Life continues on its path

Good morning folks, I hope this finds you all well and ready to face the new week. It seems we are fast cruising up to Christmas and I know that I for one don't feel much more prepared than I did last week lol. Weather wise it has been really mild and comfortable, some days are windy but no extremes anywhere. 

 Well despite finding myself 'grounded' again we have managed to have a fairly productive week, 'we' being a very collective we hehe. Hubby has made huge strides with the deck,- he has the door frame in and has spaced out and begun the placement of the windows whooo hooo, we are working towards being enclosed by Christmas, not finished but enclosed and usable 🤞🏻. He has also had a constant stream of clocks - mantel, cuckoo and grand-father as well as a couple of watches come in. Generally it is the clocks that give him grief by ticking along merrily for days and then stopping for no obvious reason which usually then requires a lot of out-of-the-box thinking. 

 Jelly Bean has had a crazy week work wise, I think work is always going to be crazy no matter what field you are in, the minute you add clients i.e. other human beings into the mix things get crazy. As for the rest of the family I believe that the above stands true for all of them, the year is winding down and deadlines are looming = crazy with large doses of patience needed all round. Princess started writing her year end exams so it is full steam ahead for her as well. 

 I mentioned that I am 'grounded' grrrrr. The hole in my stitches which was so painfully restitched two fridays ago, reopened last Tuesday evening and I will admit I came unglued emotionally, it was like the last straw - I just sat and wept. On Thursday it was off to the Plastic Surgeon very trepidiciously only to be surprised when he was not phased but in fact delighted with all the other wounds. It would seem that despite the set backs, on the whole he is happy. He then sent me off the Advanced Wound Care Clinic, they could only take me an hour later so we stopped for new antibiotics and then did a really quick pop in with the girls for a delicious cup of coffee. It was so good to see them and get hugs. Back we went to the Clinic where after a bit of a wait I was fitted with a Negative Pressure Therapy Vacuum Pump, I have never even heard of such a thing. This pump works over the open wound and by vacuum it drains any fluid as well as causes granulation of the site and thereby closing the wound. 🤞🏻🙏🏻. It is heavy to carry around and I have to wear it 24/7 until Wednesday, as well as it sounds like a soft Kreepy Krauly 😂😂. Hence being grounded. By the time we eventually got home I was in tears from tiredness and pain caused by the pump pulling on already sore skin. Later that night Jelly Bean and Hubby performed some home remedies by snipping some small pieces of the plasters to lessen the pull and then taping the tube to my tummy with micropore tape to lessen the drag of gravity ........ instant semi relief. That night I tossed and turned until 12.30 before gathering up ALL my many pillows, my machine (yes a couple of times I've walked off without it🤦🏻‍♀️) and my quilt and made a bed on the couch, absolute bliss and comfort. I am still here and sleeping well because of the support it gives me. 

Despite being grounded Jelly Bean managed to colour my hair on Saturday despite the weird positions, conditions and angles we were able to work with. At least I don't look like Cruella de Ville anymore hehe. Yesterday she and Hubby bathed both the dogs and made a truly delicious lunch - I am beyond blessed. 

 Well folks that's it for this week, I wish you all a good, happy week full of accomplishments and victories. Ciao ciao for now

 P.S. I have added a page which is an abbreviated 'Journal' account of my Detour with Cancer. Please feel under no obligation to read it just because you follow the Blog, I have done it in the hopes that if it helps just one woman deal with / understand /semi prepare her journey and setbacks then this journey is worthwhile. I will continue to add to it as often as anything happens or I feel the need. 

 Charlie my constant companion

The walk of faith

Good morning friends and family at the start of another fresh, brand new week I hope you are all ready to take control this week and not be controlled by circumstances. I know that during these times we are living in so many people feel as if they have lost control of their lives and trust me I totally understand. I believe that it is vital that we choose to steer our lives, as much as possible, in the direction we want them to go and not just lie down and be bulldozed by life. Yesterday I drove through to Somerset West to collect Jelly Bean who had been house sitting, Hubby offered to drive through and or go with me but I really needed to do something by myself and for myself, which he understood. I took Charlie with me in his new car seat and we had a slow, peaceful drive in and a good drive back home. I think for myself, that with things going the way they are and being uncomfortable / limited in what I can do for so long, I just needed that little bit of independence and making my own decision. For many of you this time feels like a loss of freedom, restrictions on the way you live your life, loss or decrease of income etc, so many challenges people are facing right now. Please try and not allow these circumstances change who you are find ways to re-find yourself, your joy and your purpose. 

 Ok then, not the normal Monday start to the Blog but then who is counting? It has been blissfully cool for the last couple of days after one blistering hot day on Thursday and yesterday we had some wonderful, soft rain which was just perfect. The week passed somewhat uneventfully apart from a lot of correspondence between ourselves, doctors and Medical Aid. It is ridiculous the amount one pays on premiums and then the negotiation needed in order to get treatment....... we are praying and I know and believe God is working on all angles and with all parties concerned. Hubby has been inundated with clocks and watches so guess where he is most of the time? Bless his heart he even took time to mow the lawn which was fast becoming a jungle, thank you my love. On Friday we went through to the girls to say hi, then into Cape Town where we met up with BigBear and BabyBear. I thought we were just meeting for coffee but it ended up in having lunch at a super little restauant around the corner from their apartment. What an unexpected treat as we shared two Greek tapas platters and took much longer than I expected, but oh it was so good. On the way home we shopped for a few groceries before dropping Jelly Bean off and eventually getting home after 5 pm, it was a perfect day but as usual totally exhausting for me and I was fast asleep just after 9.30. On Saturday I unraveled the Cat Cave I was making when it became obvious I didn't have sufficient yarn grrrrrr. I immediately began a new one so here's holding thumbs I can get this order out. I also tried my hand at reading a book on my iPad but very quickly came to the conclusion that I am a paper pages and cover girl hehehehe. I have used my Air Fryer every day of the week with perhaps one day where it sat undisturbed hehe, the more I use it the more I discover and find new ways of doing things, it really is a magical appliance. 

 Saturday was not the best day for me as I was tired from Friday and the thought of my recovery coupled with Fibromyalgia and Adrenal Fatigue left me feeling overwhelmed. I got myself into a panic because I have so far not been able to find button up pyjamas for hospital, ridiculous I know but that is what happened. I have no idea how to 'build' my system up further than what I am doing and things seemed insurmountable. I had my little 'meltdown' and some more handing everything back to God and for now I am doing all I can and will deal with the surgery and recovery when it happens, I know God is in control and has already gone ahead of me on this. 

 Well, folks I did say I was going to 'document' this journey I find myself on and hopefully in so doing, someone else will find encouragement and energy and know that they are not alone. I trust and pray that this week will bring you answers to your prayers, good health, God's peace and grace and your needs met before they even arise. Please stay well and keep safe, with love from BB Ciao Ciao 

 Charlie in his car seat (about 10 minutes before motion sickness took over)