Life and stuff...

[londonronnie]

It's been a while since I posted mainly, I think, because all my posts have been full of doom and gloom lately. Unfortunately I am feeling very doomish and gloomish these days...

Two weeks ago MIL came home from the rehab centre. We'd been to a review meeting and were suddenly informed that we'd have to take her home the following day, which came as a bit of a surprise. We did know, of course, that her discharge was imminent as she'd been there for eight weeks (and the usual length of stay is around six weeks), but we weren't expecting to have less than 24 hours notice so it was sort of sprung upon us a bit. Not the best way to prepare for all the upheaval...

Any road up, the rehab centre has certainly done some fantastic work. MIL is much more mobile than she was before she went there, which means that I don't have to get up through the night to heave her out of bed when she wants the loo and she's also able to walk through to the kitchen for her meals. Her mood has also been fairly good - we've only had a couple of occasions when she's snapped at us - and she's actually had two days at a day centre, which has been great for us. Not that she's been very enthusiastic about the place, but at least she's been there and she hasn't said anything about not wanting to go back. Unfortunately the day centre will be closed next week because of the bank holiday (she goes on a Monday) and the following week they're all off on a trip somewhere, arranged before MIL started going so there isn't a spare place for her. So, no days off for us for three weeks or so but then we'll be going on our holidays!! MIL seems to have accepted now that she'll have to go into respite care while we're away, helped by the fact that she'll be going back to the rehab centre for her respite so she'll know the place and the routine, and all the staff. That's been a huge help to us, and we're very pleased that the manager there came up with the suggestion.

I'm looking forward to our holiday so, so much. All my thoughts seem to be concentrated on it at the moment. Those three weeks can't go quickly enough! Two weeks in Somerset and three days in London. Bliss!!

Comments

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad to hear that things are going better, petal, I know this has been really rough for both of you. ♥

It's also brilliant that you have your holiday to look forward to as well.

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Well, things are far from ideal but they are much better, thanks.

Yep, thank goodness for holidays!!

[mspinto64.livejournal.com]

Where are you going when you come down to Somerset?

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

We'll be staying in the village of Luxborough, about 7 miles from Minehead.

We've stayed there several times before, it's like home from home! *g*

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

I feel so much for what you and John are going through here and how terribly hard it must be for you both. Let's hope your MIL continues to be a bit more cooperative and thank god you've got the rehab centre to fall back on now and again.

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

She's definitely calmer than she was before, although I suspect that might be down to her medication as much as anything.

Yep, the rehab centre has been a godsend!

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

No break for three weeks is a real scunner. But I'm vicariously glad for you that you've got what sounds like a wonderful holiday to look forward to! Hope it makes getting through the three weeks a bit easier to do...

And the increased mobility does sound like a very significant difference, for her and for you two; hope she sees the point of keeping motivated to work on staying mobile!

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Yep, it's the thought of our three weeks away that's keeping us going at the moment.

MIL's increased mobility has made a tremendous difference to us, and we're doing our best to make sure that she doesn't regress to the way she was before her spell at the rehab centre.

[windrain10.livejournal.com]

This sounds good, at least a little. I'm so glad you are going to get a vacation soon. You very much need it!

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Life's definitely easier than it was a few months ago, but the holiday is being very much anticipated!

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

Erk! Bugger about the no break for three weeks. But I hope you have a really good holiday.

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Thank you, m'dear. We can't wait!

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

It sounds like you have a much better handle on MIL now. That's just great. You'll have such fun on your holiday!

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Yes, we're definitely in a much better routine now.

The holiday will be fun- and a chance for a bloody good rest! *g*

[probodie.livejournal.com]

Its pants that you dont get a break for 3 weeks, but then after that...a break for 3 weeks :-))) And such a holiday you bloody well deserve. You are both absolute saints for doing what you do, and after being under such strain.

*hugs*

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Those three weeks can't go quick enough for us, I can't remember looking forward to anything so much!

Thanks for the hugs!

