Hello, it’s us Mister C and Me…

Hi there, we hope you’re having a happy week; it’s hard to believe we are heading into week five of the second school term- nearly half way through (in our little neck of the woods) … (where has the time gone?). We are happy to report, Duggie (our wonder dog) is now feeling a lot better after his diagnosis and subsequent commencement of his new medication, to help with his enlarged heart and pulmonary oedema. Duggie also survived (phew!) his minor dental surgery; he didn’t need any teeth removed (at this stage), he has two wobbly lower canines, but our vet thought it more invasive to remove the little teeth, than just leave them be in the gums (thanks heaps to our wonderful vet!). Husband did remind me, that Duggie getting a teeth inspection and clean at the vet, did cost more than twice as much as us humans getting a teeth inspection and clean at the dentist (oh dear!)… Some of Duggie’s oedema has gone, his face looks smaller and his chest cage also looks smaller- so, fingers crossed the meds are really working (only time will tell). Our new baby ‘silkies’ are settling in well to also note; Flossy and I can’t believe they have nearly doubled in size, since the day we brought them home with us. Thanks so much for all of your help and care of our sweet girls, Flossy; you are such a great help when I am at work (a lot this week).

I may have mentioned in a previous blog, Husband has been having some trouble over the past year or so with his left knee (basically can’t walk much). No-one really knows what happened; it was probably a combination of several little incidents over time, as said by our Ortho Specialist (thanks heaps!). I recall Husband had fallen onto his knee sometime last year (I think Mister C was jumping on his back?); along with the wear and tear of two decades of being a goalie, for his various indoor and outdoor soccer clubs, and all that twisting and turning with the lawn mower, mowing our big block over the past few years too. I attended Husband’s follow-up review with his Orthopaedic surgeon during the week, to review the MRI Husband had done in ACT a couple of weeks ago (oh no!). Sadly, it does look like Husband will need fairly major surgery to his bung knee after all-when it rains, it really pours in our family-particularly when it comes to surgeries…

I will admit, I did feel bad after the appointment; I initially thought Husband was bunging it on for a few weeks there (did think it was as a result of too much beer one night!), and then realised he actually did have a problem with his knee after all (sorry Husband!). To see the nasty issues with the knee on the MRI scans at the appointment (and the specialist telling us), nearly brought me to tears (I have a defective Husband now); my mind then started racing, with the ideas of him being in a ROM (range of motion) brace and not driving for six weeks (arrg! what were we going to do?). Pulling myself together (come on- you’re a nurse-aren’t you?), Husband and I discussed the issues and a way forward; Husband was going to have to have the surgery sooner than later, or face having a knee replacement before he turns fifty! So, Husband filled out the RFA (request for admission) to attend our local hospital for the procedure as day-surgery, hoping to have a date asap in the next month or so (thanks so much). The only thing is, it’s Husband’s birthday early June and he has booked to go to sunny QLD to see his dear bro for a few days; let’s hope the surgery can be booked after this week.

Okay, let’s go back to 2019… we were now at the end of the school hols in January (and our wonderful trip to North Straddie- must go back again soon) to commence the new school term for the year. Widy was going into year eight in high school, Flossy was going into year five and Mister C was starting year one (where had the time gone?) at the same primary school. The girls had said they were happy to go back to school, mainly to see their friends; but Mister C wasn’t looking forward to school (has never been overly happy about school to start with-as we know). I always chatted about the new school year with the kids; while taking the kids to the shops, to organise new school shoes, items such as pencil cases and school stationary packs. I always asked the girls to try on their school uniforms (to check their hems were at a good length etc.); of course, Mister C ran downstairs and called out, “I’m not trying on any school clothes, Mummy; those new shoes are not soft- not ever!”… So, the battle had just begun, again…

We were hoping for a good year, (be assured it was a whole lot better than the next in 2020- as we all know!) I recall Husband and I were talking about our plans for the year ahead, with our work, activities, trips away, family budgets for more renos at the house (such money pits really!) and no more surgeries for at least a year. Speaking (writing) of Husband with his current health issues with his bung knee; back in 2019, he also had some other minor medical issues to deal with too. Husband’s GP had arranged a barrage of tests, including further blood tests, Ultrasound of his internal organs, a halter monitor (for his heart-remember those palpitations?) and other studies (we didn’t think it was going to end at one point). A long story shortened, Husband attended every required test (well done) and had another review of the results with his GP (I was silently glad it wasn’t me this time). I attended this appointment with Husband, to try and to ascertain what the main issues actually were. The GP was leaning towards the disorder named haemochromatosis (too much iron in the blood) and what treatments were currently available to treat this type of issue (if any?).

