The Wilby Juniors - Intrepid Explorers of the West (Country)

Long Time No Squeek

2012-01-22T20:11:00.002Z

I seem to have been neglecting my blog! So, a few little updates required I think.

CHOOKS

I gave a home to 6 chickens from the last barren cage batch, rescued by many including my lovely friend Jo Barlow. We sadly lost Noodles fairly early on but Alex, Princess, Dess, Ember and Elvis are thriving and feathers are arriving nicely! We have just extended their run to about twice the size so they are even more free range now - our other lot have also had their run extended and they can now see the new additions through the fence. :D

MOLLS

Is doing fine. We had a bit of a crappy Christmas where everyone had the nasty cough and cold so 4 out of 6 ended up on antibiotics and Molly even had a nice Christmas visit to Derriford Hospital! All OK now though, thank God.

BERLIN

I had a cracking trip to Berlin with the University. Really made me realise that I am not stupid and can remember things - as long as I don't have to remember all the other shit that goes with being a working mother! lol

PANTO

Last night - and yes, whoever would have thought I would have seen Julian Clary in bed with Keith Harris and Orville? Quite funny but last year, dare I say it, was better with Joe Pasquali who I usually don't like but had me rolling about.

2012

Is going to be a toughy for many reasons.

So here begins the new blog of the year.

and they think its all over....

2009-06-02T12:58:00.000+01:00

....but it really wasn't.

Ah what a nightmare! Poor little Molly has really been through the mill.

After she recovered from the bug (she went down from 19kg to 16kg, thats about 6lb lighter! She was skin and bone, it was AWFUL), we hadn't been back from the weekend away long and her liver tests showed abnormal - first time since she recovered from the transplant. SO scary.

So off we trundled (!) to London, all thinking it was a touch of rejection. Not so. Now I am not sure, but I think I am kind of pleased it wasn't rejection, even though I know that happens sometimes. However, its not that at all. Its a kind of plumbing thing....

Molly seems to have scar tissue which has narrowed her bile ducts, due to the surgery. Quite a common complication apparently. She had to have a biopsy (argh, hate that, its brutal) then an MRCP which is a scan like the MRI - big tunnel, lots of noise.... she was very sedated and slept through the lot! I had earphones and it was still deafening. Amazing.

Anyway, this showed the narrowing. So we are due back at Kings College, London on the 18th June for a PCT. This is done under general anaesthetic and, if I am correct in my understanding!, is a camera in the bile pockets, looking at the ducts. If its not too narrow they should be able to fix it there and then with a wire thingy. (technical, me) If not they wil have to do an operation, but not sure when that would be.

The thing is, this has caused the bile to back up into the liver and she has been suffering from acute cholangitis (infection). I suppose acute is better than chronic.

Her liver numbers are normal now, but any temperature means we are straight into the local (which is an hour away from us). Thats happened twice in the last two weeks.

She is at school today, so fingers crossed she will stay well until we have to go, but I am thinking we will be back in at least once or twice.

We would have been in London or Plymouth longer after the biopsy, but I did the I.Vs at home. That WAS scary and I am not sure I want to repeat that. I suppose I would, as it meant she was home playing, but I HATED being the one causing her pain. On a selfish note, I really would refuse to do it, but Molly was SO happy to be home that I suppose I would do it again, for her. It makes me cry to think about it which is not like me at all but then again, its been pretty stressful.

The other stressful thing is that I am STILL fighting for her DLA - we are going to appeal now. I think it will make me feel better, actually TALKING to someone and trying to make them understand how it affects us (and therefore Molly) financially. I just want to be able to stay home and take care of her when she is poorly, not leave her with someone else. I want to be home when the phone me, not trying to get away from work. She needs extra care and I just can't seem to make them understand this. So very very frustrating and upsetting to be fighting about money when all I want to think about it her health and happiness.

So think of us, send us good wishes. And hopefully we will make our holiday to France, but who knows? We have lost loads of work, being self employed doesn't help. And it costs a fortune to feed ourselves in hospital, let alone travel costs for Shaun and Daisy.

Mr Blue Sky

2009-04-23T14:40:00.000+01:00

Ah! Molly finally on the mend - back at school, a bit skinny, a bit weak, a bit pale but doing OK and getting better everyday.

We managed to get a free weekend away, just me and the girls, courtest of the dreaded Tescos. St Ives holiday village. It was fab. The weather was amazing and it was just what Molly (and Daisy and I!) needed. The girls were brilliant, the sky was blue and I didn't want to come home (poor Shaun! Didn't mean it like that!!).

