You're not as breakable as you think.......

                                                  This about sums it all up!

I went into hospital on Monday morning very early - it was still dark when we left home. I had my op at 10.30 a.m. I of course then lost all track of time as I was unconscious or in recovery. I awoke feeling very very cold but I soon warmed up with the aid of a heater blowing hot air under the blankets - unusual I thought but very effective. I was back in my room about 3.30p.m - yes I had my own room again - I love the NHS!

just arrived back in my room - just the same apart from the tubes!

 The amazing thing was that I had no pain down to some amazing epidural in my back anaesthetising the area - brilliant!

The scariest thing - waiting for the drains to be removed from my chest cavity and praying that my right lung stayed inflated. The x-ray 2 hours later confirmed it was!

The best thing - being sent home Wednesday afternoon -  50 hours in hospital for part of my lung to be removed.

Totally blown away by how quick and painless the whole experience has been.

A big thank you to my surgeon and his team; the wonderful nursing team especially Ammi for making me laugh and to Neil for all his love and support. He knew I was getting better as I was beginning to give him lists of things that I needed! I was home before he got to my second list!

Op tomorrow

Just to say that I am off to Oxford very early in the morning for my op. I am second on the list and should be in theatre about 10 ish - so hopefully not too much hanging around! I have my i-pod loaded with some new podcasts to pass the time away and a book if I feel like reading.

Be in touch when I get back home!

Thoughts for the day

Thrilling Thursday at the Para Olympics - Sept 6th

One of the best nights of my life. The Athletics at the Olympic stadium. Three gold medals, one silver and two bronze for Team GB. Amazing!

 

Date set for next round of surgery

I had my pre - op assessment last Monday 10 September at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

John Radcliffe Hospital - a big teaching hospital

I passed all the tests and am fit for surgery. The date for the operation is Monday 24 September. Still scheduled for keyhole surgery and they anticipate that I will be in hospital for 3-4 days.

So I have this week to have fun before I am laid up for a few weeks having the op and then recovering at home.

A trip to Barcelona & France End of August

Danny Me & Alan  in Park Guell Barcelona

Leaping for joy in Avignon

What to have for lunch?

Relaxing in the pool!

Cocktail hour.

Breakfast is served.

Dinner by the pool

Garlic garlic garlic

How much cheese?

It's been a busy Summer - so no time to dwell on things- just keeping positive

Summer- busy times! Keeping positive and making wonderful memories. 

A trip to Southwold - what a beautiful place and a family reunion of sorts for Neil and his mum with cousins. A day on the beach, a game of cricket and rounders and a picnic and it didn't rain. The skies threatened but it just missed us!

The cousins - there were 14 of us! What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Southwold - look at that big sky!

The famous beach hut photo - an iconic photo of Southwold.

And Colin came too........ he had an exciting time.

Then came the Olympics...........Day 1 we were at the Rowing at Eton Dorney.

Flags and blue skies!

Rowers - making for the finish line.

Charlotte & Luke my neice & nephew - future Olympic rowers?

Me, Luke, Charlotte & Lynne waiting for the next race.

The last day we were at the Marathon in London - we had a great spot in Martin Le Grand near St Paul's. We saw the athletes run past 3 times and what a pace they maintain.

Neil, Me, Ellen, Mike, Tracy, Rebecca, Eleni, Ellie, Nicola & Hamish at the Marathon.

"Doing the Bolt" - Ellen, Nicola, Eleni, Ellie & Rebecca

A day trip as tourists in London with Eleni (Neil's neice), Ellen(Eleni's friend) Tracy (our friend) and her 3 girls Nicola, Ellie & Rebecca. The three older girls went to the Londin dungeon while us oldies took Rebecca on the cable car between the North Greenwich Arena and the Excel. A lunch at GBK in Clink St - yummy falafel burger for me which was delicious and a great option for non meat eaters.

Great Views

It's a long way down

The "grown ups" at GBK Clink St -  "epic"lunch with the juniurs

Then there was a side excursion to the M&M store in Leicester Sq - which for us "grown ups" was  "hell on earth"!

Then the juniors wanted a visit to the M&M store in Leicester Sq!

Every colour you could imagine of M&M!

All aboard - ladies who love M&M's