Cellulitis Strikes Again!

We thought we had parted ways with Mark's leg cellulitis the day he had his heart valve surgery done back in 2008, because he hadn't had a flare-up since. We thought that his dodgy heart was doing a terrible job of pumping his blood around, hence giving the infection ample opportunity to flare up whenever it wanted. Seemed like a pretty plausible scenario!

Well, apparently not. Last Friday morning 8th June, he woke up with the all too familiar shivery symptoms and the dreaded hot leg with mottled inflamed area down the bottom. I figured, we shouldn't mess around with this. He hasn't had this since he's had the artificial valve, and we don't know what effect the infection could have on his body and more importantly his heart valve, so we headed straight to the ED at Hawkesbury hospital.

Bit of background as to why we take these things so seriously (as I think sometimes we come across as over cautious or panicking!). There's an artificial aortic valve in Mark's heart. He takes Warfarin (rat poison!) daily to keep his blood thin enough to pass over/through the valve easily without it becoming "sticky" (ie not functioning correctly). We were told after the surgery that any infection or illness can potentially affect his blood which could in turn cause a "sticky" valve. Unfortuantely if that happens, it means another open heart surgery to replace the valve - pretty big deal, something we'd prefer to avoid! SO, this is why we err on the side of caution at all times!!

Anyhow, off we went to the hospital. It took a while to get seen, and poor Mark was feeling dreadful. But it was finally his turn and they took him straight through, as he had a temperature (that'll be the infection!) and elevated heart rate. Ran an ECG - all good. The vampires arrived soon thereafter to take their samples for blood tests. Check this out... medical interns... I guess they have to learn, but Mark isn't really a willing pin cushion!!!

How many people does it take to draw blood?!?!
Half an hour later they filled their viles and got the canula in. WOW.

They decided to keep him in for IV antibiotics and fluid. Initially, they were saying 48 hours, but we both were secretly hoping that by the next day he'd be much better and they would send him home with oral AB's. 

Awwww, cuddles for unwell Daddy :-(

Friday afternoon, Al looked after Hannah for a couple of hours while I went back to the hospital, but Mark was pretty tired and I didn't stay long. I went back to Al's where they looked after Hannah and I with a lovely roast lamb dinner.

Friday night, I got a message from Mark saying he was feeling much better and requesting biscuits and chocolate in the morning!! I had just left Coles and was heading to the hospital with Hannah on Saturday morning, when he messaged again saying they were discharging him. YAY!!!

Thought I'd come to visit you Daddy but guess what?! I'm taking you home with me!

So that was that. Homeward bound, another 24 hours of taking it easy and my man was back to his normal self! Lets not do that again soon thanks Mark!! xxx

Gastro Got my Girl!

At my birthday dinner on the Sunday, Al's step-son Tyler became quite ill. It turned out he must have had a gastro bug. Al came down with it on Monday night... and my poor Hannah was struck down on Tuesday lunch time, 29th May  :-( Other than a fever last Christmas/New Year time, and the normal common cold, she's never been ill. So it was quite a shock to both of us I think!

I knew something was up when my normally happy go lucky little girl started whinging and carrying on around 10.45am. I thought she might have just been hungry, so got her lunch ready early. She wouldn't eat a single bite. ALARM BELLS!!! Crying, rubbing her eyes and just not a very happy girl at all. All SO out of character. So I thought, maybe she's tired?! Got her into bed early at 11.45am. No sooner had I left the room and sat on the loo, and I heard an odd, unfamiliar, yet distinct sound of vomit hitting the carpet. OH NO! And so it began. Two bed changes within 40 minutes before I gave up on bed and brought her back downstairs. Where she continued to throw up on the kitchen floor. This was not looking good :-(

By 12.50pm, she was really starting to flag and I was dashing around trying to get organised to take her upstairs and cuddle her while she napped. She was nearly falling asleep on the floor!

The vomiting did subside by the evening and came only randomly for the next couple of days, but not a lot. Just a very lethargic, unwell, unhappy, sleepy baby girl :-( 

Not feeling very crash hot :-(

Zonked

Just having a quiet play

Then zonking again

Awake and loving the Hydralyte blocks

Just absolutely broke my heart :-(

Time for another nap

Started Tuesday lunch time... Friday morning she did throw up her breakfast but was basically back to her normal self. Just in time for Mummy to have a much needed break the next day for my birthday girls night away! Good timing Hannah, thank you bubba ;-) xx

My 34th (ouch!) Birthday

Sunday 27th May was my 34th birthday :-)

We kicked off with a trip to Windsor markets in the morning, where I bought an entire outfit for dinner that evening... leggings, singlet and a cardigan for the bargain price of $54!! My new long black boots which were my birthday present were sitting at home waiting to complete the ensemble! We also secured some purple hairclips for Hannah to match her outfit. I was praying the lady with the hair accessories would be there... and she was. Phew! Otherwise Hannah would have worn PINK clips with her PURPLE outfit!! 

After our exhaustive shopping (!!) it was time for a coffee.

Stiring our drinks!

Yum yum!

Then we went home for Hannah's nap so she was well rested for dinner that night!

We headed to The Brewery for celebratory drinks and a meal... it was a really nice afternoon/evening :-)

Me and my girl on my birthday - one of my favourite photos :-)

Hannah (sporting one of the new clips!) and Hunter aka Biscuit, waiting for some food to arrive

Me and my BFF :-)

Me and Anji

My "cake" :-D

Cheers!

All in all, a lovely day :-)

BUT THAT WASN'T ALL!!!! Al's present was a surprise... all I knew was that I had to have an overnight bag packed the following Saturday afternoon, for a girly night away. HOW EXCITING!!

She took me to the Fairmont Resort in the Blue Mountains. B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!! We had a twin share room and a table booked in Eucalypt restaurant for dinner, and breakfast the next morning. I was thoroughly spoilt - so very lucky. Thank you Al xxx

Hotel foyer/reception area

Our room

LOL... I was the partner of Mrs Courtney for the evening!!!!

Anyone need a glass?!

I had the Spatchcock, Al had the Lobster

I had the trout, Al had the Lamb.

Other than me being sick first up on Sunday morning and spending the day with a hangover (I'm such a light weight!) it was perfect!! And can I just clarify... we shared 2 bottles of wine over the whole afternoon and evening, and I drank water. Oh well. I tried!!

Thanks again Al for an amazing birthday present :-) xx

 

Feeding the ducks...

As per usual, I'm behind on my blogging... *tut*!! I go back through my photos and think "oh yeh, I didn't blog about that yet"!!! Aaaaaaanyhoo. This one goes back to Sunday 20 May (not yet a month - I've done well!). We took Hannah down to Pughs Lagoon to feed the ducks. 

Hmmm. It's meant to be for the ducks!!

Beautiful black swan

Come'n geddit!

Nothing exciting or crazy happened, but I just wanted to capture the first time Hannah went to feed the ducks :-)