Happy days are here again
Life is currently on the mend
Playing bingo, having fun
This holiday was full of sun

The brilliant beaches soothed our nerves
The clacking train carried us through bends and curves
The chalet in the pretty woods, our little retreat
The naughty seagull pinching Daisys ice cream treat

We came back mended, with peaceful souls
Ready to face lifes difficult goals
This little weekend away from our troubles
Left us inside a happy little bubble.

Winter of Discontent...

2009-03-26T15:44:00.000Z

Molly is poorly AGAIN! Poor little thing - its been constant since last September really. She weighs 2lb LESS than she did this time last year and of course she is taller, so relatively speaking thats a lot more. She was lying on the bed this morning, feeling rotton, and her hip bone was just sticking out.

I hate it.

So we have had Shingles, suspected Meningitis (we think it was a virus - purple legs a go-go!) and the latest was Pleurisy. Thats not to mention infections (ear and uti), viruses and tummy bugs (what she has now).

I just want to claim back the 3 years of super health we had with her. I thought with the pleurisy that would be it, but it seems we picked up a bug in hospital. Shaun first, then me now Molly.

I have been cancelling "things" that I have had booked for this year as I just can't commit - I don't know when I will be around or when I will be looking after Molly.

And another rant Molly looks to be going down 2 bands for her Disability Allowance- I don't mind that, she is much better than she was. However, apparently I won't get Carers Allowance. I have tried to explain that I couldn't possibly have a full time job - Molly hasn't had a full week at school this winter so how could I hold a job down? But they can't count time spent in hospital etc etc - basically it all boils down to how much more care she needs than a "normal" 5 year old in each illness/situation. But they CAN'T take into consideration that she is ill far more often than a "normal" 5 year old.

Hey ho. Its a very strange world we live in. I think I will injure my back, preventing me from work, and claim DLA. That way I can afford to care for Molly.

Gah.

Growth & Development

2009-01-17T17:37:00.000Z

My girls are growing so fast it makes my heart ache
I see them everday and the changes go unnoticed
Then while pondering my photos I stop to take a breath
And there before my eyes my girls have changed, never to change back.

Most of me is thrilled, my insides warm and close
That my little girls grow strong, healthy, happy and unique
Yet a little knot inside my belly starts to whirl and dart
They grow so fast - they grow so fast - childhood passes in a blink

I look back on days gone by and lament the pass of time
Lament that the days are never long enough, I was too busy running round
Too busy doing things that never really matter
While all the time my girls are growing faster, faster, faster

So then I have to shake myself, let go of my melancholy
I have so much to be thankful for, my precious girls are with me
I hope they grow and see me as their mum and as their friend
To tell me all their secrets (well, the ones they decide to tell!)

So laughter returns as I decide to revel in the moment
To enjoy my children and notice the changes happening every minute
I will celebrate their independence, support their deep desires
And remember fondly, with a little ache, how my babies came to arrive

A Merry Christmas to All (cough cough, hack, splutter)

2009-01-09T19:12:00.000Z

There aren't many of us that have got away with Christmas germ free - my parents have both come down with the Brisbain Flu, mum in particular hit badly. However, we seem to rid ourselves of the neverending bugs and germs just before and had a very nice, quite day! Lunch at one, lots of fun, tv telly, mince pie bellies.

Since then its just been a matter of adjusting back to routine - brrr. With frozen pipes (who the HELL put our water pipes just ONE INCH into the ground? Eh? How clever they must have thought they were!). So no heating, no hot water off and on, with Shaun running around with a little blow torch trying to heat it all up! And before that the boiler had decided to pack up as well which took 3 days to fix. brr again.

First good news was going back to college today - brilliant. Made a "head piece" (don't ask) that looks very like it belongs to the queen of the fairies!

Second good news is that the primary school is doing an Eco week and really getting into the swing of getting the school "greener" which is really exciting.

Third good news is ... ta da we are going on a Summer Holiday! Its amazing! We have never, ever been on a summer holiday. Firstly because we had the boarding kennels and summer was our busiest season and then we moved and just didn't give it a thought! So we are off to Brittany by ferry to a little cottage in the middle of nowhere and I am very very excited. TWO WEEKS!!!!

Mon dieu!!!

Art Farty Spotty Delights

2008-11-12T14:28:00.000Z

Where to begin. The nice stuff? Yeah of course! But no.... then you would all be skipping to the BAD stuff cos hey, thats human nature!

Bad stuff - Been in hospital with Molly. Bizarrely she contracted Shingles, which is quite a major deal for her. So off we went to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth (which I must say was SUPERB. Very very clean, excellent friendly staff, excellent Registrars). In isolation from Tuesday to Saturday - poor Molls! The I.Vs as per usual were difficult and painful but she was SO brave. No magic cream or spray for her! Gutsy little thing.

