mysundaysnapshot

My Sunday Snapshot and Ordinary Moments – Lucky

October 11, 2020 by Anne Sweet 12 Comments

hospital infusion of IVIG, lucky to have this treatment — IVIG

This weeks photo may be a little strange but I really wanted to express how lucky I feel to be able to have my treatment and how amazing our NHS is.

For the last two months I’ve had two five day treatments of IVIG at my local hospital. I have a rare, incurable condition. No-one really knows how to treat it, but I do feel as though I have a really good consultant who listens to me. And the help I get on the NHS has been invaluable, I really do feel lucky.

The Ordinary Moments – Lucky

My life has been anything but ordinary, but usually the not so ordinary stuff has happened to family members. Then five years ago (and 10 months) I was struck down over night with a really rare condition that left me in constant pain and unable to walk unaided. Even with aids I can’t walk very far. My life was turned upside down and everything changed.

I was first told that I would recover, but later given another diagnosis which was progressive. So I won’t recover but I will get worse. Its a lot to digest, but what can I do? I have done a lot of research, I speak with my consultant. There is still one drug that he won’t agree with me on, but he’s in charge of my medication. There is still a very risky treatment that I could try which may or may not work, but I doubt it would be approved and even if it was I don’t know if I would be willing to take the risk (or agree to not be with my family for months especially with no guarantee that I would be cured afterwards, or even survive.)

So, I consider myself very lucky, not because of my crippling illness but because of the care I receive. I get care from my family who look after me, I get care from my consultant who listens to me and I get the most lovely care from the hospital staff. Honestly, the staff in the day ward I attend are really, really lovely. They listen, they care, they help and they make me feel comfortable at all times.

So, I may spend four hours a day on a hospital ward being hooked up to the machine above. I may suffer massive headaches, severe tiredness and coldness while the treatment continues. And I may have another darn side affect of intense itching this time. But it does help stop the progression of my condition. I won’t be cured, but I’m lucky that I have a way of stopping me getting worse.

Three Link ups today:

My Sunday Snapshot and Ordinary Moments, Sabrina

July 26, 2020 by Anne Sweet 8 Comments

Last week I featured Ash, my baby at only 2 years old. This week I am sharing a photo of Sabrina, taken this week when she cuddled up to our black cat draft excluder. She’s 11 years old and starting to go a little grey 🙂

Sabrina, the black cat snuggled up to a black cat draft excludor.

Yes, I know the draft excluder is upside down, but I didn’t want to disturb Sabrina just to make the photo better…she already has a half opened eye on me.

And from my older cat Sabrina I move to my youngest child for..

Ordinary Moment – Lemons

This week my Little Man had a surprise cookery box and he was most disappointed that it was lemon based. All the recipes contained lemons and my Little Man is not a lemon fan. But he turned around and said “if life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” So we did, and he actually liked it, a little.

He preferred it with less lemon and more ice and fizzy water, but at least he tried something different, and he made it himself. He also made lemon cupcakes which he thought he would hate, but he didn’t. We made some vanilla ones as well, just in case.

My Little Man is one special little guy. The other morning I was in pain and stuck in my bed. I’d tried to get help from other family members with no avail but then I heard him get up to go to the toilet. The bathroom is next to my bedroom and you can hear everything in there. This turned out to be a blessing as I was able to talk to The Little Man, and he was able to come and help me.

I then had a fit of guilt feeling bad that my baby (yes, he’s 9 but he’ll always be the baby) had no memory of a Mum that wasn’t disabled. He doesn’t remember the times we’d run across the playground together, always late for school because his sisters had to go in first. I stopped taking him half way through reception, when I got sick. I have memories of picnic, playing in the park, on the beach, running and having fun with him. He doesn’t, not really. It’s hard to remember the times before you are five unless they are particularly drastic. He just about remembers moving house when he was three. He doesn’t remember our old house.

He’s a lovely boy though. When I apologised for having to ask him for help, he said to me “It’s just life with an extra step.”

My Sunday Snapshot – Happier Days

May 10, 2020 by Anne Sweet 7 Comments

After being stuck at home so long I really wished we didn’t live in a huge city. Today I’ve gone back in time to happier days. Back in June 2013 we were on holiday in Center Parcs. The girls were supposed to be at school but we had been given permission to take them on holiday during school time. All it took was a letter!

happier times the girls and their bikes — *The girls and their bikes*

Happier Times 2013

I had been chosen to be a Center Parcs blogger, which meant a day trip to Center Parcs where I was treated like a V.I.P with a group of bloggers. Then a holiday at a park of my choice. We chose Whinfell Forest which was amazing.

We had so much included in our holiday, like bikes, a spa day and a free meal at the restaurant (with free drinks too!) It was certainly happier times.