Husband commented, “Ultrasound yesterday along with normal blood test and glucose tolerance test, so worst case scenario, I have haemochromatosis AND diabetes- but I am not worried-really. I feel physically fine overall and hopefully I will be able to tackle these health issues, by losing about another five kilograms, more exercise and reduce alcohol intake (not that I drink that much anyway). I went for a great thirty-five-minute bike ride with Flossy, my first proper sustained exercise for this length in several years. I feel so alive and invigorated!”…

After another blood test weeks later, the results showed a significant reduction in Husband’s iron stores (thank goodness); where we had a light bulb moment in the kitchen, realising Husband had been consuming far too many supplements- leading to this blood result anomaly. Days later, I realised Husband had been taking too many vitamin C tablets and other supplements containing vitamin C, which in turn had increased the already adequate iron stores in his body. So, Husband quickly stopped taking all of the tablets and the blood results levelled out- no nasty disorder for him after all (phew!). The halter monitor tests and other tests came back negative or NAD (no abnormality detected), which was pleasing- Husband was going to live another day after all (yay!) … I guess it was a learning curve for all of us; to ensure to check all of the ingredients in such supplements (yes, I know I’m a nurse), so that the tablets didn’t interact with other medications. We can laugh about it now (he-he!), but Husband really wasn’t feeling very well over this time back then; it was good to have a thorough check-up anyway (and cut down on takeaway foods and beer) and lose a few kilos too…

I recall how hot it was during those last weeks at the end of January; I think we had record breaking weather, with at least four days in a row of over forty degrees (and in ACT too)- such hots days! Husband and I made the quick decision to purchase a half price, larger capacity air conditioner from our local retail outlet store in town (were having a sale); and had arranged a local fitting company to take out the really old unit and install the new one(thank-you!) Don’t ask me where the funds came from, straight after Christmas and our trip away (thank goodness for credit!) It was such a delight not to have to swelter upstairs inside the house; with over thirty-degree heat with previous air con/fan, to a manageable twenty-four degrees, with our new quiet powerful unit (so nice). Husband recalls, “Today is a record breaker for Canberra- four days in a row over forty degrees. Our town is just as hot, so thank goodness we got our seven KW air conditioner installed a week ago!” I noticed Mister C was calmer too (as were the girls) with the cooler bedroom upstairs (he was still upstairs) and was sleeping better, as was all of us (yay for that).

A Word from Mister C…

The girls, Mister C and I were all sitting outside having some lunch together; it was a sunny warm day. Dad kindly made us all something to eat; when he handed everyone their plates, he said; “There you go, everyone. I am an ultra-high-quality Dad, today! I must be worth a million dollars?” We all laughed and chorused, “Thanks, Dad.” Dad then smiled and said, “Thanks everyone.” Mister C looked up and then started giggling; he said “No way, Daddy; you’re only worth twenty-five farts and fifty big hugs, today!” … “Oh, really, my son?” Dad replied, a pout developing on his face. “Oh, well; maybe a few more farts then, Dad,” Mister C giggled; all laughed…

Stay tuned…

For more stories from 2019; it’s my birthday soon (not another one?) and I organise a surprise for our wedding anniversary in March… We are waiting very patiently for our wonderful format designer, to have our third book files completed for proofing and printing- very exciting… Happy International Nurse’s Day for during the week to my dear nursing friends and colleagues; we all love what we do, but it’s sure nice to have a little appreciation shown towards us occasionally- thankyou!

Night from Me and Mister C… ❤