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Posted 11/30/2007 4:35 AM (GMT -8)
Literally just got a phone call from my social worker.

Best phone call I've had from her all week (she's been phoning me nearly twice a day all week, she's a superstar.)

I was wanting too start on a computer course at college, just as something too do really. We found the perfect one, which was just 3 hours a week and I could either go into the college itself too do my studying, or, to a community center just up the road from me. Well, it would be brilliant, as it would mean that I wouldn't have to stop studying when I had a 2 week hospital stay.

It would also put my laptop too some better use than plaign sims 2.

Well, it all sounded excellant, until I was told that the course was £65 (about $130). It doesn't sound like a lot, but we live on the breadline, and a lot of the time below it. There was no way I could aford it. I was really heartbroken to be honest, I'd really got my hopes up.

Anyway I told my social worker about it, and she said she would look round to see what she could do.

She got in touch with a company, that may be able too help, it is a charity that funds things.

Because I'm only asking for a small amount. They have agreed too fund me, so I can start college:)

This isn't just a case for something to do really, it's going to get me out of the house, and learning. I gave up college year's ago, because I was doing a full-time course and couldn't keep up. But this just couldn't be any more perfect for me. It also gives me an acheivable aim-somthing I haven't had in a long time. It's only a basic starter course, I'm going too probably know everything, and as it's computer based, anything I don't know, I'll probably pick up in seconds. I'm just so happy there are people so kind, that are giving me this chance.

Yay!

Posted 12/1/2007 3:42 PM (GMT -8)

This is fabulous news for you.  I am so happy and may it all come together.

Gentle Hugs,

Kitt

Posted 12/4/2007 3:29 PM (GMT -8)

Gem,

I just popped in over here to check in on you and to find this exciting news is wonderful!  I am so excited for you.  It will give you something to do, something to look forward to and something to work on for your future.  It's about time something started going your way.

Super Big Hugs to You!

Carla

Posted 12/5/2007 2:12 AM (GMT -8)
Thankyou both Kitt and Carla super big hugs back!:)
Seeing my social worker on Friday, although speaking wih her later today also, so going too see where she's upto with it all.

Today, I have someone coming, from a group called Sue Ryder. Basically, it's a group built for getting people out of the house. They do walks, swimming, gym, bowling. Going too chat about what would be suitable for me. Again this has been organised by my superstar social worker.

I'm actually starting too get a bit anxious now, I may have too tell people to slow down a little after getting this sorted. It's a lot for me too be doing suddenly, and I can't quite speed my head up enough, too keep up with everything. I am also supposed to be doing excercises every day. However I just haven't been able too for the last 3 weeks, because I've got another chest infection. It's starting too worry me, that if I can't keep up with these small excercises for my physio, how on earth am i going to keep up with all this new stuff? I have in total, about 3-4 hours taken up a day by treatment alone. ooooh, and now I'm starting to panic, oh how my mood changes so quickly! I'll calm back down now.


Oh, put up decorations last night. I have a nice 6ft artificial tree, stood on a glass table-so the angels head is hitting the ceiling. It looks like the cat might already have had a go at attacking it, but I've been wise this year, and blue tacked it onto the table. So, hopefully, there won't be any toppling tree, like there was last year.
I am late getting decorations up though, usually they go up on the 1st. Christmas is nearly here:)
All my animals have got stockings this year-even the hamster and guinea pigs. Although, they will only get pressies if they are good boys and girls tongue Oh, and I have an extra angel, with fibre optics wings, she's so pretty and delicate. She's the only light I'm having this year, and she's  got center stage.....Very pretty!

Posted 12/7/2007 10:12 AM (GMT -8)

Gem,

Even though you have the lung infection and I know that has to hit you really hard, you still sound so excited.  Surely, they will work at the pace that you can work at.  They won't try to kill you.  If they try to push you too hard, tell them to call Kitt and Carla and we will take care of them; we're good at that.  That's our specialty.

You sound like a happy little girl talking about the Christmas tree, happier than you have sounded in a long time. I can't think of anyone who deserves it more.  It brings me tears of joy.

I've had my two cats, Neiman and Saks for eleven years now and I don't think I can ever have a big tree.  I can't even put stuff on the mantle.  I have to just sit things around.  They are Himalayans and brothers and still very playful and mischievous for their age.  They are also thieves, which the breeder warned me about. They take shiny things like jewelry and you absolutely never find it again.  I've never left any jewelry out, but the first couple of years I had them, my two daughters would live with me on and off and they both lost several pieces of jewelry, never to be found again.  They will put things down the garbage disposal, down the furnace and who knows where.  I've moved a couple of times and nothing has ever shown up.  I remember one time my daughter, Jill stopped by my house to take a shower and she came out screaming that she only laid her watch down long enough to take a shower and now it was gone.  All I could do was to remind her how many times I had warned her.  Enough about my cats.  The next time I will tell you about my grandchildren!

Great Big Hugs!

