Post 451: It’s a Boy!
With all the patience of a patient waiting for his own scan results, I found it very hard waiting for the news from the baby scanning room today.
I didn’t know what time the appointment was, so I could be excused a little for being in such a hurry for the announcement.
Eventually there were a couple of bleeps and our phones wriggled on the side tables in unison with the news we’d been waiting for.
It’s a boy!
Oh my… it’s a boy.
Fantastic.
Not that it mattered to us whether it was a girl or a boy - we were already on cloud nine with the news of the baby.
The “boy” news could be shared with friends and family as soon as the uncle - our eldest - knew. So later that evening we got the all-clear to tell you and everyone else the best news ever.
We are grandparents to a little lad due around the end of November.
These next twenty weeks will probably go by slowly, but we’re already halfway to the biggest event ever in our little family.
We now understand just how easy it is to go overboard when a grandchild is on the way… because it’s happening to us.
I still can’t quite believe it.
In another bit of news today, I’ve had AFib all day, so I’ve been a bit of a sitting statue in the TV lounge.
It’s not easy moving around without the dreaded dizziness, but I know the drill and I know I’ve got to be careful until it settles down.
I don’t know whether this two-week gap is about the same as usual between my AFib episodes, but it’s reasonable to assume it’s been fairly normal, so there’s no panic to tell anyone today.
It can wait until I’ve collected a few months’ worth of data and worked out whether there’s a new pattern with the new (old) pills - Bisoprolol.
But while my watch was alarming me about my high heart rate for most of the day, I did receive a really nice call from a pal.
He asked if I was available tomorrow to help manage a pre-MOT service on one of my little Minis.
“It’s absolutely fine,” I replied, in a very grateful and excited way.
My pal is a Mini expert and, over the years, we’ve collaborated on many Mini projects together.
Sadly, these days I’m limited to being the foreman, with duties that mostly involve watching and perhaps passing the odd spanner his way.
But the plan is to get the MOT done so I can drive my little car whenever I need to.
Since the Volvo was sold, I no longer have a second car of my own, only My Darling’s Mazda, “Big Bro”. So, in getting my independence back, I need another car in the garage that’s available for me to use whenever I want.
I’m so thankful for friends and family who care enough to help me achieve the things I simply can’t do anymore - frustrating though that is.
The backache is still there in exactly the same place as always and, whenever I think about it, it hurts.
It’s a dull ache while sitting, but when I stretch to stand up it hurts much more. For a few seconds it’s difficult to straighten my back and find a comfortable position.
It’s a bit of a worry but, until the bone scan, we can only guess at what’s going on inside.
I take the odd gulp of morphine, but there’s no way I can completely disperse the pain, so it only offers a little help with pain management.
I’ll have another chat with the hospice doctor this week when he calls.
I think I’m on his forever list!
Ha ha.
Meaning I’m always in some kind of trouble.
But he always sorts me out, and I’m so grateful for his kindness and expertise.
I’m nothing without him.
The jobs I’ve been doing for the company I work for have dried up, and tomorrow I’ve only got a health and welfare meeting.
That will probably overshoot into a production meeting too, where the lack of work can be discussed.
It doesn’t matter a jot to me if they only have occasional work.
The fact they have any work for me at all is wonderful.
It’s not their fault I’m limited in what I can do these days.
They’re doing far more than they have to, so I’m grateful for any work that helps keep me occupied.
So, although today has been a day of rest, tomorrow promises to be busier.
My Darling, who has been getting stronger each day, has noticed some muscle wastage in her injured leg.
It comes with the problem and will, in time, sort itself out once she’s back on her feet.
Her heel is now able to touch the ground as she scoots around, making her walking more stable.
It’s still a long way from being right, but as the bruising continues to travel down towards her ankle, the calf itself is finally clear of that yellow colouring.
I’ve tried to be as attentive as I can with everything she needs, but she’s becoming more independent every day.
Soon we’ll be able to resume our normal life… whatever that now means… as grandparents.
This grandchild has already opened up a whole new lifestyle and mindset for us.
We are so lucky.
Sleep well.
Take care.
