My mom is still in hospital ... and I don't know what to do - go or stay. She has fought diabetes for 57 years, lost a leg and and eye, it has affected the whole family and the way our lives have panned out, what they were able to do etc. Even, one thinks, if she had not been a diabetic she would not have had such a large baby and David might not have got stuck = no oxygen loss = no retardation. If, if, if, the ideas of how things could have been different are endless.
And now it must be so lonely, alone at home, unable to do much, reliant on so much medication, then into hospital again and again. And there is only yourself to help you through those times late at night, fighting the disease but for what? I wish I was there even if just to give her a hug.
What would it mean if I booked a flight? Johan would have to be unemployed and stay home whilst I was away unless we farmed out the kids and left Nomie and Brian to look after the house and animals. My passport needs an Eygptian visa but I'm scared to send it in.
The answer is obviously for mum to go into a home, but she doesn't want to - and the nice ones are expensive so she is worried about that, and that also means we have to find a place to live when we go over to visit her in June (not a problem - will take a tent if necessary - but I know it worries her - she wants us to stay at home with her, however cramped.
What to do, what to do...... go, stay, send in passport for visa or not... help!
Friday, March 28, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Horses, mothers and sons!
If it's not one then its the other! Lulu does not have horse-sickness thank goodness - she has injured her eye which has made it go all opaque and grey and it is very swollen. I have some cream that has to be put in twice a day - which she does not appreciate at all. As she is rather tall and tends to run backwards and rears up when you try to get to her eye.... puts a whole new aspect on getting ready for work in the morning! Hopefully she will not have lost the sight - will have to re-assess in 3 days time.
Well, my mum was ready to be released from hospital today but they have decided to keep her in until the social worker has come to visit her - she obviously needs more intensive care than she is currently getting and the neighbours have had enough - can't blame them it must be harrowing opening the door each day and not sure what you'll find. So, I'll wait for the results of that discussion, in the meantime I have withdrawn my passport from the queue for the Eygptian visa - not sure if I'll need it at short notice! But at least I don't have to jump on a plane today which is what I was worried about. Johan is only due back from Upington at the end of next week so would have to farm the kids out to friends, get a house sitter etc!
Michael & Sam went ice skating today to celebrate Elise's 17th birthday - Michael had a fall and has had to have 2 stitches above his eye - will have to rally around with the Panado when I get home! His face has taken quite a beating over the years - stitches and a dent from being hit by a cricket bat, then something else on the other side and now above the eye! Well, might make him look interesting!
Well, my mum was ready to be released from hospital today but they have decided to keep her in until the social worker has come to visit her - she obviously needs more intensive care than she is currently getting and the neighbours have had enough - can't blame them it must be harrowing opening the door each day and not sure what you'll find. So, I'll wait for the results of that discussion, in the meantime I have withdrawn my passport from the queue for the Eygptian visa - not sure if I'll need it at short notice! But at least I don't have to jump on a plane today which is what I was worried about. Johan is only due back from Upington at the end of next week so would have to farm the kids out to friends, get a house sitter etc!
Michael & Sam went ice skating today to celebrate Elise's 17th birthday - Michael had a fall and has had to have 2 stitches above his eye - will have to rally around with the Panado when I get home! His face has taken quite a beating over the years - stitches and a dent from being hit by a cricket bat, then something else on the other side and now above the eye! Well, might make him look interesting!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Never rains but it pours!
Lets start off with the good news first! We had a lovely Easter, I worked hard at my stained glass so that the lampshade can actually be put together when I have my next lesson - just the foiling and soldering to do and then it can be done. We picked up Paddy from the stables so that I had a horse to ride which was great - driving is lovely but you can't go the same places! However, Wombles nose was very out of joint when Paddy came back - was like having two stallions - we had to keep them a field apart!
Ed & Sue and Mom came round for lunch on Sunday - yummy chicken and roast lamb. I'm afraid my weight watchers ent by the board this weekend - even though I resisted hot cross buns and chocolate.