She is home now (phew) and in fact has just popped into school for a couple of hours as she was so lonely. She is very tired (she is still on Aciclovir orally, which is taking it out of her) but doing well.

End of bad stuff! First time in 3 years - thats not bad going at all! Bit out of practice and it took me a tad longer to pack than it would have done, but I forgot nothing!

Nice stuff is Art College - signed up for a BTEC diploma at Saltash Cornwall College and loving every minute. Its very different, very challenging - we have all had "wobblies" and "I can't do this!" moments, but its all good - some of the pieces I have done you can see on the link on the left.

Missed last week - it was the first 3D session, but hopefully have caught up and am looking forward to this week!

No funny stuff guys - still feeling a bit out of it after the hospital run.

Horatio and the case of Sickly Sussex

2008-09-04T20:16:00.002+01:00

Hooray! Hornblower has arrived!

Courtesy of Freecycle, that wonderful invention, not only did we rehome Pretty Boy Floyd, but now that Shaun has made a new chook house, we rehomed a little cockerel who had his harem depleted by the foxes - we welcome Mr Hornblower (Horatio to his friends).

He is minus a few tail feathers due to catching error (not me!!) but I am sure they will grow bag. He is extremely, er, vocal..... good job we like it! The girls can't beleive their luck. He is a bantam cross, smaller than 6 of our girls, but a perfect match for our non-laying bantam. Marvellous stuff!

Off on hols next week - hooray! Going to Centreparcs. Easy with the kids, especially Molly, not too far to travel either, Longleat Forest. And a WEEK, a full WEEK away. Thank you thank you thank you, Family Fund for helping us get away.

Yay!

Had a houseful of visitors this last month, and its been really nice. Escaped unscathed from the various bugs they brought from Sussex (sicky yuk bug and glandular fever, all which had to be checked with the hospital for Molls sake).

So theres another reason not to go back to Sussex!!!!

Bin Painting...

2008-04-04T21:26:00.000+01:00

But not BIN as in rubbish, cos I am quite pleased with the results! Lots of sheep (amazing I don't fall asleep really) and the life drawing classes have been excellent. If anyone wants a look, have a look under the LINKS as I have a separate blog for artwork so no-one gets bored!

Comments would be great so I can tell everyones faves. That way I can improve!! Ta!

SHEEEEEEEEPPPPPP!!!

2008-03-14T22:17:00.000Z

Good lord! I am going away AGAIN! Woolly Shepherd has invited me to go to WonderWool Wales - its on over a weekend at the end of April. So I need to get PAINTING a bit rapid! Lots of sheep piccies need to go with me....

It looks to be an excellent weekend - complete with hog roast! And of course 170+ stalls of YARN and SHEEP related wooly stuff.... how exciting!!!! I am sure that any money I do make will be donated to the highly important "Wilby Wool Stash Fund". It is quite well funded already, but I feel that any excess is only providing a safety net for the future....

The Woolly Shepherd's site is well worth having a look at - her yarns are really exciting.

For links to both look under the Links section on the left.

chucks.... dogs.... cars.... logs....

2008-02-09T16:20:00.000Z

Sorry, sorry, sorry... its been AGES again! Where did the year GO?!??!?!

We shall start with chucks and then progress rapidly to dogs... (sounds ominous? Yep, it is!!)

We gladly inherited Pretty Boy Floyd and his harem of 3 girls. They settled in beautifully, being free range and cooped at night. Picking over our veg plot and generally following us around(hmm, we thought, thanks for eating the slugs, might have to fence the veg plot in come spring!!! They like tomatos thats for sure!!)- they are gorgeous!!

Then came the addition of Blossom and Pip just before Xmas. 6 month old brother and sister terriers. Poppy (our other Jack Russell) was over the moon!

All was well - until Blossom found her feet. Pip, well, he's a bit more laid back, crap at jumping and generally can't be arsed to escape. Blossom? Soft, cuddly and a complete nightmare! Escaped... and killed a chicken. NO!!!!! So, Shaun reinforced the fencing in the back garden.

Following week: Escaped.... killed 2 chickens. Could I have killed her? Probably. So, Shaun reinforced the fencing in the front garden (she actually broke the fence).

Next day: Escaped... terrorized Pretty Boy Floyd. I am SO sad! She removed all his tail feathers and he was so scared. Luckily, Freecycle came to the rescue (what a great site that is) and Pretty Boy Floyd has been rehomed on a small holding in Cornwall and he has a new harem of 8 girls. I was SO sad to see him go but so relieved he is going to be OK.

So we have no chickens.

