My ‘Ava’
Hello! It’s been a while between blog posts and that is mostly because life has thrown another curve ball at us. As mentioned in my last post, Mum hasn’t been well. In that post, I was about to go back over to stay with Mum, taking over from my sister, to look after her. As soon as I got there I noticed Mum seemed worse than when I saw her last and the next day the decision was made to get her to hospital where she would receive more appropriate treatment and tests to get to the bottom of the problems. We went by ambulance as that was the most practical choice considering the pain and limited mobility we were dealing with. We had 8 hours in emergency before she was finally moved to a ward and bed. My sister and I left the hospital that night/err … morning around 12:30am. So Mum has been in hospital since last Wednesday 1 December. Mum is now in the rehab ward. There’s still good days and bad days but we remain hopeful that she will get better each day and be home for Christmas!
Meanwhile, I seem to have gotten sick! I think I managed to get myself a bit run down and I have picked something up. I went for a Covid test on Saturday morning and at the time of typing this on Sunday afternoon I have not yet received a text message advising negative or positive (UPDATE: Sunday PM – text msg received – NEGATIVE). I am assuming negative as I’ve not been to any known exposure sites but for peace of mind I need to know for sure. Once I get better I think I’ll return to wearing a mask when out and about in public (it’s not mandated here anymore) once the borders open (on the day this publishes) to be safe. Due to my immune deficiency I get sick easily and when I get sick I get sicker than a normal person. Ho hum!
I thought I would try and get my last Taking Stock post for 2021 done, and this will probably be my last post for the year considering how little free time I have at the moment and besides, my priorities are elsewhere for now. You never know though – maybe I’ll get time after Christmas some time. This post won’t include heaps of images like my Taking Stock posts usually do because I’m just not well enough to sit here for too long. Anyway – here we go!
Making: Lots of visits to the hospital.
Getting: Run down and sick has been a pain in the butt. I get sick easily. Mum has always told me that I don’t have a strong constitution. It’s true, unfortunately!
Cooking: Not much lately!
Sipping: On coffee at the hospital is what comes to mind.
Reading: Not since the few days at Burleigh that I had with my youngest sister.
Thinking: Lots of deep and profound and reflective thoughts lately.
Remembering: All the visits to Dad in hospital as Mum is in the same hospital and was admitted the day before he passed 4 years ago. In fact we walked out of the hospital after admitting Mum 45 minutes before he passed 4 years later. Why does my brain think of these things? On the day of the 4th anniversary of his passing I was sitting at the hospital by the bedside of Mum. Usually I would go to the cemetery to visit him, but I think on this occasion he would completely understand and forgive me.
Looking: Forward to Mum being home and feeling much better. Fingers crossed that is soon!
Listening: To all the beeping and hospital noises a lot lately. How does anyone ever sleep in those places!
Wishing: Mum was well.
Enjoying: The Christmas photo of Ava (at top of post) that her groomer took.
Appreciating: Siblings to help share the load lately.
Wanting: Mum to get her appetite back. If that comes back I’ll know she’s well on the road to recovery.
Eating: Lots of Lean Cuisine lately.
Finishing: The book I’ve been reading for a while (The Hypnotist’s Love Story by Liane Moriarty) is high on my agenda when I feel well enough to read!
Liking: That Mum has a team of specialists doing all the necessary tests to get to the bottom of her health problems and to advise on the best way forward for her.
Loving: That the Christmas holiday break is coming up – that period between Christmas and New Year. Everyone is home and I usually float around in the pool and give myself permission to read books.
Buying: Some Christmas presents … a while ago. Still more to go. Hope I can get it done!
Watching: Daggy Christmas movies. I love them. Easy viewing. Some lovely romance. Love them!
Hoping: I can get myself organised for Christmas and that Mum and myself are both well for the day!
Wearing: Comfy shoes like my Frankie4 sneakers or new glitzy Birkenstocks so my feet can handle all the walking to the hospital and back to the car etc. I park at meters but they are usually are fair walk from the hospital and did I mention hills!!
Walking: To and from my car parked at a parking meter in streets around the hospital and then along all the corridors at the hospital.
Following: My instincts and what my body is telling me and resting, resting, resting at the moment.
Noticing: That the summer heat and humidity is back and I haven’t yet had a swim in the pool for this summer!
Saving: Christmas shopping (I’ve done some of it) and getting ready for Christmas for when I am feeling well again.
Waiting: For a text message advising me whether I have Covid or not! (see update above in red – NEGATIVE)
In the queue at drive through Covid testing on Saturday morning
Bookmarking: I’ve seen so many nice clothes lately. I bookmark for later when I might want to buy myself something because when I do want to buy myself something I can never find anything and when I’m not looking I seem to see heaps that I like!
Coveting: Peace of mind.
Feeling: Sick, fatigued, worried, hopeful, reflective, grateful.
Hearing: My little desk fan whirring as it blows cool air on me. I’ve been waiting all day (Sunday) to feel I have enough energy to sit at the computer and get this post done and the cool air blowing on me from the little desk fan really helps.
and if I were to add one of my own it’d be as follows:
Missing: ART!! After 100 days of being full submerged in my art and feeling myself improving in leaps and bounds I have barely done anything since and I miss it. Between looking after Mum and hospital visits (top priority) and medical appointments for myself and household jobs I just haven’t had time nor energy. I hope that I can find time and space for art again soon.