On Monday we were VERY energetic - we climbed up Perdeberg mountain and had a picnic on the top - lovely views, we live in such a gorgeous valley - and the fields were pink with cosmos. Then, after that we went for a ride - so we really were energetic. We took Paddy back to the stables on Sunday and that was a bit of a disaster - there was nobody there to unlock the gate so we had to reverse the horsebox about 500m down a very narrow track - awful!
Back to work on Tuesday and then it all started going wrong, crime is really getting out of hand now. All this one one day:
1. Janet was burgled
2. Johans cell phone was stolen
3. Jenny Self was burgled
4. Marcels daughter-in-law was killed in a road accident, the week after her mother and aunt were attacked at home and her aunt was killed.
All this bad news in one day and the next day was just as bad. Sarah and Charlie had put in an offer on a farm which they were told had been accepted - only to be told yesterday that it hadn't - they have to move out of their place (horses, dogs goats etc) by the end of April and now have nowhere to go. Then Bruce phoned from the UK to say my mum was back in hospital and he thinks I need to come over. Have phoned the hospital and am waiting to hear more. But, my passport is away getting its Eygptian visa...... jeesh!
Ed & Sue and Mom came round for lunch on Sunday - yummy chicken and roast lamb. I'm afraid my weight watchers ent by the board this weekend - even though I resisted hot cross buns and chocolate.
On Monday we were VERY energetic - we climbed up Perdeberg mountain and had a picnic on the top - lovely views, we live in such a gorgeous valley - and the fields were pink with cosmos. Then, after that we went for a ride - so we really were energetic. We took Paddy back to the stables on Sunday and that was a bit of a disaster - there was nobody there to unlock the gate so we had to reverse the horsebox about 500m down a very narrow track - awful!
Back to work on Tuesday and then it all started going wrong, crime is really getting out of hand now. All this one one day:
1. Janet was burgled
2. Johans cell phone was stolen
3. Jenny Self was burgled
4. Marcels daughter-in-law was killed in a road accident, the week after her mother and aunt were attacked at home and her aunt was killed.
All this bad news in one day and the next day was just as bad. Sarah and Charlie had put in an offer on a farm which they were told had been accepted - only to be told yesterday that it hadn't - they have to move out of their place (horses, dogs goats etc) by the end of April and now have nowhere to go. Then Bruce phoned from the UK to say my mum was back in hospital and he thinks I need to come over. Have phoned the hospital and am waiting to hear more. But, my passport is away getting its Eygptian visa...... jeesh!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Horrible Hairiness
I am a hairy person, I have hair on the back of my hands and fingers and have a very thick head of hair. Johan is the same. Unfortunately Sam seems to have got our general hairiness x 2 - luckily she is fair so they do not show so much - but it has not escaped the notice of some horrible bullies at her school. They apparently accost her, plucking the hair on her arms, teasing her and saying that her mother must be a gorilla, her father a chimpanzee etc - causing her great distress. Now it is one thing to be teased yourself, but to hear how your child is being taunted is like a knife to the heart - it really tears you apart when they are so upset. So apart from wanting to find the bullies and tear them apart limb from limb, I've told her to laugh at them - hopefully they will then realise that it is no fun for them anymore and leave her alone!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Burglaries, braces and bothersome things!
To cheer me up after the death of Shakespeare, my friend Sarah invited me around for a “cheering up dinner” – delicious prawns and a bottle of lite white wine especially for me – so kind. Johan also made it home earlier than expected so I was not all alone that night as I had expected (kids had gone to various friends).
All started to look rosier until the next morning when we discovered the horsebox door and the caravan doors swinging open – we had had uninvited visitors! All the camping gear had been removed from the caravan and out of the old trunk from University days that I used to store all my camping pots, pans etc in. Blast! Plus - the kids bikes were taken. No cut in the fence so we’re not sure how they got in – and what did the dogs do? Anyhow, thank goodness the caravan and its contents are covered by insurance but there is the bother of having to estimate all the replacement costs – as if we don’t already have enough to do!
