Okay so where did that week go!

All quiet here in a busy sort of way! I decided to finally face up to facts last week and cleaned out all my paper scrapping stuff and arty stuff as well, all packed up and put away until such time i get the use of 2 hands. But it does mean I now have better access to stuff I do use and DH bought me a 2nd screen, so now I have 2 sitting on my desk running off the 1 PC love it!!!!

Elmo has been good all week and we haven't had to use the bitter apple spray so far LOL.

Hand is behaving, gets sore if I do too much but there is definitely more than just a twitch of movement in index finger.

I'm working on several projects that  can't share yet as they are prezzie's. Also working on wedding stuff as all of a sudden it seems really close. Saturday daughter Vikki is having her hen party, so we're all looking forward to that. Finally have my outfit for the wedding sorted.


A quick digi LO here of son and daughter, can't say I didn't warm them! LOL.

Oops!

Hubby has been rebuilding my PC and I completely forgot to update blog re hospital visit.

General opinion is the swelling is fluid and not an infection but to be on the safe side the surgeons wants another look Tuesday before he heads off on his holiday. So Tuesday hospital and again Thursday, oh the joys of such a hectic social life. Actually I am very grateful not only is my surgeon trying so hard to give me a hand that will eventually have some use but he also genuinely cares too the point where I have his personal mobile phone number and can contact him if I think things are going wrong. So the plan is to keep it in the hood, that's what this splint is called to prevent the index finger flexing up whilst the newly grafted tendon has time to graft and become stronger.

Elmo has been BAD and I mean BAD, only chewed the arm of sofa in the conservatory whilst I was on the phone and when we left him to go to the hospital he chewed up a cardigan I had worn once! and several other things. Any suggestions at stopping his constant chewing and destroying would be gratefully received.

Couple of digi LO's.

First my Mum nd Dad looking very glamorous at the Mayors Ball

and one of Eric and Ben.

Hope everyone has a good Easter, we're doing a treasure hunt Sunday for the Grandsons so paws crossed it stays dry and Elmo doesn't find the stuff before the boys LOL.

Splint

So one has got over feeling sorry for oneself and thought I'd share the photo's of my new best friend, well at least for the next six weeks we will be inseparable LOl.

Eric has nicknamed it Larry Lamp chops after a sock puppet that used to be on TV and thinks we should draw eyes on it. Photo of hand uncovered if you page down and aren't squemish lol

Another digi layout, this one came together so quick I shocked myself.

Hounds are all well and happy.

Eric joined other folk in the village yesterday for a litter pick up session and took Elmo with him, well you wouldn't leave him home now would you (I had gone out) anyway the dark destroyer behaved himself and gained many admirers.

Here he is in his new collar that a lovely lady from greyhound gap had made for him.

photo of hand

Thank you

So  many lovely comments about Jim's story, thank you to everyone who took the time to read it and leave a comment. I have tried to visit you all but if I didn't I'm sorry BRAIN is still AWOL!

Friday evening we had the family come over to share my birthday cake, think it did us both good to have some company especially the boys. Eric managed to get the tree up so they could hang some bead men I had bought for them, sadly the tree is still awaiting the rest of the decorations, maybe tonight!

Still researching options for Lucky, not easy when your brain is in shutdown mode! considering how early we have apparently caught the bone cancer we are shocked at how lame she is already. Her vet is off this week, so we have a little breathing space to come up with a course of action.

Eric got this lovely photo of Lucky with our daughter Vikki and grandson Ben on Friday evening. Mum is in the background with Mojo and Alfie is on the right, Gangley was sitting on my lap and I was trying hard to stay out of the photo's, when you know you look rough it's not good to have a reminder of it LOl.

Went to crop Saturday (thank you for a lovely day Janina) it was good to go out for a few hours.

Made this LO about the hens digitally here

then printed it off separately and turned it into a hybrid here.

Hand has started to play up !!! few things I'm not happy with and are worrying me so good job we're  going to hospital Tuesday.

Funny old week

Well it's been a bit of a rubbish week!

Jim has seen the vet and had a new pill added to the mix but ideally the vets need an xray to see what's going on. We had decided it was too risky at his age but vet says he could just get Eric to lay him down and keep him calm and take a quick one, wouldn't be as good as normal but all the pulling around he would suffer wouldn't do him any good, so we are now seriously thinking about it. He has really struggled to get about but remains happy and full of cheekiness.

New hens have settled well, slight problem Thursday evening, one had disappeared, spent an hour searching but couldn't find her, up at dawn and Eric found she had got over the 7 foot fence into hedge behind and had roosted there all night, needles to say she will be having some feathers clipped today! Getting plenty of eggs

Hand clinic very pleased with progress!

Went to Dr's as felt unwell, infection so ab's which means no humeria this week and to add insult to injury I had a high blood sugar reading so had to go back the next day for a fasting glucose test, thankfully it came back normal. Always a concern because my Mum and her Mum have/had diabetes.