Then to add insult to injury, Blossom actually jumped OVER a fence today and buggered off! I thought we had lost her for good - and in fact, I was so wild I didn't care! But, amazingly, she came back within the hour...

So whats Shaun doing tomorrow?..... Fencing AGAIN!!!

Anyone want a terrier? (no, I am NOT joking!!!!)

On to CARS. GROAN

I hate cars. I love my little Freecycle Micra - its brilliant. Small, economical, pretty green all things considered. BUT, we need a works vehicle for Shaun that doubles as a family car (Micra bit tight for that) and that can tow the caravan. NOT so green. Its always been a landrover. My lovely red landy. But Molly has grown and we couldn't pack around Daisy in the back, so it had to go. And we got a good deal, we thought. A bigger landrover! Ta Da!!! Back seats and all that... luxury!
(^ not our landy, but might as well be.)
Nope. Crap engine. Can hardly tow Shaun's trailer, let alone the caravan. New engine or new car? Save save save save save save.....

The good news? logs! Our wood burner is WONDERFUL, we are warm, toasty warm in fact (phew, it was hot last night!! No? oh, just the woodburner then, not the menopause!!!).

Enough news for today...... See ya!!

An Apple A Day... provides numerous health benefits.....

2008-01-13T18:23:00.000Z

Its been a while, so this is a quick post to start the ball rolling again....

I was reading an article in my gardening mag about how x amount of kids thought pasta, tomato ketchup and bread counted towards their "5 a day" total.... scary, I thought and turned to my children to start a discussion about what was fruit, vegetable etc.

Apple? FRUIT!
Potato? VEGETABLE!
Celery? VEGETABLE!
Bread? No Mummy, thats a starchy carbohydrate

I don't think I should have worried!!!!!

How Does My Garden Grow?

2007-05-21T16:39:00.000+01:00

Well, exceptionally well actually!!!

We have harvested our first radishes (nice long white ones!!) and, more excitingly (because less face it, how many radishes can you eat and who hasn't tried them in the past?!?) TURNIPS!

Now, alot of people may consider the humble turnip medieval fodder - woody turnips to stave off hunger, not a "delicious" (which seems to be the latest buzz word) delectable, gourmet meal. But I beg to differ! I love root veg - they are amazingly versatile and SO satisfying to grow. Just pick em young!!! They were lovely: I roasted them in olive oil. Yum Yum Yum!! I am going to make root veg soup tonight with the leftover veg (did some extra).

Last Post

2007-03-29T11:32:00.000+01:00

Hmmm Having trouble with that link! I think you have to be a member to see that page. If you have a child with liver disease and dowant to become a member start at http://www.classkids.org

For those of you who haven't seen it, here it is:

Molly was born in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, UK in May 2003 by c-section (planned). She had an apgar score of 9 across the board and was a great 7lb, 13oz - a very content little dark-haired baby.

Molly became slightly jaundiced on day 2 and by day 5 was pretty orange! It turned out she had ABO incompatibility, which I cursed at the time. So she had intensive therapy and a spell in SCBU on a drip for fluids.

On day 9 we were sent home with her bili levels coming down nicely. Our consultant was continuing to monitor her, but the consensus was that Molly had "sludging" of old blood cells clogging up her system, remnants from the ABO problem. However, her bili levels were changing and the "conjugated" part was being stubborn. Her stools were pale, but this was only picked up by me and not brought to their attention early enough.

One week later, the levels did not come down at all so on the following Monday we went up to Kings College Hospital in London for a good investigation. It was pretty clear from the outset that they suspected biliary atresia even though Molly was hardly jaundiced and had not lost weight at all. They even gave us the paperwork! We returned the next day for a liver biopsy. The results came through on the Thursday and we went up on Saturday.

Molly had her Kasai on the next Monday. The operation took 6½ hours and, although I thought we would be nervous wrecks, it was more of a relief to get it done - it was, after all, the only option. When we spoke to the surgeon, Mr. Davenport, it seems that she had classic biliary atresia - her gall bladder was a little lump rather than a bag and her bile duct system was shriveled. However, there was only minor damage to the liver, "nothing irretrievable" were his words. We were really happy - in fact I was ecstatic! It was the outcome I didn't dare hope for.

Molly recovered amazingly well, with no setbacks, and we came home the following Tuesday. She started regaining weight well although she was a little reluctant to finish her feeds, so we came back with an NG tube to "top her up." It became very useful for her medicines that she hated so much. The tube came out that weekend.

We had a check-up 1 months post Kasai and Molly's billi levels were at 87 and she was still visibly yellowish. I know the way these units are measured differs here in the UK. She was 168 at the time of the op and Mr. Davenport, the surgeon, says that children whose levels are around 20-30 do really well with their own livers. We go for our next check up in November, which will be 6 months post Kasai, and we hope that her levels will have settled by then. The surgeon was extremely happy with her and since then she is nearly always "pink" and her nappies are looking pretty normal most of the time. Fingers crossed for good levels in November!