If you’d like to Take Stock also, just pop over to the creator of the Taking Stock concept, Pip’s blog – Meet Me At Mikes, and grab the list of word prompts from her last Taking Stock post which you’ll find HERE.
And so that brings me to the end of this Taking Stock post. It’s the quickest one I’ve ever thrown together. I do hope it’s not too bad. This was the final Taking Stock post for 2021. The next Taking Stock post, the first for 2022, will be in March 2022. Before I wrap up though I’d like to wish each of you who read this post a very Merry Christmas and here’s cheers to a safe, healthy, hopeful & connective 2022!
Ciao for now,
Linking up with Denyse Whelan for #LifeThisWeek
18 Comments
Hi Min, I’m thinking of you. I hope you and your Mum are feeling much better. Your dog looks adorable. Thank you for linking up with #weekendcoffeeshare. There is one more Weekend Coffee Share link-up next week before I take a short break for the holidays. I hope to see you again then. If not, have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
Thanks Natalie – Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you! xo
Hi Min, I’m sorry your mum is still unwell and now you are under the weather too. I feel for you and totally get the thinking of your dad passing while at the hospital with your mum. It’s coming up for 4 years since my dad left us too and we were going through that awful time. Rest up and listen to your body. Hopefully all works out and you enjoy a family Christmas. Take care x #lifethisweek
Thanks Deb – I’ll always remember you lost your Dad around the same time I lost mine. It sure was an awful time wasn’t it? I know you’d miss yours just as much as I miss mine too. I’m still not well but really hoping I’ll turn a corner soon! xo
Hi Min – what an awful time you’ve been having with your mum so unwell – made even worse by being unwell yourself. Everything becomes harder and grimmer when you’re not firing on all 4 cylinders. Very glad for you that it wasn’t covid. Hope you get some rest and a float in your pool and feel revived enough to tackle Christmas – I can’t believe it’s only a week and a half away!
Hi Leanne, it hasn’t been good around here but there are always people worse off. I’m hopeful I’ll be better soon and Mum will be home feeling better soon too. Hopefully I’ll get that float in the pool soon too! How is Christmas so close? I am not ready for it!
I’m so sorry about your mom! I hope she recovers well–and you, too. Being sick is extra hard when you’re trying to help/take care of others. Hang in there.
Thank you Janet – things have got to improve soon I’m sure! Thank you!
sorry to hear about your mum and that you have been ill. take care and happy christmas
cheers
sherry
Thank you Sherry – and Merry Christmas to you too!
I hope your mum gets better and home before xmas. Otherwise I hope you’re allowed to have xmas day in her room in the hospital. Stick with the masks. We get rid of them tomorrow which is the dumbest idea ever. Esp with rising cases. I’m sticking with it, for sure, but it really only woks well if everyone is. I was pleased to hear the Opera House is sticking with it for Audiences. Makes sense. As for the run down, one of the theatres I went to in their COVID email before the show said, among other things, ‘don’t come if you’re feeling run down’ so I think that general lethergy is part of it, for sure. #Lifethisweek
Thanks Lydia – we’re hoping Mum will be well and truly home before Christmas and YES I am going back to masks. I do not like being sick and I don’t have time for more sickness! Also until we know more about Omicron I think it makes sense to keep wearing masks and don’t understand why all the states are stopping. I know they’re uncomfortable in summer but um … anyway you get my point. The lethargy and fatigue aspect of this sickness I’ve got is what made me worry it was Covid. So glad it’s not though!
Hi Min, I’m sorry to hear both you and your Mum are not well and it really isn’t what you need at this time of year. Such a worry for you but take care and remember to look after yourself first, so you can then be there for your Mum. Sending love and best wishes to you and your family. Hopefully it will be a Happy Christmas for you. xx
Thanks Sue – there’s been a lot of worry – up and down rollercoaster of emotions and then to be sick on top of it all has not been helpful. All I can do is rest at the moment and be frustrated that I can’t visit Mum and I cant do my Christmas shopping! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas. xo
Oh Mim! So sorry to hear about your mum, I really hope she feels better and gets home for Christmas, that would be the best Christmas present of all! I love that pic of Ava from the groomer, she looks gorgeous. Great news on your test results, I hope you start to feel better soon too. Remember that saying that you can’t pour from an empty cup?! I hope you find some time to relax and recharge your batteries. I loved that Liane Moriarty book but have found her recent ones a tad disappointing. Sending you lots of love and wishes for a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy new year. See you on the other side x
Thanks Sammie. Mum did get home for Christmas but she’s still quite frail and needing caring for. It’s a great pic of Ava isn’t it? I’ve had some time to rest and recharge thankfully. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and best wishes to you for a Happy and Healthy 2022! xo
Worry makes us feel worse when we are physically depleted and as I read your post, I really FELT all you are going through Min. You’ve put yourself under a lot of pressure this year, with Covid (and the family at home) along with 100 days of art, then your visits to your Mum. Caring is very wearing and you have been unwell. Not fun times at all. I too hope your Mum is well enough soon for independence and being at home as I am sure she must be too.
Thank you for your wonderful support of my blog’s link up Life This Week in 2021.
Yes, there is one more week to go, but if you are already taking a well-earned break, I will see you again in Monday 4 January 2022.
May you be well, may you be safe, may you be content. Denyse
Thanks so much Denyse – you’re so able to understand what a person is feeling and going through. Empathy is definitely a strong point of yours! Thank you! And thank you for hanging in there with your blog link up even when the blogosphere is so different to how it used to be. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and I wish you a happy and healthy 2022! xo