Another year gone by...

Highs of 2011:

January - Jack started at Radstock School Y1.

February - Jack started Taekwando.

March - Loft conversion started 24th March, 2 beds and a bathroom.  Paul and Janys over. Mum and Dad's 60th wedding Anniversary.  Meal at Moat House.

April - Jack's 5th birthday, party at church hall, run by Judith. My 45th!  Disneyland Paris, 5 days in Disney hotel. Our 9th Wedding Anniversary. Up to Boro for Bank Holiday weekend.

May - Big fat zilch!

June - Loft finished. Alex and Lisa over to see me.  Jack's 2nd sports day. The Ivy with Wendy.

July - Wendy's Strawberry Tea for Breast Cancer Care. Went to Spain for a week.

August - 6 'friends' here for a get together.

September - Fi from Aberdeen came down for weekend and we went to Nirvana for a Spa Day.

October - Paul and Janys over.  Jono was 40, meal at Moat House. Jack and I to Bristol Zoo to meet up with Bec, Henry and Leah.

November - Jack's 1st school disco. Afternoon tea with Wendy. Very kindly got given a mobility scooter, thanks Marie...I know it must have hurt.

December - Jack's Christmas Nativity. Paul and Janys over.  Strictly Final Party here.  Paul Janys/Mum/Dad/Jono/Jack and me here for Christmas Day.  Mum and Dad's Boxing Day.  Tim and Vic got married 30th Dec, she looked gorgeous (so did Tim).

Lows of 2011 (only two but a real stinkers)

May - CT scan of head - admitted to RBH and diagnosed with Brain tumours, not what we wanted to hear at all. Rads to head for a week.

July - Kathy Youden, Emma's Mummy died (Breast Cancer)

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my family and friends, who continue to support me and read my blog

Love Clare xx

Christmas Day 2011.

Luckily it wasn't a really early start as we had 'incidents' during the night!  We'd just brought all the presents down and heard Jack calling.  He'd had a massive nose bleed all over his bed.  Jono sorted him out and we thought he'd gone to sleep.  Waited 30mins and Jono went up to take the carrot/milk and mince pie..Jack piped up "what are you doing Daddy" - oops

Jono, set his alarm for 3am and sorted it all out then.

7.30am stocking in our room and then all downstairs for main presents.  I was really spoilt, Jono got me a Dab Radio with Ipod docking station. Lots of other lovely things - too many to mention.

Paul and Janys were a great help and the dinner was lovely (except the roasties - most disappointing).

Mum and Dad went home at 6pm and the rest of us just chilled out for the evening.

Boxing Day Blow Out!

Another day of food and more food.
I was up early as couldn't sleep, back (spine/ribs) hurting, nothing major.

Round Mum and Dad's for my fave meal of the year - cold meat/mash/peas/pickles/salad etc

Sat here now needing a valve to release the pressure from my stomach!

So a lovely couple of days, with some of my family.

Love Clare xx

Busy week here (well sort of).

Tuesday my Brother and Sil arrived from Spain to stay with us until after Christmas then Mum & Dad until they go back on 2nd Jan.

Weds shopping for some last minute bits for wedding (shoes/neckless/earrings) and Janys very kindly sorted out the food hamper for Mum and Dad's pressie.

Indian at Mum and Dad's.  All 8 dishes cooked by Dad, it was deelish I must say.

Thurs, nails done for Christmas and wedding, so excited for Tim & Vic can't wait.  Actually felt really 'dodgy' in the evening, not sure why, have got a really snotty nose so that prob doesn't help.  MacNurse phoned to check all ok and that I had enough tabs to see me through the weekend.

Friday, Panto with Jack and Grandma who hasn't been to a panto since I was primary school!  They both really enjoyed it, so did I.

Few bits to do today and were ready for the Big Man in Red to pay a visit.

Hope everyone has a lovely Christmas Day.

Love Clare xx

My lovely friend Wendy came over and took me up to M&S/Asda to get a few bits. 

Had lunch with her and chatted and my wonderful husband carried on cleaning and tidying the house.  Started at 9am, stopped for 30mins (lunch) and finished at 4.30pm.  Sounds like I have a really grubby house, haven't really just don't have the energy to do it all.

Jack went to Grandma and Grandad's for the night and then I got ready for Strictly Come Dancing Final.

We decided on a takeaway this year (I usually cook party bits), was really nice and we had Christmas Crackers.  SCD was fab and we had a quiz after (really hard Sam!). Secret Santa dished out and 5 Mummy's all yawning on the sofa, what a bunch of lightweights.  Evening ended at about 1pm.