Sam had her braces put on, on Thursday – kids can choose the colours of the elastics nowadays so braces can actually be a bit of a fashion statement! However, she really was ion a lot of pain that night and wanted them taken off and “how long was she going to have to wear these dreadful things!” But, 4 days later and they seem to have settled down and don’t hurt so much – she’d got class photo’s being taken today so I’ll scan one and put it on for you all to see.
Lots of rain at the moment – which is good, we need every drop. Even though we have had a lot of rain this season the rivers and dams are still empty which shows that the water table is very low – too many people sinking boreholes and too many eucalyptus trees! So Sam and I spent most of the weekend standing on the veranda doing flower arrangements for the Donkey derby – they are actually starting to look quite good now – at first they looked like a donkey’s dinner!
Am thoroughly enjoying my stained glass classes at the moment – last Monday I finished another panel of Sams lampshade – only 5 more to go and then it will be done – a whole 7 years after it was first started!
All started to look rosier until the next morning when we discovered the horsebox door and the caravan doors swinging open – we had had uninvited visitors! All the camping gear had been removed from the caravan and out of the old trunk from University days that I used to store all my camping pots, pans etc in. Blast! Plus - the kids bikes were taken. No cut in the fence so we’re not sure how they got in – and what did the dogs do? Anyhow, thank goodness the caravan and its contents are covered by insurance but there is the bother of having to estimate all the replacement costs – as if we don’t already have enough to do!
Sam had her braces put on, on Thursday – kids can choose the colours of the elastics nowadays so braces can actually be a bit of a fashion statement! However, she really was ion a lot of pain that night and wanted them taken off and “how long was she going to have to wear these dreadful things!” But, 4 days later and they seem to have settled down and don’t hurt so much – she’d got class photo’s being taken today so I’ll scan one and put it on for you all to see.
Lots of rain at the moment – which is good, we need every drop. Even though we have had a lot of rain this season the rivers and dams are still empty which shows that the water table is very low – too many people sinking boreholes and too many eucalyptus trees! So Sam and I spent most of the weekend standing on the veranda doing flower arrangements for the Donkey derby – they are actually starting to look quite good now – at first they looked like a donkey’s dinner!
Am thoroughly enjoying my stained glass classes at the moment – last Monday I finished another panel of Sams lampshade – only 5 more to go and then it will be done – a whole 7 years after it was first started!
Friday, March 7, 2008
So sad
Poor little Shakespeare took a turn for the worse yesterday - high temperature and loss of appetite.
Lee took him to the vet and they found that now he had fluid in the lungs as well - dosed him with antibiotics etc. He was put back in the shade in a field with his mum and when they checked on him an hour later he had died.
He really fought hard and we did all we could for him.
Most upsetting afterwards, was the fact that the mum kept jumping over the fences to go back to where he had been - how can one not love such animals!
The vet will do a full post-mortem and I'll let you know the results.
Lee took him to the vet and they found that now he had fluid in the lungs as well - dosed him with antibiotics etc. He was put back in the shade in a field with his mum and when they checked on him an hour later he had died.
He really fought hard and we did all we could for him.
Most upsetting afterwards, was the fact that the mum kept jumping over the fences to go back to where he had been - how can one not love such animals!
The vet will do a full post-mortem and I'll let you know the results.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Please pray for Shakespeare
Please pray for Shakespeare
Wow, what a week – lots to write about!
The first thing that comes to mind is poor little Shakespeare (the alpaca, not the bard!). He has been, and is still extremely ill and is not out of the woods yet.
I was sitting at my desk on Monday morning and Johan phoned (from home) to say that S. was ill – unable to move and his legs were totally uncoordinated and thrashing around. He took him to the local vet (who had been trained in Australia so we assumed he was the only vet around who knew about alpacas) . Johan then came back and took the mom along. Alpacas are highly social animals and get very distressed if alone.
