Afternoon folks. Just thought I would say hi and appologise for not being around much over the last week or so. What with Mark hobbling around with his smashed tootsie, the children having several sports days at school and me working flat out inbetween the rain, I just don't seem to have 5 minutes to myself! Anyhow, hopefully that should start to calm down now and I have some photos to resize and post tonight...including one of my new haircut! EEK! Okay-diddly-dokay, a family, alround, general update on life here in Essex. Mum is soooooooo much better, I can't begin to tell you. She still has (had) a massive ulcer in her stomach when she had the camera down her throat thing, but they have been treating her with HUGE doses of antibiotics and ant-acid medication and she goes back on the 20 something for the camera again, and all being well, things will have healed. If she still has an ulcer that is large, they may suggest surgery. She went back to work today but is only doing a couple of days a week and is only on light duties, so office work and what-not. For those that don't know, she works in a care home for young adults with learning difficulties. Her normal duties do include lifting the lads and lasses and helping them with day to day stuff, all of which would be too much for her at the moment, because after 6 weeks of doing very little, she has lost a lot of her strength, but that will soon come back now she is back at work. Marks toe is sore, and still a little flattened looking. His whole foot is now bruised, and I do think he is going to loose the nail as the bruising has really come out under the toenail. He is back at the hospital for another set of X-rays next week at which point they will decide what to do....surgery or just strapping. My finger with the thorn....well....it is now 99% useable and moveable, but you know, I have a large lump, looks like a boil under the skin, on the knuckle. If I hit that or catch it, blow me does it hurt for a while. I guess this is where the largest thorn has callused. I will speak to the doc when I next have to go in for anything, but it really doesn't give me any bother...however...I will keep an eye on it because if it keeps getting bigger and bigger, then I suspect it neeeds opening up as fluid or something maybe building up. The children are fine :-D . Work is crrrrrrrrrrrrrrazy busy, good for the cashflow, knackering for me! :-? The allotment doesn't get as much TLC as I would like at the moment, :'( but I will be there all day on Saturday and I have another day and a half next week which I have worked free to spend on the plot. I should have peas and strawb, broad beans and lettuce a plenty by then. :-D So there you have it in a nutshell, the ramblings of a mad Essex tourist. Promise I shall not vanish off the face of the earth. 8)
Gee I found myself yawning while I was reading your post. I hasten to add NOT through boredom but the thought of all the running around you've been doing!! PHEW you must have the energy of at least two people EJ. I'm so pleased to hear that your mum is much better now and I hope the ulcer has shrunk dramatically and that she doesn't require an operation. Poor Mark does sound as if his foot is in a bad way. That'll teach him to stay away from sleepers. I've still got my fingers crossed for him and hope he will get his toe strapped and avoids having to have surgery to mend it. Bet you're glad the kids are fit and healthy!! I won't badger you to see the doctor about your finger BUT I do want you to keep a close eye on it as that thorn could still cause you problems in the future. I wonder if it will ever break down and disperse into your system? TRY to take things at a slower pace soon before you collapse in a heap from exhaustion won't you? Go on say yes.
You sound like the energizer bunny that I used to be. Looking back, I wonder how I did all that I did. I know, overactive thyroid. But, you don't need an excuse when you have kids, a mom and a husband who all need your time as well as your work and gardening. Whew! Yep! I'm all worn out now. dooley
Thanks for the update on your life, EJ. I do tend to worry a bit when people I'm used to seeing around suddenly vanish without warning. Please remember to take care of yourself in all that, otherwise you won't be able to take care of others.
I sure do like "catch-up" Postings. They are so newsy and interesting to read. Like Droopy said--it is a little worrying when a regular face goes silent. It was good to hear of your mum's progress and the toe of Mark's may long not be healed, but it seems to have levelled-off a bit for the time being. Time and x-rays will tell abiout that, I reckon. Fingers crossed that the next time they look down your mum's oesophagus that the ulcer will be smaller and healing progress progressed. Nobody wants surgery. I don't know what to say about your finger. I reckon with 99% mobility, you don't want to risk waking sleeping dogs at the moment, right? The next time they take an x-ray of that joint, the thorn bits will be encapsulated and perhaps a little bit easier to see. That little hard thing that goes white when you bend your finger may be the callused encaosulation and scar from the penitration that is present. It does not automaytically have to be a cyst or an abcess. Actually, if I think about it...as long as the mobility is 99% and you are pain-free is surgical intervention actually necessary. You do not mention any signs of infection or drainage--so it sounds as if the body is taking care of itsself. But, what an unfortunate injury, eh EJ. I guess that your business keeps you more than busy. It is great that you have so much work. Good luck in the lottie...I do hope that you will have some more time for that soon. Anyway--thanks for the nice posting, and good luck to all of you and the medical probs that you are all dealing with at the moment.
EJ -- Such good news that your mom is feeling better, I was thinking the other day that you hadn't mentioned her for a bit so I wished her well. Hope the next picture they take provides a good report. I hope your hubby's toe heals up well too. I would hate to have a constant irritation in my big toe... so here's hoping it heals without leftovers. Good wishes for your finger... wow, that sounds like something that was painful to begin with -- at least now it isn't. Send some of your energy this way, please!
Thanks for the kind wishes everyone. I promise to visit as often as I can, it is just such a busy season for us gardeners huh. I know we are all in similar boats. Sjoerd, no infection of fluid in my finger that I am aware of. It just has this hard lump that protrudes on the knuckle, which is only painful if I knock it. Otherwise, it is fine. I will mention it next time I am at the docs, but in the meantime, I will leave well alone. You all know what a whimp I am! We had a humdinger of a storm last night, huge thunder and lightening and lashings of rain so I spent today sorting out 2 of my ladies gardens sweeping up debris and staking blown over plants. Right, it is late and I am sleepy after a long day so I will catch you all tomorrow I'm sure.
Hello to you too. I have been busy with things around the house and just warm weather things that need to get done.. Glad to hear the update on everything..