[hagsrus.livejournal.com]

I do hope the improvement continues. My sister in England said that our mum loved the respite care place and it really was a blessing, as was the day center.

Roll on the three weeks to Somerset!

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

It's a relief to know that MIL won't kick up a fuss when the time comes for her to go into respite care (at least we hope she won't!).

Yay for Somerset!! *g*

[agentxpndble.livejournal.com]

:::HUGS:::

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Thank you, m'dear!

[siskiou.livejournal.com]

It's good to hear the the nightly disturbances are less now. Not enough sleep makes everything worse.
I hope you MIL will continue to be kinder and the three weeks will fly by!
But then, time needs to slow to a crawl for your holiday! :)

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Yep, the disturbed nights really were a killer. It's so much better now.

You're right, I want the holiday to last forever!

[nakeisha.livejournal.com]

I'm so pleased to hear things have settled down for you and that M-i-L is improving and seems to have a better attitude. Long may that last.

*Hugs*

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Trouble is, I'm always waiting for her to go off on another rant. Fingers crossed it won't happen.

The hugs are much appreciated, thank you!

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the update. The rehab centre seems to have made a great improvement compared with what your MiL was like when she first went.
I hope the next three weeks are uneventful. Fingers crossed.

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Yep, the rehab centre has made a tremendous difference.

Fingers crossed indeed! *g*

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

I'm glad things are a tad better... and thank goodness you've got the holiday to look forward to. ::hugs::

[charliecochrane.livejournal.com]

Ooh - Doug Hyde icon. How I love his work...

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm glad to hear MiL is being more reasonable about things - and that she's able to move around more by herself again (I suppose that might have made her irritable and critical too, to somehow get over the humiliation of it...). I shall keep fingers crossed that she stays that way, and most of all that you and your lad have a brilliant holiday when the time comes!

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Thanks m'dear.

A spell in our Somerset bolthole will certainly recharge the batteries...

*g*

[charliecochrane.livejournal.com]

*big sympathetic hugs*

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Awww, thank you! Much appreciated!

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

I'm looking forward to our holiday so, so much. All my thoughts seem to be concentrated on it at the moment.
Heh. Welcome to my world! *g* People ask what I'm going to do on my holiday, and then stare blankly when I say I'm just going to a flat in England to eat and hang out and relax. Relax. Relax. Put myself first for three weeks. *g* Do whatever I want to do, whenever I want to do it.

Meanwhile, though, you've got three more weeks. Overall, this sounds so much better than the situation was before. I'm so glad the physical therapy helped, and that she is willing to go back for your holiday, and that she agrees to the day centre. Whew! My mother will never be enthusiastic about her day centre, but even while she complains about her "hard" day, and dreads it as it approaches, she does go. I think she is viewing it, as the experts recommended, as sort of her "work". I'm so glad that your MIL is being more reasonable, and is more mobile. I'm glad for that, and yet I understand fully how very difficult the whole situation remains.

Can I wish for your three weeks to go quickly, but mine to go slowly? *g*

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Thank you, sunshine. I know what difficult times you're going through as well - thank goodness for holidays, eh?

Surely there must be some way that we can make time go quickly for me and slowly for you? *g*

[angel-ci5.livejournal.com]

Well, apart from not getting a break for 3 weeks (Eep!), it sounds like things have improved slightly... And thank goodness you don't have to get up during the night anymore, that must make a big difference now you can get a proper night's sleep again.

Countdown to your hols!

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Yep, getting a full night's sleep makes a huge difference.

Countdown is right - I haven't started scratching five-bar gates on the wall yet, but I'm not far off! *g*

[cornishcat.livejournal.com]

*deep sigh*

... but things should settle into some sort of routine and then you can hopefully have many other occasions to plan and look forward to (fingers and toes crossed!)

e-hugs on their way to you both.

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

Thank you, matey.

It is good to have something to look forward to, only problem is that after this holiday we're only entitled to another 8 days respite care in the next 12 months.

Still, no use worrying about that until we need to...