NST October 2021: Fit for Purpose

ldee2111

11 NSD

Bit of an uneventful day but that’s a good thing in my book. Working today. Lunchtime walk to the chemist to collect a prescription. Dropped and picked up DS from nursery and also took him to his Halloween themed weekly sports class. 

Stomach problem has been rearing its head again so got back in touch with my GP. I’ve got a call with her on Wednesday. Will likely need another course of antibiotics. 

Grateful today for a quiet day at work, a walk in the sun, and seeing DS and all the other kids dressed up and having fun at their sports class.

mothernerd

Tried to do a home delivery order last night (mum was very low on a medical support item). I knew Tessimo's website was down so I tried the one that does overnight delivery. Started, then remembered the password wasn't saved on the new laptop (it didn't even recognise the email address), so started up the old laptop.

 Did very well until it was time to pay and then it decided I should log in. Found the password book (it had accepted the email address by then), put it in and confirmed it, then it told me it was wrong. Pressed the forgotten password button, email and then password (new one entered), then it sent a one time password to the email address. Clicked through to that, noted it, then returned to the main site. Put the OTP in, had to re-enter the email and password (slowly/ carefully because it's a really strong one) and then it said the OTP was invalid. Went through the whole rigmarole twice more before giving up. Will try again on a day when I have lots of patience (and no headache).

Mum's item was still needed and I had a few things on my list, managed to get on the Icyland website, so took the laptop into the front room and asked mum to tell me things she wanted, bearing in mind the amount of space in the freezer. Mum said she's finding she doesn't want to eat anything so we've ended up with chips and slightly more exotic than usual things that can be cooked in the oven (posh bung it in the oven fayre). I suggested pasta salad as she's not eating bread, but could have cooked meat with salad items, and more dips because she will eat celery carrots and pepper strips with a dip (especially if I chop them up and she just has to take them out of the fridge). Some fresh fruit and veg, including a sack of onions and a large bag of potatoes. Going to keep these in the shed from now on as it's wonderfully chilled. Will put some festive items on next  Added a few cupboard items, some things I wouldn't normally buy but will make it easier to put together a meal. Need to do some freezer tetris tomorrow whilst I still have some shuffle room and list the exact contents (have most of it down but could lose packaging on some items).                    

After an early lunch (I was ravenous) I put the laptop back on and found a message from DS2. His genetic fever appointment was today and he asked me to list any family medical conditions, then replied asking me to put names next to the conditions, starting with closest to him. Got a message later to say that it is genetic but shouldn't affect the rest of us as it's a mutation (my little mutant turtle). I asked about treatments and there's a simple one and a more complicated one.

Went to tidy the shed before it got too dark, brought 4 emptied bags for life in (they were only partly filled). somewhere along the way I did a load of washing, the cover dried on the line but the clothes were a bit damp so they're drying over the wardrobe doors.

Forgot to mention that I totted up the clutter clearing (including all the concrete lumps) and am up to 1999/ 2021 items for the year (only 22 to go). Then I will start on the reverse advent calendar, with 24 tins to the food bank. We're already locked up for the night but I've gathered all the empty plastic bottles and 'posted them' out of my bedroom window (need to make space for fridge/ freezer sorting and possibly bottom of the wardrobe sorting - not a lot in there (keeping all the new tins in the shed until we've used these).

Really difficult to get down on the floor atm (frightened to try in case I can't get up) but if I clear enough space I might be able to sit in a chair and when I bend forward I should be level with the tins. They are all in rows so if kidney beans are at the front, there are another 6 cans lined up behind it (I use 3 cans in a chilli). Ditto baked beans (use about 3 a week)and chopped tomatoes (used all the time).