She continues to do really well and is putting on weight steadily. She is a little below weight, but not much. She just needs to regain the weight she lost when she had the op (going nil by mouth tends to do that!).

Molly is currently getting over chickenpox - which she has taken in her stride. She is a really happy little girl and my other daughter, (Daisy age 4) absolutely adores her. Molly very rarely cries and although she doesn't sleep through the night she feeds quickly, winds, and goes back to sleep without any fuss - 10 minutes max!! I think I can cope with that........

Reading this it seems amazing that it was almost 4 years ago! Molly has her 4th birthday in just a few weeks. The "coping no sleep" makes me laugh - that no sleep lasted 3 years!!!! And yes, I coped, but it was getting pretty desperate!!

And I am SO glad she got chickenpox. I couldn't have realised how important it was, but if she HADNT caught it before transplant we would have been in a more precarious situation. Her antibodies are strong and she has come through two major chickenpox outbreaks with no sign of spots. Fingers crossed she continues to do so and doesn't ever develop it again, otherwise its straight into hospital and we have avoided that for.... over a year!!!!!

New Link

2007-03-29T11:25:00.000+01:00

Was just mailing with a lady from France who also has a little boy with BA and I realised I never linked to Molly's ClassKids page. It hasn't been updated since she was about 4 months old, but it was good to read "the beginning" again and I thought it would be good to add a link to it.

If anyone has any problems accessing the links, please let me know.

lu xx

Weed em and Reap!

2007-03-18T21:49:00.000Z

Yay! Spring is just around the corner and things are getting exciting! Its been a slow wet winter, with so many jobs to do and not enough time or nice weather to do them. BUT the greenhouse is now up and running, the beds marked out and being sorted. Things are GROWING in my fabulous Garden! And we did it ourselves! We broke the ground and ..... ta da!!!

<---- our veggie patch!

Top left: poly tunnel, garlic and spring onions

Top right: spuds, first earlies (3 rows now)

Bottom left: Fruit trees - gooseberry, redcurrent, blackcurrent, boysenberry

Bottom right: sifted soil, now moved over to the right hand side of the bed to create a raised bed for carrots and radish.

Greenhouse! Containing lots of seedlings from tomatoes, sweetcorn, to various beans and herbs. I am really excited about it all. I blimmin LOVE living here. The kids are healthy and happy, and so are we! I am so proud of what we have achieved so far and this is only the start. So here are some piccies. Since I took these, we have moved the soil in the bottom right bed to create a raised bed. The soil was stuff Shaun sifted and moved from behind the shed, so its beautiful and I have sown carrot seed and long icicle radish seed there. We can't grow carrots in our other beds as the soil is SO hard you can't crumble it in your hands - the long rooted stuff would never make it. The little mini poly tunnel is fab and 3 days ago I planted peas, petit pois, turnips, salsify and savoy cabbage. I had a look today and there is growth! Now - whose going to place bets? I can't decide yet whether they are opportunistic weeds or actually little seedlings!!! Its a bit "row-like" to be weeds, but hey, how clever ARE weeds?!? Daisy is riding her bike! She does have stabilizers, but they point out the back! She won't let us take them off, even though they are of absolutely no use to her. lol!!! Anyway, here are the photos - enjoy!!

<---- Garlic growing in one of the main beds - look how hard the "soil" is!!

<---- Peas! Sown in the greenhouse in the discarded edge protection that came with MIL's kitchen worktops! The idea is to just SLIDE the seedlings off into the main beds. We'll see whether SLIDE actually works or not!!

<--- greenhouse seedlings popping up!

Dispatch....Display

2007-03-05T10:26:00.000Z

Have sent the picture off in the post - da da! Special Delivery which is ridiculous, but I am kind of attached to it and want it back - only because its not often that I ever really spend any time on a painting! The only other time was when I entered two of my "sheep" pictures into the Horsham Arts Council exhibition - again, felt a fraud, but they sold! Then I thought, Oh, I don't have them anymore! So I painted them on Daisy's old bedroom wall and imortalized them in a cross stitch pattern. Fame indeed.

So picture is sent - mind you as I said to my Mum, the only box I could find to send it in that was big enough was a Toilet Seat box... hmm maybe that's trying to tell me something!!!

AND I have put up my Lawnmowing poster in the local shop window - scary. God, I hope someone doesn't phone up with 20 acres to mow, all in lovely intricate windy paths etc. aaaaaaarrrrrgggghhh

Its Been a Long Time....

