Update

Good evening, all. I thought I would quickly nip in and tell you where we are at since my last post.

Bob is doing extremely well after the stroke. Within an hour of it happening he was being airlifted from our hospital in Dunedin to Christchurch hospital by helicopter. Their stroke unit is apparently better equipped than the local one and they removed three blood clots from his brain. His right side is affected but he is walking well unaided but having a bit of difficulty with his speech. Our girls drove up the next day so that he had some family support while there.

I spent three days in hospital in Dunedin while they ascertained what was wrong with me but we're both home now with a good support team in place. Bob has carers coming in three times a week to supervise his showers and from next week will have physio and speech therapy. There's also someone coming in once a week to do the heavy housework, but that's probably only temporary - until I recover more. In theory the support is all for Bob as the social worker decided I was well enough to do things for myself without bothering to come and see me. I wasn't impressed.

We both get tired easily and I don't have a lot of energy. A funny story - when Bob's carer left today I decided to go back to bed for an hour as we'd had a busy day yesterday with appointments and I was still tired even after an early night. I had a lovely hour sleeping, got up and dressed and who should arrive but the needs assessor who wanted to see how he managed getting on and off the bed - which I hadn't yet made! Ah well, these things happen and I don't suppose it is the first unmade bed she has seen. 

Thank you so much for the prayers, God has been good in answering them and I am deeply grateful to Him and you all for lifting us up in prayer.

I don't know when my next post will be, things are still a little unsettled.

Take care,

blessings,

Diana

Catching up after a busy week or two

 

Winter has really arrived now that the shortest day is over :) We knew it was winter but it has been fairly mild. Then came the shortest day followed by snow just over the hill from us. A couple of mornings ago it was -8C degrees in Middlemarch, which is just 64kms away and we could certainly feel it. There has been a cold wind blowing since and not a lot of sun. So we just need to rug up and get on with things. (but ya feel it in ya bones).

So, apart from my usual stints in the bookshop, what have I been up to?

Over the last couple of weeks I seem to have spent a lot of time at the eye clinic in at the hospital. I've had to have laser surgery for high eye pressure and that required an eye check followed a few days later by the actual surgery. I had to sit myself down and have a chat to myself as no one had told me anything and I was imagining all sorts of silly things happening. Then I was told I needed cataract surgery as well and that required another visit for pre op. I made sure I asked questions this time. But the silly thing is that each time I went in, even on the surgery day, I was given all the same tests. In fact the nurse and I were on first name terms, she was a lovely smiling Rachel. I'm still awaiting a date for the cataract surgery, probably up to three months away. Enough! Except to say getting older is not for the faint hearted :) 

This coming week will be busy as well. Bob has his birthday on Monday and we're going out for lunch with the girls. Just up to Kades Restaurant at the local tavern, so not too far to go. But we're looking forward to it :) Apart from anything else it's always good to catch up with family.

Then I am cooking for Friday Light again this week as well but that is an easy one pot meal. Sausages or mince depending on what is in their freezer and I decide what to make with it. So that is not too onerous.

Saturday is our church midwinter Christmas dinner and outreach. We have six interns from our mother church doing evangelistic work in the community this week and it will end with the dinner. As I've invited two people who are gluten intolerant I thought I should volunteer to make a gf dessert. I'll make a banoffee trifle which I've only made once before so I hope it'll be okay. I've still to bake the cake for the base but will do that about Tuesday. That's the plan anyway :)

Then when we are at home there is all the sport on telly. I'm never sure what we'll be watching, if I leave the room and the football (soccer) is on I could come back to the cricket or the darts or even the netball. Never a dull moment :)

That's all from me.

See you next time,

blessings, 

Diana

A bit of a fraught week

 Good morning folks. I'm sorry, I've been MIA the past couple of weeks. I was about to sit down and write a post on our visit to a couple of places in The Catlins when my GKB became ill and needed a doctors visit. While there he collapsed and was taken to hospital by ambulance and was quite ill for a few days. He was given several units of blood and had some investigative procedures. After a couple of days, when all seemed well and he was stable he was sent home. Three days at home and we had another ambulance ride. More blood transfusions, more procedures and some medication changes which should help but finally he is home. 

Tonight he is going to watch our son Aaron become fully ordained as a Presbyter before he heads to Auckland. Unfortunately he won't be going to the church to watch, will see it on livestream, but wants me to go in. He said one of us need to be there in person. It's such a shame as Bob is very proud of Aaron but I think he's making the right decision for himself.

Waiting with Jacqui for discharge paperwork. The kind nurse brought us all a hot drink while we waited as Bob had missed the afternoon tea trolley when it arrived. Both the girls were very good with taking me to the hospital and back, it saved the stress of finding car parks, there's never one when you need one and the hospital car park is always full. I'm very grateful to them :)

I'll leave you there. 

Have a good week.

Diana

A different sort of week

It started out as a normal week.

On Monday I went out for a very enjoyable coffee date with a lady from church. I haven't known her long so it was a good opportunity to get to know each other a bit better and we found we had a few things in common. Like line dancing, she still goes, I don't. She also goes to an exercise group for older people that I am trying to get back into. Anyway there were other things as well and we'll probably catch up again but she lives in the city and I live in the burbs so possibly not too often.