Any way the symptoms were – lack of muscle coordination, apparently blue colouring in the mouth and lack of ability to suckle – could not latch on.
He was treated with antibiotics etc and when I arrived at the vet late that afternoon he was lying down and totally unable to move – but eyes were bright. We moved him into the shade and went home and cried – he did not look good at all. The vet recommended that he be put onto a drip which, when I got home, I phoned the receptionist and told them to go ahead. On my way to my stained glass lessons, I popped in just before they closed- he had been put into one of those little cages, covered with a blanket and was surrounded by barking yapping dogs – his mother was freaking out in a small paddock between two buildings outside. It was pathetic, I lay down on the ground next to him, stroking his head and telling him he had to get well. When I went out to see Patricia she was frantic and could smell him on my hands. They make the most pathetic noises, like mmmmm mmmm. The vet had not been given the message about the drip but said she would do it. Quite frankly I didn’t think he’d last the night.
The next morning I phoned – told them they had to put him back with his mother, they would both end up with ulcers and stress related diseases if they were kept apart. Also what was happening about the mother – her milk would either dry up or she’d get mastitis if they didn’t do something. I also sent out an email to all the other alpaca breeders who sent in their ideas and experiences. One guy said he had had a similar case and the post-mortem had revealed pasturella. UNofrtunatly everyone kept referring to the animals in the past tense and even the vet in Daleside had referred to onlyt knowing what was going on when they did an autopsy.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, I lost my temper and had a very tearful temper tantrum at the vet and over the telephone – they just weren’t treating them correctly in my point of view – not from a medication side, but because they separated them and didn’t seem to be seeing them as a unit. I yelled at them “they are not sheep, you are treating them as if they were just a sheep! They’re NOT!!! So, they said if I thought they were incompetent then I should just come and take my animals away – which I did. Very unpleasant.
So, I phoned ONdestepoort who were full of bureaucratic claptrap and were phoning me back to say that Vet X could not see them without his superiors OK, who needed authorisation from the original vet etc etc so I told them to get lost and loaded them up in the bakkie and took them to my firend Lees – weeping hysterically all the time!
I picked him up to put him in the bakkie, his legs dangled, his neck drooped, it was awful.
Anyway, got them to Kempton Park, put them in a nice stable with a camera, we milked the mum (down on the ground, me lying on the neck (wearing a very pretty pale pink suit!), Lee on the back and Natalie milking!) and Lee fed S with a bottle – he could not grip or suck on the bottle either.
The next day – he was bottle fed again (God bless Natalie and Lee) and in the afternoon Lee mentioned to me that they had found some ticks on him – off to Google = ticks + alpaca + paralysis = eureka! Tick paralysis!!!!! Potentially fatal if the paralysis reaches the lungs. Symptoms fitted like a glove! So poor little S was given a Dectomax injection, smeared all over with Frontline (not appreciated) and all ticks removed – now we have to wait and see but at least we think we know what we are fighting now. So far it appears that he had been treated (with accompanying costs) for everything under the sun except for what he actually had! It all fell into place as soon as we noticed the ticks. And then we remembered, we were watching him leap and jump around on Sunday and noticed that the tip of his tail was drooping so were concerned that he had broken it – couldn’t see anything wrong so dismissed it only to wake up the next morning to find him unable to get up.
Being emotionally drained and exhausted the next morning after my tirade, off I went to the British High Commission in Pretoria to get my passport renewed. Mistake. This had already been a long saga thanks to the British National Health system. My mom had had a minor heart attack 2 weeks ago – had to happen just as my passport expired. So I was very nervous that I would suddenly have to make a quick flight over to the UK. I phoned and was told that things could be speeded up if I had a letter from the doctor. Sounds simple but took almost 2 weeks – even with my cousin phoning, visiting, asking etc on my behalf! As she said “You’d be quicker forging one than trying to get action out of this lot”! Many thanks to Linda for her perseverance and help – especially for visiting my mum!
