HAPPY 21st TO MY F.E.D

Twenty one years ago I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. She gave me quite a shock because she arrived five weeks and one day too early on a very humid night. When I woke her father at 11 pm to tell him my waters had broken, he didn't believe me at first. But he had no choice really and soon we were flying out the door to the hospital. We were so young and so naive and so inexperienced that we forgot to take a bag of anything with us. You know what I mean - clothes, toiletries, baby stuff! We had nothing with us. Looking back now it was hilarious!

That night a new midwife was doing her first shift in a new country hospital. She was told to expect a quiet night for her first night and within two hours she got an emergency. I remember her ringing the doctor who was not too pleased to be woken up. Apparently she made the huge mistake of ringing the doctor before examining me herself. The poor woman got yelled at but there was no doubt my baby was on its way, so she managed to squirrel out of any more doctor tongue lashings.

Like her sister two and a bit years later, she was too early to be delivered in a country town hospital and the Royal Flying Doctor plane had to come up from Perth to get me. Ashton was born the following day at 2.59 pm in between calls to my closest girlfriends.I have never seen such a look of delight on my husband's face as I saw that day.

The feeling of holding your first baby in your arms is quite inexplicable. The sudden rush of love
Iand wonder when you look down and finally meet your child can be compared to nothing else. You love all your children equally but the wonder of the first birth is just so special. It was so interesting to read another blogger #Lysa Wilds from #Welcome to My Circus describe exactly the same feelings in her recent post about her son, who coincidentally has a birthday this week too.

My daughter woke up in hospital on her 21 st birthday. She had surgery the day before which did not achieve what it set out to do, so it could have been a downer. But with the help of the nurses, doctors and friends and family we still made the best of the day. Eventually Ashton got discharged and home we went for flowers, cake and visits from family.

The health sagas are not over. We had hoped for the best of 21st presents. We had hoped to be de-fistulised. However, it wasn't to be this time.Once again I thank God for a doctor who knew when to stop rather than take risks.

So now its time to concentrate on a 21st party and on life. She will be reviewed by the doctors in a few months and a new plan of action will be made.We hold our collective breaths but till then life goes on.

Happy birthday to my favourite eldest daughter. 

Till next time...xxx

HOW TO DRIVE CUSTOMERS AWAY

I needed to get some prescriptions refilled as having been in Perth so long I had run out. So, I made an appointment for the surgery where the girls go. Now I've written about this doctors surgery before and it wasn't good , but I decided to give them another go.
( You may wish to revisit an old post-
http://lumpyone.blogspot.com.au/2014/08/desperately-seeking-heather.html )

Appointment was for 9.20am because I stupidly assumed he would run to time that early in the morning. Mistake number one. They opened at 7.30am. Receptionist staff were friendly and accomodating. They gave me a survey to fill out as they are doing their accreditation. Not a problem. I like  that sort of stuff.

The waiting room was stuffy and airless and the dark brown, dated face brick did it no favours whatsoever. The chairs were uncomfortable but as I didn't plan on being here long, who cares! The clientele waiting included three well dressed old ladies, one bikie and his girlfriend, one woman and her Down's syndrome child and me. It was peaceful.

Enter the family from hell. - Mum, her sister and three kids. The eldest about eight was clutching a pillow and sucking his thumb. He was in school uniform so not sure where the pillow was going after the appointment, but he didn't look like he'd let go of it in a hurry. The two youngest, boy and girl

about 3 and 4 definitely ate their weetbix for breakfast because they had boundless energy and started running round in circles in the tiny waiting room.

Master 3 was sucking on a dummy as if his life depended on it. It looked really odd however because only one side of his mouth sucked on it. I suppose that's so he could yell and scream with the other side. Mum went to reception to get them a colouring in to do. All three sat quietly for a full five seconds and then Miss 4 stole Master 3's green crayon and all hell broke loose.

She then got out of her seat and decided she would finish her drawing on the lap of one of the old ladies. This woman was wearing white pants and didn't look too pleased but she kept up a line of chatter with the kid.

What are you drawing?
It's Dora.
Oh, Dora the explorer.
Yes silly. And I've written my name.

(Old lady desparately trying to decipher four year old scribble.)
Your name is Olivia
No ( loud voice)
It's Lina
NO ( even louder voice). (I swear I saw bikie man clench his fist at this point).
It's Lily silly.

Mum meanwhile had been chasing Master 3 around. She plonked herself down in her chair just as Lily called the old lady silly. I expected an explosion but all that came out of her mouth was " I have three more at home".

By this time my appointment was 40 minutes late.

Master 3 seeing that his sister was getting some attention from the lovely old lady tried to befriend the bikie. Bad move. The kid got the glare from hell which resulted in some super duper dummy action and him taking off to his Mummy's bosom.

At this stage Dr Pleasure pants called my name and in I went. No pleasantries, no sorry to keep you waiting, no sorry you've been scarred by feral kids. Nothing.

What can I do for you?
I need some prescriptions refilled.
Tap, tap, tap on computer and done and goodbye in about three minutes.

Now maybe I've been spoiled by Dr Heather. In fact I know I have. But, the least I expected is a few questions about why I'm on the meds. Nothing. Patient in. Patient out. It couldn't have been more impersonal if he tried.

I completed the survey given to me when I arrived . I could have gone to town but I was quite restrained, till the last question.

How can we improve our service to you?
My answer - it would be nice if the doctor smiled and was friendly.

That's not too much to ask is it? Never again - driven away.

Till next time...xxx

4 DAYS TO GO

OK...FOUR DAYS TO GO!!!

This Friday Ashton is back in surgery for work on the fistula in her neck. It's been a long three weeks waiting for this procedure and we are almost there. As she says its nerve wracking but we are so close now, we're keeping it all together.

Well, I'm drumming up support worldwide. Prayers have started everywhere and I'm hoping for the same feeling I've had before, of a world wide circle of prayer around her. After that as I said on Facebook and many times before, it's in God's hands.

Oh by the way... I tweeted the Pope. Yes he has a Twitter name @ pontifex, so I tweeted him and asked him to pray for my daughter. Will be over the moon if I get a reply.

The husband gets here in three days and then we are ready for the warrior support Ashton needs. I can't wait till he gets here. I really need him by my side. Ciara is working during the surgery. It's her way of keeping busy because waiting does do your head in.

Meanwhile, the book is going well and after this Friday I will finish it. It's rather surreal to revisit some of the last few months but also uplifting when I see the progress that has been made. Regardless  of whether I publish it or not, it's kept me busy and focused.

I may post quite a bit in the next couple of weeks. Hope you don't mind! I need to keep my anxiety levels down and writing is my way.

If you want to leave words of encouragement for my brave 20 year old, feel free and I will make sure she sees them. 25 days till her 21 st birthday and God willing all will be so much better by then .

Till next time...xxx