Hospital time

Yet more hospital time, I think I should start keeping an RUH tally. I should make a chart of our hospital activities. The chart will consist of:

• How many visits?
• How many hours sat waiting?
• Number of visits per type, blood, chemo, ill?
• How many cups of tea, free, paid for?
• How much money spent on parking?
• How many attempts at getting blood, by nurses, by doctors?
• How many wigs sighted, how many headscarves, how many commando?
• How many nurses?
• Does Tracey feel any better after the visit?

Today was "bloods day" in advance of"chemo day" and not to be confused with "I don't feel well" day. "Bloods day" is a day to get the blood checked out to make sure that we can go ahead with "chemo day" and hopefully not fall in to the trap of "I don't feel well day". I'm sure Trace will fill you in with details.

From my viewpoint hospital is a lovely drive over Landsdown, past the racecourse, a view of both Severn bridges over to South Wales. This is followed by a slight panic as we look for parking, I always think we are late. Then its up to 2 hour traipsing around after Trace being supportive but not in a recognisably useful way. After that we walk back to the car and do the reverse journey. At the end of it I think we have moved forward but I'm not sure by how much, sometimes I think we we have crabbed sideways.

I am sort of in a routine with it, its easy for me. I am not being pricked with sharp objects. I am not feeling sick. I am not being pumped full of obnoxious chemicals. My hair is unusually luxuriant for someone of my advanced years. Its take 5-6 pints of Stella to make me feel nauseous. My urine doesn't change colour after the hospital visit. My main problem is trying to balance work with home. It may surprise some of you but I actually do care about work. I care about getting it done, I care about hitting deadline (yes we have deadlines in the public sector), I care about not letting my colleagues down. It is hard at the moment and I welcome the help and leeway that work are giving me.

So now we wait for Traceys mum to arrive. Back to a tidy house and square meals. Adam has his braces out tomorrow, a landmark day. This will give Trace and Brenda some time on their own. Friday is Vaughans birthday, there is rising excitement. Livi has started back at college and I am not sure how much she is enjoying it. It will take time to get back in to it, perhaps she will find a sense of purpose.

As for me, well all is fine as long as my Trace is fine and when she isn't she can lean on me.

Chris x