2007-03-04T20:30:00.000Z

I know, I know and I am sorry. Really. Honestly. Ok, maybe not, but I've BIN BIZZY!!

We have settled into Devon like we have never been anywhere else. The job list appears as long, but things are slowly getting done and sliding into place. The girls are really happy and busy, and I actually have a social life which is amazing!

I continue to be a member of the WI which I love - its brilliant and mostly good fun. We have a few projects/competitions going which I enjoy. I just painted a picture for the St Georges Day Cup which is a Devon-wide thing. Stupidly I am nervous about it! I don't know why, cos I don't have expectations of winning - I just wanted to take part and have my picture up with the rest. But now I feel a bit of an imposter among artists, if you get my drift! There were 3 themes, Air, Sea or Earth and I chose Sea. God knows why, cos I never have been able to paint water! But apparently I felt inspired. Did'nt finish the first canvas, but finally finished the second one last night, in time to post tomorrow. Here it is, comments very very welcome! Its supposed (!) to represent the push and pull of the moon. I know, its not the greatest, but I am pleased with it, just a bit shy about it cos I know its not great but then, if I am pleased with it, what the hell?!

I have also decided to start up a lawn mowing venture! It came about as my next door neighbour said there was a job going, but found out today I dipped out on that one, so decided to do something about it and do some posters and cards etc!! So I have..... and will be putting one in the shop. I shall be dimocking all over the place! lol - I am going to be SO scared! Got a new petrol mower (which I can only just start up - I think you are supposed to have arms as long as an orangutan's) and our friends from Sussex brought our old OLD landrover down so I can potter about in that. I DO fancy working outside and I know I should be able to mow a lawn and trim the edges etc. Well, I can bluff it and hope I learn fast..... ARGH!!!

What else? Well, still helping out with the jumble sales which is a right hoot - what a laugh! Was on books last time, which was a bit tame to be honest, but have graduated to Clothes which is a massive free for all - its the funniest thing in the world!! God everyone gets so serious and competitive and I usually have a massive grin on my face - unless they are quibbling about the price, and then I just get STUBBORN cos its PENNIES. I get bargains to boot (well, not boots this time, but a school fleece which has just saved me £12 so I am happy!).

The veggy patch is coming on FAB. We got the greenhouse up last weekend. The ground is an absolute SOD to dig - rock hard, full of rocks and, like rocks, no nutrients to speak of. So we have a lovely, georgeous huge mound of cow poo which we are liberally spreading around over it. Also a mountain of wood chip from when we took the trees down. Shaun has dug one square of the four and dug in the compost too. I added wood chip. This is our first main veg bed. Another bed has cow poo on it, no digging yet. We are going to bung spuds and Jerusalem Artichokes in there and let them do the hard work. The third bed we have just planted up with all our fruit trees - lots of gooseberries, blackcurrent and a boysenberry. The fourth bed is sitting there and I may well "green compost" it by planting comfrey to later dig in.

I have sewn ALL SORTS of seeds in the greenhouse and am avidly waiting for little green shoots to appear! I have put in garlic and the first batch of spring onions in the first bed - but then its absolutely lashed it down all day so I wouldn't be surprised if the seeds are all washed away.......

We had friends over for late sunday lunch today - game casserole (goose and phesant- sort of game casserole) with baby turnips, celery, carrot - lovely and I was really pleased with it. Kids had a blast together too. I was showing Gabby some old photos - they didn't see us while we were going through the mill with Molly. It made me realise how far we had come. shes a little handful now and its FAB. There were a lot of happy memories in the photo album tho -lots of milestones. I love this blog too - its nice to look back.

Festivals! We are going to TWO this year and its brilliant. I am SO excited its stupid! Need to tart up the caravan a bit and shaun needs to fix the brake. We are going to the sunrise festival in June and the Big Green in August. Amazing! Brilliant! Fab!!! Taking the kids too which will be great - I can just see them jigging about in the sunshine!

Oh, I am doing Yoga again which is brilliant fun. She certainly gets us stretching and I do get the giggles a fair bit!

You know, I couldn't possibly tell you everything that has been happening over the last few months. Life is so good.

A Tico Tico Ti, A Tico Tico TA

2006-11-20T21:10:00.000Z

Thought it was about time I added another post. But am currently lost for words! There is so much to tell, so I am going to canabilize an email I sent to a pal......