On Tuesday my GKB and I finally got to go out for my birthday lunch and that was lovely too, even if the rain did decide to bucket down just as we arrived at the restaurant. We both had crumbed schnitzel with onion gravy and chips with salad. I don't know about you but I am not a fan of modern salads, I find them hard to eat unless I've something to mix them with - this time it was either chips or gravy! But don't get me wrong it was a thoroughly enjoyable meal apart from that :) Washed down with a cup of tea for me and a cold drink for my GKB.

Then Wednesday happened! 

I'd done my shift at the shop, come home and had just got changed and sat down to have a hot drink before tea and the phone went. It was one of my friends, she was at her doctors and needed to go to the Emergency Dept at the hospital urgently and would I be able to take her? So of course I did - but I really can't understand why they didn't call an ambulance for her.  Her nearest family are two hours away by car. I sat with her at the hospital until 9:30pm when they decided to admit her. She is a very sick little lady, with a pulmonary embolism on each lung.

I sat in the foyer waiting for my GKB to come back and pick me up, he'd driven us in but I didn't see the point in both of us sitting there with her and I didn't want to go home in case they decided not to admit her. I had the shop again the next day but I also needed to take things like toiletries into her as well as some clean underwear, so that was the morning taken care of.

 Friday I stayed home and caught up on sleep and then did my washing. I wasn't vey interested in doing anything else. Call me strange if you like but I quite enjoy washing and pegging it out on the line - relaxing in the warm sun. Today is Saturday, I've been in for a visit and caught up with friend's daughter who is hoping to take her home with her for a few days when she is discharged. I hope she's sensible and goes with her.

On the way home from the hospital we visited The Warehouse where they are starting to get ready for St Patrick's Day and of course Easter. One of my sisters in Aussie wants marshmallow eggs so we were looking for those for her.

So I apologise that I haven't been visiting as I might, 

I've been a tad busy this week and haven't had the energy :)

Take care until next time.

Diana

Getting there

 I can't believe how quickly that week passed. It's the middle of the month already and I haven't even started on my Christmas shopping. That doesn't worry me though, I've always loved the hustle and bustle of Christmas. 

I spent the afternoon at the eye clinic in the hospital today. We had intended dropping into the Warehouse on the way home to do some present buying - there was 30% off swimming gear, today only, and that's what we'd been asked to buy for a couple of the kids. It wasn't to be, by the time I was finished it was already 4:20pm and we were both hanging out for a cup of something, so straight home we came. 

From next week I should be appointment and obligation free though, apart from volunteering at the shop, so I'll  be able to get stuck in. I'm looking forward to it. 😀

Pigeons on the lawn outside the hospital.

So, until next time, take care.

Relax and enjoy the season.

Advent blessings to everyone.

Diana.

Keeping up

Hello there. Sorry I haven't been around for a few days, my little mother has had another short stint in hospital. But I think it was a blessing in disguise as she had one of the 'seizures' she has been trying to describe to her GP right in front of all the ED staff and now they know what she is talking about. In a couple of weeks we have to travel up to Hamilton in the North Island so she can have a CAT scan and then come back and await a date for her operation. Also up in Hamilton. A lot of travelling for an old lady.

I have also been having some very frustrating computer problems resulting in smoke coming out of my ears. Not properly fixed yet to my mind, even though it's been up to the 'puter doctor twice in the past week and has a new anti virus installed.

We have also been working on stuff for our upcoming family reunion and not having the computer going has been a bind. Never mind, we managed to get the family tree put together, mostly, and sorted out some of the old photo's. Also got the welcome pack put together and posted away to various parts of the world. We've had a really good response with approx. 80 people coming including about a dozen kids. So exciting, it's getting close now - Easter.

My grandparents just before Grandad left for the first world war. His photo was taken the day he left home. I think he is so handsome, looks just like my youngest brother and my little mother looks like Granma, who I think is beautiful.

Anyway, today my GKB and I went up to the supermarket and had a coffee break while we were there. While inside a couple of families came in and the kids had faces painted and balloon animals and such like - and then we realised we could have been relaxing at the Party in the Park. It's held annually and very popular. Of course by the time I wandered over, without my GKB, it was winding down but I took a few photo's to show you. Sorry they're not as clear as I hoped they'd be.

Rides and swings for the bigger kids.

Food and craft booths for the older kids.

Relaxing in the sun after the live music

and listening to the piped version. Older kids again :)

And the toddlers playground 

fenced off just for them.

 And last but not least, in fact first in order of what happened last week, I went to see my youngest grandson take part in his school triathlon. He came in about the middle of the field, but I thought he did so well as he did all three legs himself instead of being part of a three man team. So without further ado - Daniel :)

The end of the running leg, he's the ginger.

Leaving on the cycling leg after Mum found

 his helmet which had disappeared.

Swimming, not the greatest style but he got there.

Heading for the finish line after

two lengths of the pool :) Phew.

So a bit of a mixed bag today but I hope you enjoyed it.

Diana

Today I'm joining Amy for:

Five on Friday