....B's first evening at home for 10 days.

and we relaxed.

New year, new challenges no doubt but we still have each other and that's what counts.

and she laughed in her sleep

What a christmas. B has been in hospital since midday christmas day. She has been unwell since last saturday and not eating/drinking, vomiting, fever etc etc. I was scared to put her to bed christmas eve. Doctor admitted her christmas day morning and we have been there since. She has a bad infection and her body can't cope with it. She is now on IV fluids to get her hydrated and antibiotics to fight the infection.

right now she is sleeping. She feel asleep and then I heard a giggle in her sleep. That just made my tears dry up and my hope return.

I love you B. Please get well soon.

As it draws nearer, my thoughts are with my friends

Those whose children passed away in years past and those who have passed away in weeks past. I know that the first and every christmas is hard and you are in my thoughts; you, your families and your little ones for whom I will say my own way of praying for.

Wishing you a christmas that will be joyful in its own way and a lot of love for you and the ones you will miss.

xxxxxx

What causes the blips?

She had seven weeks without an observed prolonged seizure so we were hopeful the medication was working. Until monday night when she had a 5 minute unresponsive one followed by a morning of uckiness.

Hormones? tiredness? shape of things to come?

Wish someone would tell us