Was lovely to chat without having to entertain little ones (as much as we love them all).

In my heart of hearts I think I know I won't be hosting it next year.

Love Clare xx

So, finally I realise that I cannot do things that I used to take for granted.

Since Jack was born I've cross stitched him Birthday and Christmas cards and (if I may say so myself) a fab Advent Calendar.  I knew I would struggle to do a card this year but boy didn't realise just how much of a struggle it would be.  Right hand fingers played up and left eye all blurry.  Jack will no doubt love it anyway.  I think my stitching days are well and truly over.

Now, I know I'm a bit daft at times and today was one of those.  Needed some black thread to use for back stitch,  went into cupboard under stairs where my cross stitch stuff is,  knelt down got the thread and then couldn't get up, stuck in a cupboard, it is funny now but not at the time.

I can't weight bear on my right side, started crying as thought I'd be there all day, then had a quick word with myself.  Gathered my thoughts, sat for 5mins and hoisted myself up with the aid of the flash mop, first time I've touched it for months!!

Cannot believe what we take for granted day by day.

I struggle with stairs/getting dressed/having a bath/getting in and out of a car, all things that 8 months ago were just normal to me.

Need to face up to it, it ain't going to get better, ever the optimist though, it could do!

Love Clare xx

Another 3 weeks has passed and treatment day is here again.

No problems with my port this week, medication up on ward by 9am done and out by 10.15am.  Didn't bother going to clinic as consultant away and didn't really need to see anyone else, now Macmillan are involved with me, except for scan results and if I think things are starting to progress etc

My treatment buddy Charlotte had her last session today, lucky lady.  We both had pressies for each other and she had been and had a look at the tunic dress I'm wearing for the wedding and she got me a woolly shawl to match the tunic.  Goes perfectly. How thoughtful

Bussed into town, took top back to Debenhams, collected rings, and got a couple of bits for Jack's stocking.

When I got home, there was a parcel on my doorstep, it is an acrylic canvas of a picture I have of Jack, Sally who did our wedding photos did it for me, a total surprise.  Soppy thing that I am started crying at such kindness.  It will go in the lounge as soon as the 'grotto' has gone at New Year.

So in the 'nasty' world we appear to live in there are some kind thoughtful people out there.

Oh and I got a lovely red woolly hat (thank you Anita) to keep my head warm when scooting to school, it's mighty bitter up that cycle path!

Love Clare xx

A whole week and no update, sorry but been busy being busy and making the most of feeling well.

Sunday Ellan my Mac Nurse popped in to see how I was, ok but may have over done it Saturday.  We agreed that the Macmillan Dr would come and see me Monday.

Jon and Jack put the Christmas decs up, Santa's grotto it may be but Jack loves it and that's what matters.

Mac Nurse and Dr both came out Monday and went through my medication,  resulting in a change of the amount of Anti- convulsion tabs so now I am on 2 at 8am and 2 at 8pm.  Since Tues no head pain/sickness, so that seems to have worked.

Had a very nice Xmas lunch with friends yesterday.

Jean from Daisy's Dream http://www.daisysdream.org.uk/ came to talk to Jack, I was out of the room for the most of it but at first she explained who she was and what she does.  She said she helps children who's Mummy's or Daddy's are ill.  He clambered across the sofa and gave me a huge cuddle with tears in his eyes.  He could really remember what they talked about, typical.  But he can now decide if he wants to see her here or at school.

My GP highly recommended them and to get involved before 'the event' instead of after.  Oh I like that 'The Event'.

Hilary took me shopping today so that's out the way, as hospital again tomorrow.  My treatment buddy finishes tomorrow so cream cakes from M&S. Taking tin of celebrations in for nurses as last treatment before Christmas.  They get so many but can share out and take home.

Jack's Christmas play this evening, really looking forward to it.

So that's been my week, really happy that I can function a bit more 'normally' and have only had 2 'episodes' as the Dr calls them, before changing tab amount.

Happy here today, well I am most days but even more today.

Love Clare xx

This week hasn't been too bad really.

Woken up a few times with a 'woolley' head and today was actually sick but it cleared my head at least.

Managed to do the weekly shop yesterday with Helen J. Nails done today, toes and fingers.

Looking forward to the weekend, Wendy is coming over for the day and we are going shopping for a few Christmas bits.  Tea here then movie (The Holiday), wine/nibbles etc.

Sunday, early 'brunch'as Wendy is fund raising in the afternoon. Were putting our decs up in the afternoon.  Jack is so excited.

Hoping that next week is a good too.

Love Clare xx