Everything good this end! We love it down here. Molly is good - blood tests yesterday perfect and we don't have to go back till mid Jan. Brill! Daisy good - enjoying it down here with heaps to do. The school is fantastic and I am so very pleased with her progress - she is coming back with awards and praise and visits to the Head for good work etc. Her reading is in the top set and her maths the second (which is fab cos its not one of her favourite subjects). She has loads to do too - Gym after school on Monday (free school club), Samba band after school Tuesday (free school club), Beavers Wednesday (absolute bedlam, she loves it), Swiming with the school on Friday, Pop dancing on Sat am (actually I am going to do the adult class immediately after this Sat - won't be able to move on Sun!!! But MY GOD Britney better watch out cos she is going to have some serious competition.......). Molly goes dancing too.

I managed to voluteer myself as secretary to the committee that run the preschool (how the hell did THAT happen?!?!). Minutes were fun to do, but how "Secretary" encompasses baking 60-odd mince pies AND flogging them at the Christmas Bazaar I will never know. Apparently they were very nice - I wouldn't know, because after dropping one tray straight out of the oven and then the bloody B*stard cooling rack leg collapsing and watching, in slow motion, another batch hit the floor I didn't think I could stomach actually eating one myself. But they all sold, which was good and the christmas Bazaar was actually really nice - we had it in the local posh hotel (had dinner there- more of that later!!) and it was warm, welcoming and very christmassy, as Christmas Bazaars should be....

Joined the WI - first meeting last week, took Sylv. That was fun!! Lots of things lined up there. Best thing about it? Watching the characters having a polite pop at each other - love it!!!

I go riding once a week which is fab - feel a bit bandy when I get off but brilliant fun. Lovely horses which makes a change. Mine was feeling nice and frisky on Tuesday cos the weather was crappy so he had been shut in. Carted me off all over the place and I had a huge grin plastered on my face! Can't wait to go again. Not going this week though... (more of that later.....)

Bit chilly but really not bad at all for this time of year. Wet today the last couple of days but inbetween really bright.

We have made friends too! They live around the corner and run the local shoot (great fun for Shaun, he is beating today). They are both really nice and we have a lot in common. Their son is in Daisy's class and they get on really well. And they are here to do the self sufficiency thing too! So we will probably be pooling our resources (something like, you guys do carrots, we'll do potatoes).

We have finally turned our bathroom into a bigger bedroom for the girls, which looks lovely and their old room into the toy room. That leaves the box room to be converted into a "bath" room (we have a shower room next to that). Don't have a spare room, unfortunately, but never mind - we do have a caravan (another Freecycle acquisition - FAB!!). A little bit of work to be done on it (brake cable and a deep clean!!) and then next spring we can take off when we want.

Actually I have some seriously fun ideas for the caravan, not least painting the outside with flowers etc etc a la hippy - its really orange and brown 80's special at the mo and needs livening up and a bit of t.l.c. Maggie if you are reading this - thanks again for giving us your caravan!!!

The extension on our lounge will be built some time next year - the lounge is tiny (a third of the size we used to have) which would be ok, sweet and cosy, but we have got to work somewhere and at the moment the computer is in the corner and I sit sideways in the armchair with the keyboard on my knee and the mouse on the arm of the settee!! Thats OK tho - it will all sort itself out soon. I love the house and am very very happy.

So, for the points to follow:

1) It was our 5th Anniversary on Friday! Aw!!! And my parents kindly sent us some dough to eat out... so we did! We went to the local poshy-poos hotel and had the BEST meal I have had in my life. Seriously good food, fantastically wonderful service and I loved every minute. It was brilliant.

2) unfortunately have now caught Molly's Marvellous Tummy Bug so won't be going riding. Ah well, might lose the weight I put on on Friday when I ate so much I thought I would explode and my fancy-pants restaurant. That'll teach me.

YES SIR! I can BOOGIE...

2006-10-18T20:42:00.000+01:00

OMG we made it.

WE ARE IN DEVON

Actually, we have been here for 7 weeks and it felt like home from the get-go. I LOVE it. Its fantastic. The house is wonderful and the kids are (when they aren't bickering!) happy - Daisy asked me if we could stay in Devon forever!

Although we have been very busy, I havent' got an awful lot to report. Its all been about moving, moving furniture around, finding the way to Tescos/Beavers/Train Stations/Hairdressers (most important you know).

Shaun is slowly managing to get things done. It took us a while to get our bit fenced, then we had to fence in the other bit - that took about 4 weeks all in all. Now he has been moving the veggie patches that are Mum-in-Laws over to her side so he can level the ground to put up his sheds.

We are getting quite excited about what we are going to grow next year. We can't do much yet but there is a nice patch of ground which Shaun is attending to at the mo - he's spending an hour or so a day removing rocks. Nice job if you can get someone to do it!! Poor boy. But its good soil. Medium to Sandy loam by the looks of it (can you tell I have been looking at my course? Can ya? Can ya?!) which will be great for growing stuff. I am working on the planting side of things, drawing up a 4 year rotation and sorting out successive cropping/companion planting etc. All very complicated for a little beginner buts its becoming clearer!

