A long day

The skinny one and I fronted the hospital (early) for his 9am appointment yesterday.

The admissions nurse was one of our neighbours - which shocked both of us.

He was given the stunning attire to change into, complete with hat and booties.  And did.

And we waited.

Ten am:  Still waiting.
Eleven am:  Ditto
12 noon:  You guessed it.

People in the waiting room came in, people in the waiting room moved out.  We waited some more.

1 pm:  Still waiting.
2 pm:  'Second verse, same as the first...'
2.30 pm:  He was finally moved to a trolley, destination the theatre.  We were told that it would be 6pm before he was in a ward and I could talk to anyone.

So I came home.  Fed the cats.  Dealt with their kitty litter.  Put out the garbage and the recycling.  Dried his dressing-gown which I had washed before we left for the hospital.  Waited.

6 pm:  I rang the hospital to be told that he had only entered recovery less than half an hour earlier.  He wouldn't go to a ward until 7.30 or so.  'There are no phones in recovery so I can't put you through or talk to them and relay how he is on to you' (liar, liar pants on fire...)

I rang at 8pm.  'No, he hasn't reached a ward yet... Ring in half an hour or so'

So I did.  He has just got to the ward (hooray) but we are too busy to talk to you.  Ring back later.

So I gave up and went to bed myself.  Trusting, hoping that they would ring me if anything went pear-shaped.

He has had the surgery.  He is alive.  Both good things.

And today is a whole new day.

Sunday Selections #106

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files. 

The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.

Like River I generally run with a theme. Today it is the fishtank which lives in the corner of our lounge.  It had been looking a little very sad so has been extensively rejuvenated, just in time for the skinny portion's sister to arrive.  (She, like the skinny portion himself, is very fond of tropical fish).

Tomorow is D Day.  We are to be at the hospital at 6am (which horrifies the man whose preference it is to spring out of bed at the crack of noon).  I have however (being a basically mean person) pointed out to him that he can sleep the rest of the day away.  Hopefully he will be one of the first cabs off the rank.  After which the waiting begins.  I do not expect to hear anything until the middle of the afternoon at the earliest so his sister and I will come home to where we can pace in comfort.  We will go back to the hospital to visit him as soon as we can, though I don't expect he will remember it.  That first visit is to comfort and reassure me anyway.

Thank you so much for all your support.  I cannot tell you just how much it has meant to me.  I will post updates when I know anything, or of my frustration if I don't.

Insanity coming my way

I think for the next little while I will be largely absent from the blogosphere.  I also know that I will miss you all.  Blogging has been a safety valve for me, and is surprisingly addictive.

If the hospital does not reschedule again the Smaller Portion will have his colostomy reversed next Tuesday.  Hopefully.  His surgeon has flagged again that an ileostomy might be necessary as an interim measure.  I hope not.  I really hope not.  Not least because the Smaller Portion has assumed that it wont be.

We are told that it is a significant operation and will require an incision bigger than the first.  Regardless of the outcome, when he gets home he will be unable to drive and unable to lift anything which weighs more than one kilogram (which includes the cats).  These restrictions will be in place for about six weeks.  Fun times.

His sister said that she would like to come down.  I said that she would be of most help to us when he gets out of hospital - he does convalescence really, really badly.  So this afternoon the Smaller Portion told me that she will be arriving on Sunday, on a one-way ticket.

She is house proud.  The ambience of this house is cluttered and dusty.  We have been using the spare room as a depository for things which we don't have a home for.  Aaaaargh.  And Jazz, toad of a cat that he is, has taken to inappropriate piddling.  Cluttered, dusty and ponging of cat piss.  Joy and bliss.

I have Lifeline on Thursday (and am not prepared to give it up).  The Smaller Portion wants things to be pleasant for his sister, and does not want her to work while she is down here - 'She is coming down as a favour'.  So I have three days to work miracles.  Including shampooing the carpet.  When the three of us are in residence there will be three different diets to cater for.  More joy and bliss.

And now to add to the mixture.  We have had a lot of rain this summer.  Blessed rain.  Everything has grown and there is green all around.  The weeds have also grown very well.  Last week while starting the mammoth weed-a-thon I discovered that the wet season had caused some of the many bulbs we put in last year to rot.  Not a problem.  I love bulb catalogues (and refer to them as garden porn).  I happily went on line and ordered lots.  (Clicking on this image will enlarge it.)  I ordered 100 each of the marked collections.

Then the Smaller Portion got in on the act.   And ordered about another 400 bulbs - a lovely selection of tulips and iris and hyacinths.  The daffodils have arrived.  And need to go in the garden soon. Very soon for the ones that are sprouting.   The tulips and other bulbs should arrive next week.  I am still have signficant pain, difficulties in bending, and cannot get to the ground and back up again.  Woe, woe and thrice woe.  Sometimes I think I am loopy.  Other days I know it.

AAAARGH

A quick one.

My smaller portion is in surgery now.  He has a perforated bowel and things don't look good.  Much damage done apparently.

All digits crossed tightly.  Much fear.