Star had an accident on her bike the very first day where she fell off and then refused to get on it again. So she pushed it around for a few days before deciding to give up on it.

Graham's bike in the woods with a baby on the back — *Graham and the Little Man*

Graham’s bike had a seat on the back for The Little Man, he was only two years old so he didn’t have a bike of his own.

We didn’t have the best weather, some days were sunnier than others. But Center parcs have so many trees it’s very rare to actually get wet in the rain.

*The Little Man toddling in the woodland*

Country Side

We really loved our time in the countryside and I would give anything to be there right now. Don’t worry, I’d be quite happy to isolate in the lodge we stayed in. I have a little video of it, it was gorgeous. And just behind it, loads of trees and wonderful places to walk among nature.

I have always lived in the city. I think living somewhere else would feel quite alien. But I love holidays that take you away from the normal. I’ve always said I’d love to live near the sea side, but then would I be so excited about seeing the sea if I could see it from my window every day? (I think I would, I love the sea.)

How about living in the middle of nature and having special guests for breakfast on your patio?

I think, suddenly having everything on your doorstep…shops, hospitals, restaurants etc. is not so convenient when everything is closed or you can’t go because of the risks of catching a virus.

At this moment I’m dreaming of happier times where we were surrounded with trees and nature.

My Sunday Snapshot – Ash on the Settee

March 15, 2020 by Anne Sweet 4 Comments

It’s been a while, so here he is. My Baby, the youngest member of my family. Ash on the settee

The settee is just a little younger than Ash, but we ordered it around the same time we chose our kitten. Do you think we chose the cat to match the settee or the settee to match the cat. He certainly fits right in doesn’t he. And he likes to get cosy.

Other Cats

When we moved to this house over six years ago, we had four cats. Two old cats, Scribbles and Suzie. Scribbles never really coped with the move, bless her. She spent all day sleeping on the stairs or outside The Little Man’s Bedroom. She only came down for food or the litter tray. She never ventured outside our new area.

Suzie was better, she would go out with her younger siblings Salem and Sabrina. She was never a fussy cat and the only time she snuggled up to me was shortly before she passed away.

Scribbles died first, we took her to the vets and she never came home. She was sixteen years old. Then it was Suzie’s turn shortly afterwards. She was the same age.

Salem and Sabrina were brother and sister and we’d had them seven years. Salem became ill and we took him to vets where it was discovered that he had a tumor in his tummy. It was heartbreaking to lose him so soon. Sabrina is now ten years old and very rarely leaves the house. She didn’t like Ash when we brought him home, but she has taken to him now. They play together and cuddle up on the settee together.

Ash on the Settee with Sabrina

Lately though, I can’t seem to keep Sabrina off my lap. Every second I’m sitting down she’s either on my lap or as close as possible. At the moment she is lying against my leg because I’m on my laptop. If I put the laptop down she will climb on my lap. She will even try to climb on top of the laptop.

She’s never been like this before and I’m not sure if it’s because she is feeling old, or she feels my illness. I know the worse I feel the closer she wants to be with me.

As for Ash, he’s not a lap cat at all. He is in and out of the house all day long and drives us nuts as we have no cat flap.

Not Going Out

As you can tell, I’ve not been out much lately so my photos are getting old. It will probably get worse over the next few weeks. Maybe we’ll have to get crafty and share some photos of our efforts. Or bake something nice? Would you like a cake photo ? 🙂

My Sunday Snapshot – Owl Card

January 19, 2020 by Anne Sweet 7 Comments

It was my friend’s birthday and I’d not managed to get out and buy her a card. Just before Christmas I’d been given a set to make two Christmas cards as a gift with my Chrochet magazine subscription. I’d really enjoyed making them and as I had some blank cards I thought I’d have a go at making an owl birthday card.

I looked at patterns for motifs and decided on this owl pattern. It was fairly simple and I thought it would make a nice card.

I could have easily sent out my husband to buy a card but I thought it would be much nicer to make a card myself. Then all I had to do was pop on a stamp and my husband could post it for me.

Card making

I have a lot of supplies for card making as I believed it was something that I would enjoy doing. In fact, I didn’t enjoy it much at all. The few cards I did make created a lot of mess to clean up and I was never really happy with the results. I guess I just didn’t have the creativity to make them.

Crochet is something I can do though, and even though it’s not perfect, I don’t feel the urge for perfection as I do with other crafts.

I may even have a go at making some more cards using crochet motifs, I think they make for unusual and creative cards.

They don’t make so much mess either like I did when cutting out lots of pieces of paper and embellishments. And they really don’t take to long to make as well. With a little more practice I think I could get quite good at this. Do you like my owl birthay card, do you think using crochet makes for an unusual card?

My previous sunday snapshot – mandala

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