So, as I say, off I went to Pretoria – found the place and sat in the queue – no 24… took about an hour and then it was my turn! Now, I had had my photo taken – smiling, then a friend said that would not be accepted so I had another one taken – not smiling. Now either because of my facial structure, big teeth or whatever, in repose my lips do not close = teeth showing ever so slightly! Immediately the counter assistant said, these photos are not acceptable! AAAARGH! OK, keep calm. Then she rejected Samantha’s application. Sam had previously been on my passport which necessitated supplying all the documents etc when that happened – but now that she needed her own – I need to supply all the birth certificates etc again. OK, deep breath, then the cashier said that only cash or a bank issued cheque was acceptable – and the prices were going up tomorrow and actually had already gone up since I last enquired. Another deep breath – out in the sun, into the car and followed the arm waving of the parking assistant – straight onto the highway to Polokwane instead of to the shopping centre where there was a photographer. Had to get off at the next offramp (had to pay a toll to get off the road that I had never wanted to be on in the first place) and then navigate back through the wilderness of Pretoria and its one way roads – so in the end it took me 3 hours to get sorted out. Not the thing to do when one is feeling fragile and emotional!
But there is some very good news – I am now in my second week of weight watchers and have lost 3 KGS!!!!! It is so nice to have comfortable clothes again, but there are still great piles of clothes that don’t fit….. 5 more weeks to go. I have just never lost the weight that I gained 2 years ago due to our UK trip – all those toasted teacakes and pub meals, and it just slowly slowly kept piling on… so now I have admitted that I can't do it myself and go to weight watchers – they come to out offices once a week to weigh us.
Latest news of Shakespeare - not looking good, losing appetite. 4 days of stress, paralysis etc is taking its toll. Will keep you posted.
Wow, what a week – lots to write about!
The first thing that comes to mind is poor little Shakespeare (the alpaca, not the bard!). He has been, and is still extremely ill and is not out of the woods yet.
I was sitting at my desk on Monday morning and Johan phoned (from home) to say that S. was ill – unable to move and his legs were totally uncoordinated and thrashing around. He took him to the local vet (who had been trained in Australia so we assumed he was the only vet around who knew about alpacas) . Johan then came back and took the mom along. Alpacas are highly social animals and get very distressed if alone.
Any way the symptoms were – lack of muscle coordination, apparently blue colouring in the mouth and lack of ability to suckle – could not latch on.
He was treated with antibiotics etc and when I arrived at the vet late that afternoon he was lying down and totally unable to move – but eyes were bright. We moved him into the shade and went home and cried – he did not look good at all. The vet recommended that he be put onto a drip which, when I got home, I phoned the receptionist and told them to go ahead. On my way to my stained glass lessons, I popped in just before they closed- he had been put into one of those little cages, covered with a blanket and was surrounded by barking yapping dogs – his mother was freaking out in a small paddock between two buildings outside. It was pathetic, I lay down on the ground next to him, stroking his head and telling him he had to get well. When I went out to see Patricia she was frantic and could smell him on my hands. They make the most pathetic noises, like mmmmm mmmm. The vet had not been given the message about the drip but said she would do it. Quite frankly I didn’t think he’d last the night.
The next morning I phoned – told them they had to put him back with his mother, they would both end up with ulcers and stress related diseases if they were kept apart. Also what was happening about the mother – her milk would either dry up or she’d get mastitis if they didn’t do something. I also sent out an email to all the other alpaca breeders who sent in their ideas and experiences. One guy said he had had a similar case and the post-mortem had revealed pasturella. UNofrtunatly everyone kept referring to the animals in the past tense and even the vet in Daleside had referred to onlyt knowing what was going on when they did an autopsy.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, I lost my temper and had a very tearful temper tantrum at the vet and over the telephone – they just weren’t treating them correctly in my point of view – not from a medication side, but because they separated them and didn’t seem to be seeing them as a unit. I yelled at them “they are not sheep, you are treating them as if they were just a sheep! They’re NOT!!! So, they said if I thought they were incompetent then I should just come and take my animals away – which I did. Very unpleasant.