Carla

Posted 12/8/2007 3:29 AM (GMT -8)
Hi Carla,
I do get all excited over christmas, I'm like a huge kid. I still have an advent calander.
My depression has lifted a hell of a lt,and I'm dealing with things a lot better, I'm no longer in a dark place all of the time, I'm not needing too crash cars up on my Playstation anymore, I'm started too be abe too talk too people again.

Yesterday I went to see the physio, she had me on the treadmill, bike and rowing machine. Only very slowely, as my legs are getting tired so quickly, but just being able too do this again, is changing things for me. I'm no longer being ruled by my illness, and I thik it's that that is making a huge change inside me.

Unfortuantely, I'm still coming down with 'normal' things, like infections, that aree throwing me. I didn't look well at all yesterday, which is just brill, as I didn't feel it either. I was sent down to see my consultant, did some blows. Even though I know I do have a chest infection, my consultant has decided it's depression. I explained the difference between depression and chest infection. But, they don't want too give me IV's yet. Thankfully, this was my old consutant however, not the new-none listening one. He's took bloods and things, which will show exctly what's going off, he's going to phone me next week too discuss what the next step will be. I'm not at all willing too accept depression as a cause for this, as I've been mentally well and stable recently.

Oh, my cats the same, and she's just a normal tortoise shell cat. She's always pinching my make up brushes and hiding them. She's not generally destrctive, exept for christmas. I have a feeling my tree will topple tonight, as were going out too watch boxing, and also baby sitting for my little nephew Kain, for a bit. So Sandy's going too get bored.

Also-when the woman from Sure Ryder came round, it was ace. Rather than me doing the walking programmes and things, because tbh, should I start them, if I become unwell, I'll probbably lose sight of them. She has suggested that I do some volunteer work, and is getting that set up for me, won't be till after Christmas though. Basically you spend so many weeks training up, and at the end of it, you become a mentor. It's going too be talking too people, with disabilities and such, and helping them through things. Sounds ideal I think. It also won't put too much pressure on me, and I can do as much as I'm able too do with no pressurising from employers to do more.

Things are just so different at the minute, I'm panicking at times, as things are a bit too different, and it's taking me out of my comfort zone a bit. I am adjusting though, and soon it will all seem normal again.

Right, now, I should be getting dressed, still in my pyjama's and it's like 11:30am here, lol.

Hope you're ok huni
Gem
xxxx
Posted 12/8/2007 9:32 PM (GMT -8)

Hi Gem,

I feel better just hearing you sound so up-beat.  I've had a round with asthma, but I'm doing better.  I am 117 days seizure free!!!!  It took me 15 months to get my 90 days so I could drive, but I made it.  I just had to stop looking at the calendar.  I spent some time with two of my grandkids this weekend.  That's always a treat.

I  assume when you say they sent you to do some blows, you're talking about peak flows?

I take a monthly injection of Xolair, which is rather expensive but keeps me out of the ER's and hospitals.  When I went to see my allergist for the second time this week, when I did my peak flows and the nurse read them, she called them off as 565, 535, 525.  I just about jumped out of my seat. I said, "What?"  She apologized.  They were all in the 200's.  I thought I was just going home, that I must be cured.  A 400 is my absolute best and I rarely see any of those days.  I thought that Prednisone this week had surely worked a miracle, which it did, I'm breathing.

Actually, I'm doing well and looking forward to Christmas with the three grandkids.

You will be perfect at mentoring others.  I am excited for you.

Love and Prayers,

Carla

Posted 12/9/2007 10:42 AM (GMT -8)
Hiya Carla,

Yes they do do peak flows, although, those figures are never looked at. Instead they are done too check my FEV1 and FVC. I think they measure how full your lungs have been and how long you can blow out for.
Last time my peak was done, it was at 350, but that was over a year ago. My FEV1 and FVC scores are always high. But they have dropped by about 12%-from 96% to 84%. These are still really high scores, but the drop in them does indicate infection. Last month they were havign a go, as while feeling ill, my Lung function hadn't been hit. Now it has been hit-and it's down too depression.

I've just got back from brother-in-laws. We went round there too watch the boxing, and I've slept about 3 hours in the last 32 hours. I'm strangely not tired, though aching and coughing, with a belly ache. Was kind of helped by some dinner we've just had at aunty-in-laws.

We babysat my nephew Kain for a bit, he's about 3 months old now, and as adorable as when he was born. We haven't seen him recently, so I'm realy broody again. Everyone seems too be having babies recently.

Got back, and only a couple of decorations, and some tinsel is missing from the tree. I'm very impressed:)
Posted 12/9/2007 2:58 PM (GMT -8)

Good cat or a cat that's up to something?   cool

Carla

Posted 12/11/2007 8:23 AM (GMT -8)
Good cat, in that she didn't try climb the tree, bad cat for going near my tree at all!
Posted 12/12/2007 1:19 PM (GMT -8)
Update: I now have my cheque through, so am going too sort out college some day this week, or early next week:)
Posted 12/12/2007 6:20 PM (GMT -8)

That's great news!

Hugs!

Carla

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