Yesterday was a good day, scrapping with Dawn then in the evening off ut with Vikki and Ben to see Christmas lights switched on, met up with Marc, Rach and Harvey and had a great time. Flippin battery on my camera died so luckily Vik took some photo's on her phone. We met Prancer a 3 year old reinderr, he was gorgeous and so friendly, apparently they live upto 10-15 years, spend 4 weeks a year working and the rest of the year running free on a farm. Their coats protect them from the cold but also the heat. He was so chilled out and just after this photo laid down and went to sleep LOL.

Ben, Harvey and me, boys were not cooperating with photo's as they were so excited.

Finally finished the digi DLO, has taken me ages to get it as I wanted, have decoupaged some of it but the photo I took was awful. Photo's are from my Cousin Sandra's youngest son's wedding in July. We all had such a great day and I wanted to use lots of photo's, we had a similar class kit from papermaze last which I sorted of adapted for this.

Hand clinic

I'm just back from hand clinic, they made a few adjustments to splint, took out some stitches that hadn't dissolved and were becoming sore oh and more exercises LOl, seeing surgeon Friday and back to hand clinic again next Tues. Oh what fun!

Feeling a bit better now I'm back on meds!

Hoping to get another 2 rescue ex battery hens this weekend from little hen rescue. Not sure what condition they will be in, may need jumpers if they don't have many feathers. Our other 2 young hens are just starting to lay tiny eggs, not daily but they've started.

 

Had a little play yesterday and made this digi LO, photo's are of Vikki being a bridesmaid three times. May turn it into a hybrid, not decided yet. Got a bit carried away with pink LOL.

Looking forward to Papermaze crop on Saturday.

Hounds are all ok. Paws crossed

D Day

Finally after 4 long weeks I was able to start RA drugs this Friday! boy have I been counting down the days.

Went to hand clinic Tuesday, 30 minute slot turned into two hours! adjustments to splints, new exercise splint blah blah blah!!! My morphine has all gone and it's been a difficult week coping with the pain. Still I've kept up with the exercises which are grueling. I have a few worries with certain bits but will discuss with surgeon on Friday. Another hand cinic appt Tuesday, so looking forward to that NOT LOL.... I was telling my SIL about it and she said  she calls the physio therapists physio terrorists, made me laugh!

Anyway I've been working on a DLO (digi) that I just can't get right, so took a break from it and made this instead. kit is from pickleberry pop and is called sick days. Photo was just after cast came off and it had been cleaned up. Eric said it would be a good idea to have it as when I hit a low spot with recovery not going as quick as I want I could look back on this photo and take heart LOL, that man knows too well.

Jim has had a much better week so we've put off going back to the vets for now.

Hospital

Well I am finally home!

Had x rays, surgeon still isn't convinced wrist has fussed he suspects it's the pins holding it. Plan is to take both pins out to be able to do knuckle replacement, then put one pin back in (there isn't room for two and that's why they are pushing out).

Will have to stay in overnight and should all being well come home lunchtime then next day. I'm the only operation he's doing that afternoon as it will probably take 3 plus hours.  He's keen to do it under limb regional  block but I want a GA, so I'll probably have both as the regional block gives 12 hours of pain relief. 3 plus hours awake in theatre wouldn't be nice.

Will have a plaster on for a few weeks then a special made splint that holds fingers in sort of suspended, recovery approx 12 weeks.  Also had swabs and ecg but gave up on the blood tests as they were queuing out the door so shall have to ask Dr to do it Monday!

Made another digi LO using a kit called Be Happy from gotta pixel, based it on a Papermaze class kit which I did here. Not easy making a windmill digitally LOL. Not sure whether to print it as it is or to turn it into a hybrid.

Ruby bright and perky during the day but unsettled at night! still won't lay down indoors unassistanted but will in the car, figure that one out pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Papermaze crop tomorrow my last for a while!

PS I've just spotted the spelling mistake whew the beauty of digi! and drum roll Ruby jumped onto the sofa and laid down all by herself, xxxxxx

Introducing

Bobbi and Gerti. Our very old ex battery hen has surprised us by still being  here and so we decided to get her some company but before we got the chance (wanted to get more ex battery hens) we were given these two as a present LOL

This Bobbi she is quite timid and shy.

Gertie who is loud and full of herself.

and old Henerietta who is enjoying being Mummy Hen to the new arrivals. LOL




Decided to do a very quick layout of Ruby as I fear her time with us grows short!

Used a kit la di da Biggle from scrap girls.


Ruby's breathing is still fairly good but her paws remain swollen and she still won't lay down in the house unless Eric lays her down, however she will lay herself down in the back of the car. We have no idea why but she happily spends hours laying out in the car.

Looking forward to Papermaze crop on Saturday, will be my last time scrapping at crops for a while. Off to see surgeon on Friday and then an appt for pre admission checks. All getting a bit to real and close for comfort now.