So, I phoned ONdestepoort who were full of bureaucratic claptrap and were phoning me back to say that Vet X could not see them without his superiors OK, who needed authorisation from the original vet etc etc so I told them to get lost and loaded them up in the bakkie and took them to my firend Lees – weeping hysterically all the time!
I picked him up to put him in the bakkie, his legs dangled, his neck drooped, it was awful.
Anyway, got them to Kempton Park, put them in a nice stable with a camera, we milked the mum (down on the ground, me lying on the neck (wearing a very pretty pale pink suit!), Lee on the back and Natalie milking!) and Lee fed S with a bottle – he could not grip or suck on the bottle either.
The next day – he was bottle fed again (God bless Natalie and Lee) and in the afternoon Lee mentioned to me that they had found some ticks on him – off to Google = ticks + alpaca + paralysis = eureka! Tick paralysis!!!!! Potentially fatal if the paralysis reaches the lungs. Symptoms fitted like a glove! So poor little S was given a Dectomax injection, smeared all over with Frontline (not appreciated) and all ticks removed – now we have to wait and see but at least we think we know what we are fighting now. So far it appears that he had been treated (with accompanying costs) for everything under the sun except for what he actually had! It all fell into place as soon as we noticed the ticks. And then we remembered, we were watching him leap and jump around on Sunday and noticed that the tip of his tail was drooping so were concerned that he had broken it – couldn’t see anything wrong so dismissed it only to wake up the next morning to find him unable to get up.
Being emotionally drained and exhausted the next morning after my tirade, off I went to the British High Commission in Pretoria to get my passport renewed. Mistake. This had already been a long saga thanks to the British National Health system. My mom had had a minor heart attack 2 weeks ago – had to happen just as my passport expired. So I was very nervous that I would suddenly have to make a quick flight over to the UK. I phoned and was told that things could be speeded up if I had a letter from the doctor. Sounds simple but took almost 2 weeks – even with my cousin phoning, visiting, asking etc on my behalf! As she said “You’d be quicker forging one than trying to get action out of this lot”! Many thanks to Linda for her perseverance and help – especially for visiting my mum!
So, as I say, off I went to Pretoria – found the place and sat in the queue – no 24… took about an hour and then it was my turn! Now, I had had my photo taken – smiling, then a friend said that would not be accepted so I had another one taken – not smiling. Now either because of my facial structure, big teeth or whatever, in repose my lips do not close = teeth showing ever so slightly! Immediately the counter assistant said, these photos are not acceptable! AAAARGH! OK, keep calm. Then she rejected Samantha’s application. Sam had previously been on my passport which necessitated supplying all the documents etc when that happened – but now that she needed her own – I need to supply all the birth certificates etc again. OK, deep breath, then the cashier said that only cash or a bank issued cheque was acceptable – and the prices were going up tomorrow and actually had already gone up since I last enquired. Another deep breath – out in the sun, into the car and followed the arm waving of the parking assistant – straight onto the highway to Polokwane instead of to the shopping centre where there was a photographer. Had to get off at the next offramp (had to pay a toll to get off the road that I had never wanted to be on in the first place) and then navigate back through the wilderness of Pretoria and its one way roads – so in the end it took me 3 hours to get sorted out. Not the thing to do when one is feeling fragile and emotional!
But there is some very good news – I am now in my second week of weight watchers and have lost 3 KGS!!!!! It is so nice to have comfortable clothes again, but there are still great piles of clothes that don’t fit….. 5 more weeks to go. I have just never lost the weight that I gained 2 years ago due to our UK trip – all those toasted teacakes and pub meals, and it just slowly slowly kept piling on… so now I have admitted that I can't do it myself and go to weight watchers – they come to out offices once a week to weigh us.
Latest news of Shakespeare - not looking good, losing appetite. 4 days of stress, paralysis etc is taking its toll. Will keep you posted.
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