Grateful for progress on DS2's diagnosis, getting the shed a little tidier (attached a large hook to the fence behind the shed yesterday to hold the ladders, have two curtain tiebacks which will hold the stepladders), simple food (more use up veg in curry sauce, leftover mash with beans), meeting 4 small dogs when I went for a little walk, 2 tiny ones and 2 spaniels.
 

ditty1234

Gosh concentration is such a delicate thing. I was set to start my freelance work at 10 - and well now it's 12 and I'm on to looking for beds for ds1! Trying to work out who puts up hand rails and getting the landlords handyman to help with sorting out shower and shower curtain. Rewrote minutes from ds review meeting last week as a lot of assumptions were made. Including that there is a happy lovely family home where he belongs - to reconnect with the community. Now that's a bit fluffy and romantic if you ask me. A bit 50's! Mummy waiting at home with an apron and freshly baked cake! In reality it is me and some bricks. 
Extended family is abroad, and I'm weary of having ex around too much, although will suffer him if necessary. 
So the fur on my back is now fully alert and i'm in 'defence' mode. I really don't want to be taken for granted. Surely it's better if I don't end up claiming benefits as well! I can't see ds1 doing that for long anyways, where there is a will there is a way. 
Does anybody on here see themselves as entrepreneurs - how do you get started, while I would be extremely bad at it, i do see that as an option, to just start to generate extra income, but I am not sure where to start. Any good books or networks? Just dreaming. 
Thanks for listening. Today should be NSD, but might treat wheels to a bit of 'juice'. 

f0xh0les

ditty1234 said:

 I was set to start my freelance work at 10 - and well now it's 12 and I'm on to looking for beds for ds1! Trying to work out who puts up hand rails and getting the landlords handyman to help with sorting out shower and shower curtain. Rewrote minutes from ds review meeting last week as a lot of assumptions were made. Including that there is a happy lovely family home where he belongs - to reconnect with the community. Now that's a bit fluffy and romantic if you ask me. A bit 50's! Mummy waiting at home with an apron and freshly baked cake! In reality it is me and some bricks.

This is where his social worker and the occupational therapy assessment come in. Hand rails, shower seats, bed that lifts, grab rails etc - have they been to assess your house yet? Ask for a home visit or they are neglecting their responsibilities to DS1,  what do the residential unit recommend,  or are they trying to free up a bed for the next poor love that needs help?

If you think you need some adaptations to your home, you should contact the adult social services department of your local council, your GP or local Clinical Commissioning Group, and ask for an assessment by an occupational therapist (OT). The assessment is free. There may be a waiting list though.  However your landlord needs to agree to any changes that they recommend.  

Also freecycle/wastenot etc are good places to ask for mobility and other living aids for people needing help.  People strip them out of Granny's bungalow and have them in their garage, until someone mentions needing one.  I mean a commode does not normally pop up in general conversation unless it is needed.

Is there a charity that deals with DS's condition? maybe they have a helpline that could give some advice.

Hugs 

ldee2111

Really good advice @f0xh0les. Rarely anyone comes to you telling you your rights and entitlements. Having had a critical illness myself, I found charities the most helpful in giving me impartial information, advice, and support. I also work for an advocacy / advice charity myself and would say (maybe biased) that we do our very best to help the person.

ldee2111

Staying on NSD 11 because I went 'browsing' on my lunch to both physical and online shops (always a bad idea). Maybe it's the dismal grey weather outside my window, but my focus has turned to our holiday in Feb. Egged on by Mum and OH, I've started looking for some new clothes for the occasion (everything crossed that it goes ahead). Anyway, I will not reveal the amount I have put on my credit card (because it would give me palpitations to write it down). However, I will say that I was a turtle about it and bought only sale items and found a 10% discount code too. I'm fully expecting to return most things - I really just want a couple of dresses, shorts, and a few t-shirts. I've bought stuff that hopefully lasts FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!  It maybe sounds like I've spent thousands - I've not, but it's more than I've spent in a looong time. And that makes me a bit uneasy and giddy for some reason. 

OH is at the football this evening so it's just me and DS - the perfect opportunity to have some leftovers for dinner, get to bed early, and to read my book. 

Grateful today for in-person work meeting being cancelled, not having to leave the house early to catch a train, for sales and discount codes.

f0xh0les

I think I am on NSD 15 today.   Everything tastes like boiled wool though. Very boring. If anyone finds my sense of taste and smell could you send it back to me.   I want to enjoy a cup of tea.