Ruby seems a bit better each day and so far Jim is okay on the reduced dosage of anti inflams!

Eric and friends decied to go out for a bike ride today and whilst he was out I did a quick digi layout of the bike he is riding at the moment! his favourite the Kawaskai GPZ900R is off road awaiting some TLC LOL.

We have two new additions to our family, 2 new hens, 1 white and 1 brown, must remember to take some photo's. We weren't sure whether Henrietta would appreciate some company or not!  but after initially plumping herself up to look very big she decided to take the new young hens under wing so to speak LOL.... phew! we weren't sure if Hen pecked was an old wife's tale or true LOL.

Poorly Ruby

Last Wednesday Ruby began to go downhill and to cut a long story short we decided it was time to let her go! had to wait several hours for vet to come out and when he did she rushed out to meet him wagging her tail. Poor chap was like sorry which dog is ill !!!! examination showed no fluid in lungs or infection, heart sound so off he went leaving 2 embarrassed owners in his wake. However she continued to go down over the weekend and so Monday we took her to the vets, they kindly examined her outside as she is so terrified of going in and discovered she had a temp of 107 and rising, heart still sound and no infection in lungs. She obviously has an infection of unknown origins and we explained her paws kept swelling up because she simply won't lay down and stands for 12 plus hours despite obviously having very sore paws. She's now on ab's and painkillers and has improved but still isn't keen to lay down! all very odd and stressful and ironically her breathing is the best it's been in weeks! Yesterday she did go for a ride and even got out of the car for a short walk so progress!

Jim is much better but still not taking the full weight through the front leg so another week of anti inflams and review next week.

Me I'm just plain old worn out LOL
.

I had wanted to scrap a layout about Eric being rushed into hospital earlier in the year but didn't know how to go about it, then Janina from Bramford crop made a remark which sparked off this idea (thanks Janina) after I had told her the consultant upon discharging him had said you have the profile of an athlete and so finally came up with this digi LO.  I wanted to record how terribly ill Eric was but in a more light hearted way, although it's not perfect I am fairly happy with it.

papermaze crop

What a difference 48 hours can make!

Had a wonderful day at papermaze crop and so enjoyed catching up with my crafting friends and having a normal day LOL.

Hand, hip and tummy are all feeling much more comfortable today and one has stopped feeling soory for one's self LOL.

I do have to say a massive thank you to my bestest friend Dawn who takes such good care of me when we're out and is the only person in the world Eric trusts to look after me and to Carol who made me the most gorgeous card (actually I've had loads from all the girls several times over, maybe I should give them back and they can resend them each time I get myself into a pickle LOL).

Finally finished this LO which has been ongoing since first op in Oct LOL, couldn't manage to ink the flowers but still quite happy with it. The photo was taken in 2007 and is of me, Eric, Vik, Marc (son) and Ben. It's a papermaze kit using papers from Fancy Pants.

Then shock horror I finished off another layout, my first hybrid page, kit was designed by Janina for Bramford crop and had the most beautiful script and bird stamps, well stamping isn't possible at the moment and although people offered to do it for me I decided to have a go at creating it digitally. Then I added the photo and flowers and I am really chuffed with it. It does look so much more beautiful IRL. Photo is of me Eric and Ben all dressed up at Marc and Rachael's wedding last year. Photo's are rubbish but there is no light here today and dark and gloomy.

Finally some good news re Lucky her urine levels had dropped significantly when she went to the vets Friday! maybe we are finally on the right track and it is a thyroid problem.

Ruby continues to be the perfect house guest and Lucky is really enjoying her company, she has been quite lonely since little Rulu passed away as Rulu was her special friend.

So a few photo's of Ruby and co chilling out.....with Jim, then Jim Gangley and Alfie and lastly Ruby all stretched out.

Ruby

So Ruby the foster greyhound arrived Sunday evening and was very stressed and unsettled after being taken from her family (wife has walked out, leaving husband to cope with kids and dogs whilst trying to work, so he sadly had to return Ruby back to gap after 3 years) and travelling for 6 hours in 4 different  cars down to us. We introduced her to each of our dogs one at a time and no one so much as growled at her.

The first night she was a little restless but since then has settled down so well, she is now very relaxed and I have to say the perfect house guest. Ruby is very affectionate and gentle and loves having her tummy tickled Someone is going to get themselves a beautiful hound. I can't think she'll be here long as there have already been some enquiries about her. Tried to get a good photo but as usual failed LOl. 

Ruby is the one next to the tele...

Have also done another digi LO of Ben on his 5th birthday in December using Dawn Inksips kit making tracks.

Swelling of fingers has reduced alot but the pain continues to be awful, hip is much better just a tad tender now.

3 hospital appts this week, deep joy, so not looking forward to the camera down my tummy tomorrow, shall be mighty relieved when this week is over BUT I have papermaze crop on Saturday to look forward to.

Sue x