Happy Jempot Day

I am too lazy creative to just post a birthday card to my lovely sister Jemma, so I have declared it Happy Jempot Day over various social networks. Not that she actually uses anything other than facebook, but I know she will appreciate the gesture or something.

Something doesn't feel right

Who cares?

The mumborg is finally feeling better, the IV antibiotics were producing a toxic effect, so she needed some anti sickness injections to stop those chundery feelings. The vacuum closure system has also been playing up, so the district nurse visits have been a bit longer, with dressing changes and extra injections. I have to say, that the district nurses have been really fantastic, super efficient and friendly. I don't know what happened last time we needed them, but it was not as pleasant. The black sponge you can see in the image above acts as a plug and makes sure no gunk escapes back into the wound. The tube you can see, takes the gunk to the machine seen in this post Blood and Gunk. The image below shows the PICC line, which is used for the IV antibiotics. The mumborg has informed me that I should inform the world that she now has to take 70 tablets daily, as well all the injections and IV stuff. (she also has become demanding about taking pictures of this wee little cut of hers, sheesh).

I decided it was about time I found out what support was out there for me 'The Carer', because it has become very apparent that if you don't look yourself, nobody is actually going to do anything for you.
After a frustrating few hours of trying to find the phone number of the local carers centre, I eventually sent off a random email in the hope that it would reach the right person, it did! It turned out that there is no actual centre in my town any more, but a centre in the next town covers my area and a whole lot more. The Princess Royal Trust for Carers has took over the centre and has secured funding for three years, which is great news! More info about them can be found here The Princess Royal Trust for Carer's .
What does a Carer's centre do? Well firstly they offer you drink and are really nice, well these ladies certainly were. I was already a bit flustered, as I had walked past the ruddy place three times, due to being a buffoon (heh). I am sure it was hidden from me at first, or I could just be a bit dim...(no need to answer that). So to be met by such nice folks was just lovely.
After I briefly explained my reasons for being there, which were 'I'm a carer' and 'I have no idea', I was sat down with a form and then one of the ladies sat with me and we went through it together. It was basically all about who you look after, what you do, how you feel and what you need help with. Once they have a better idea of your situation, then they can dish out the right advice.
At the moment, I need help with career advice and financial assistance for further training, so I was supplied with some great information and phone numbers. I will blog about that more after I have spoken to the folks in question, sometime this week. It sounds really promising though and it could be just what I needed help with. As well as benefit advice, it was also decided I needed some pampering, woot! So on Thursday I get to have my hair done and on Friday I am getting a facial and holistic massage, all free!
That is just a small sample of the advice and help they have to offer, now they have my contact details, they will check in on me every couple of weeks and keep me updated with any information relevant to my situation.
If you are a carer in the UK, I would strongly urge you to check out your local carers centre, even if you just want someone to chat to, Do it! Also check out Carer's UK.

and she's back

A lot of talk about teabagging today on the interwebs, so I thought I would join in. They meant tea bags didn't they? Anyhoo, can you guess which teabag is Yorkshire Tea and which is Lancashire Tea, from the selection above?

The mumborg returned yesterday, very grumpy and with a bug. She blew carrot chunks within minutes of being home, not nice at all. It was not due to me forcing encouraging her to eat food when she wasn't actually hungry... Well she got the last laugh on that matter anyways.
Her PICC line didn't need replacing after all, just re jigging, so at least that is sort of playing nice and should last the distance.The fart machine aka vacuum closure device is now playing up and sounds like a fart machine on crack, so district nurses have just popped back to fix it (1:47 am).

I will get around to that big fuck off massive humongous pile/heap of college work at some point, oh whats that shiny shiny object.....

Hello?

Whoops.

R.I.P Hammy

Hammy you were a delicious Ham, alas there is only just enough left for a sandwich and then you will be gone forever. Your brother/sister in the freezer will be smothered in extra honey and mustard next time and will be soaked overnight in the cider ( for extra nom nominess).
  The mumborg was kept in yesterday after the A/E department deicded to spend hours coming to the same conclusion that was written on the notes she went in with. Yet again some of the staff in that department treat you  like a naughty child and will not listen to anything you have to say. I think the mumborg needs a badge saying 'I have been coming here for over 20 years and I know what I am talking about'.
  So at some point today they will try and put in another PICC line , which will no doubt prove tricky, then they should send her home. Once home she will continue her antibiotic therapy for another few weeks, if all goes well and then it will be back to physio.

Now I need to stop fannying about on here and do some ruddy college work.

What a ham

By reading this blog you will never be boar-ed again...

Home from house sitting, what bliss! Well apart from all the tidying and cleaning I had to do. The mumborg has been doing well, its just the equipment letting her down. The auto-closure vacuum thingy, mentioned in blood and gunk post, has been playing up and now her picc line has failed. So today she has to go to the A/E department to get a replacement, hopefully its a simple job, but with the mumborg you never know.

Blood and Gunk

Lazy loaf, Lazy post

Barking Mad

I am house sitting this week for my uncle, well if only it twas just the house! Unfortunately along with the house there are 2 dogs, 1 cat, 2 tortoises, 3 newts and 3 full fish tanks. I like animals, in fact some animals I like a lot, but when it comes to pets erm not so much. 

Nephew update

Legless

Legless, originally uploaded by crpitt.

Mumborg has arrived back home and should hopefully stay put,if she behaves herself that is.
Leg is doing okay, but the healing process in regards to the wound has been iffy. Whilst one end of the wound is healing nicely, the other end and below surface stuff is being difficult. So they will have to keep a close eye on it. The district nurses are coming out five times a day for IV antibiotics and wound checking, then every Wednesday the mumborg will have to go into hospital, so that the consultant can check the wound. After four weeks of IV antibiotics and closure system, things should get back to our version of normal..

For those that wondered, Original incison on leg was 30 cm (11.8 inches) and the open wound you see above is 15cm across (5.9 inches) and deep.Which I just found out by measuring it with a big ruler, whilst the mumborg gets her IV antobiotics, she is a trooper.

Sprouting off

Sprout, originally uploaded by crpitt.

The mumborg will be dispatched tomorrow, along with the vacuum closure system, drips an all ( assimilation devices in disguise).

So today I will mostly be cleaning and then off to Noah's Ark/Uncles House to acquaint myself with all the animals I am looking after for a week from this Saturday.

Mostly drinking from this

coffee7, originally uploaded by crpitt.

My head has been imploding/exploding with college work for a long time now, but now its hard graft time. So I am drinking from my super mug and knuckling down. The words on the mug echo my sentiments about the folks that read and comment on this blog. In your own way you have helped me to do this counselling diploma and I really do thank you for that.

Mumborg should be out this Friday if she continues to behave herself.

(Trying out posting straight from flickr instead of blog, as I want to recycle the millions of photos I have on there)