Gratitudes: dh is feeling a  bit better today, ds4 is technically out of isolation tomorrow, there is food in the house, even if I can't taste it, and I have only needed one paracetamol today.

lcc86

Spend day today, was naughty and bought lunch (first time in months in my defence!), my original intention was to buy some oat milk as I'd run out. Also got a spare front door key cut as have been meaning to do that for months.

Had quite a good day at work today as well, actually had stuff to do. I'm very torn at the moment, on the days when I do have work to do I really enjoy it but sadly that's only one day a week or so at the moment! 

ditty1234

f0xh0les said:

ditty1234 said:

 I was set to start my freelance work at 10 - and well now it's 12 and I'm on to looking for beds for ds1! Trying to work out who puts up hand rails and getting the landlords handyman to help with sorting out shower and shower curtain. Rewrote minutes from ds review meeting last week as a lot of assumptions were made. Including that there is a happy lovely family home where he belongs - to reconnect with the community. Now that's a bit fluffy and romantic if you ask me. A bit 50's! Mummy waiting at home with an apron and freshly baked cake! In reality it is me and some bricks.

This is where his social worker and the occupational therapy assessment come in. Hand rails, shower seats, bed that lifts, grab rails etc - have they been to assess your house yet? Ask for a home visit or they are neglecting their responsibilities to DS1,  what do the residential unit recommend,  or are they trying to free up a bed for the next poor love that needs help?

If you think you need some adaptations to your home, you should contact the adult social services department of your local council, your GP or local Clinical Commissioning Group, and ask for an assessment by an occupational therapist (OT). The assessment is free. There may be a waiting list though.  However your landlord needs to agree to any changes that they recommend.  

Also freecycle/wastenot etc are good places to ask for mobility and other living aids for people needing help.  People strip them out of Granny's bungalow and have them in their garage, until someone mentions needing one.  I mean a commode does not normally pop up in general conversation unless it is needed.

Is there a charity that deals with DS's condition? maybe they have a helpline that could give some advice.

Hugs 

Thanks Fox, H ihave a string of stuff going, and wrote ccg, and they might give him till dec 17th when term ends, to take the stress off, that will break ds1's heart though, so I have not told him. But I think we will try a sleep over in 3 weeks. That would be exciting. And I don't know what kit we will need, that i what is so frustrating, I feel it is a very tight time margin, even with 6+ weeks. 

f0xh0les

It is going to be trial and error @ditty1234 , kind of like bringing a newborn home, you have no idea what you don't know you need, and have no idea what on earth other people thought they needed 'X' for.  

With my step-gran who suddenly went immobile, having a stool (and then later an armchair) in the kitchen, and a kettle tipper thing, made her feel like even though she  knew she was too wobbly to carry the hot drink through to the living room, she could still make one whenever she wanted,  and sit and drink it in the kitchen.  Bit of independence.

Cakes, cheese, bread, meat etc was all cut into one person portions before going into the fridge/freezer so she could lift exactly  what she needed without having to worry about weights, slicing, dropping everything, or having to ask someone else to help

Having a surface she could put a microwaved bowl on or take something out the fridge, shuffle round a bit, and be able to move it to the table without fear of spilling it.    Spilling stuff was her absolute hate.  That and having to ask someone for help with something sent her into an absolute tantrum borne of frustration.    To be honest she is still like that.  But it is frustration, not anger.   Well, with her it is a healthy dose of rudeness as well, but I am sure your boy is much better behaved.

So you bring your boy home for a sleepover, and keep a notepad to hand, and between the two of you work out what is going to  work.  But chairs scattered around the place are handy for getting up off the floor if one side of the body is weaker than the other and if he is going to be prone to falling until he gets a bit stronger. 

Dec 17 would seem like light years away to him, I totally agree.  Plus your boy might well have strong opinions about what he will and won't use -no matter how helpful someone else thinks they would be.