We have great neighbours - Mike and his wife Gill and Mikes brother Garth. They run the nursery which produces various things including tomatoes and courgettes (WITH the flowers on) for the hotels etc. They grew up in this house which is very useful! We call Mike "The Oracle" - there's not alot he doesnt know!

I have been riding a couple of times which is excellent. I did start to work for rides which I absolutely LOVED but I found I had too much still to do at home and had to start the business up again so I can't do it anymore. GUTTED was not the word. I was very upset actually, but if we want to do this self sufficiency thing I have to make time for my course too and something had to give. Stables had to go <sob> but hey, I'm OK now.

The funniest thing I have to tell you is about the tree surgeon. We have had 3 pines taken out - sounds drastic but they were spoiling the view from the In-Laws point of view and stunting our orchard from our point of view. So up crops this guy. And we notice he is missing a few fingers. Quite darkly amusing! Until we find he is also missing a leg.............. And apparently he does a "Proper Job!"

And so he did, but we did wonder...... and stayed out the way!!!

I'VE got a COMbined HARvester......

2006-08-15T10:43:00.000+01:00

I am so sorry I haven't posted for so long - its been absolutely manic with all the MOVING!!!!! Yay!

No, we haven't gone yet...

But we ARE!! We were due to exchange contracts last week and the moving date WAS set for 29th August. Nice - well, yes, but we get back from holiday on 28th!!! I told 'em I didn't care, it would all be fine (you know me by now, up for a laugh!!) but they are pushing for 30th maybe. Thats better and the most sensible option I suppose, but, wow, I would LOVE to have moved on the 29th!! Can you imagine how hectic it would have been? I would have laughed my butt off!!

I can't WAIT. I am so excited I am worse than Daisy, running around grinning and flapping about giggling. Obviously there are pangs about what, or mores to the point, WHO we are moving further away from, but its not the end of the earth, only 3-4 hours away.

Even the kids are excited! Daisy was VERY iffy about moving until school term finished, and then it was like a cloud lifted and she was the happiest kid in the world. I think she was dreading the "goodbye" thing. She got a cracking card from school though with all her mates names inside - we will keep it forever.

Molly is doing fantastic. We have just had the THIRD month of normal bloods! Amazing! And we had her Kings review last Wednesday - Ultrasound, GFR (kidney test) and general review. All good, thank god, we WERE worried even though in our eyes she looks fab, who knows what lies beneath? It was a SHIT day though. She needed 2 canulas for the GFR. One to inject dye and one to take bloods from throughout the day. That had TERRIBE trouble getting the canulas in and it wasn't the Dr's - we know them all and they are great. So we only managed the first canula on the 5th attempt and then had 4 blood tests in her feet (everything else was buggered). So, you know, she was pretty upset. She recovered almost immediately though, and was laughing and joking about - we weren't! We were in tatters! Bleedin' Kids!!!!

Right - just to warn you, when we move its going to take some time to set up Broadband again. So this could be the last post for a while. I have received some brilliant comments from you all - and I would love to get in touch and sometimes I can't answer your comments - if you want me to my email is LucieWilby@aol.com.

So next time you hear from me I could be ploughing my fields!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fairytale Sports / heading for Devon

2006-06-25T17:41:00.000+01:00

Had a great time over the weekend - Molly had her sports day on Saturday morning and Daisy her Fun Day where she did country dancing in the afternoon.

Molly had a great time - she was fab! I have put in a couple of piccies. I didn't expect to get emotional at ALL but she was running with all her little might with a big grin on her face and as she got nearer the tears just kind of erupted!!! Shaun was fine until he saw me booing over Molly and the teacher and anyone who came near me. Oh dear!!! She was great and kept up well. Her other race was fab too - Goldilocks and the 3 Bears- she had to run and pick up her spoon, then her bowl, then come and sit on the chair at the finish line and at her porridge - no problems, she knew exactly where she was headed!

Daisy had a fabulous win in the siblings race - won by a mile so she was very proud.

In the afternoon Daisys school had their fun day which was great fun and Daisy showed us her country dancing which she was really good at! Going to sign her up for some dance lessons as shes so into it.

The other good news is.... we are off!!! moving date set for end Aug/beginning of Sep. Fantastic!!!

First Floor - Festivals, Celebrations, Hoorays

2006-06-15T14:12:00.000+01:00

Blimey, another month gone since I updated my blogg. Oops. Sorry guys!

At least I will have a lot to tell you! You will be glad to know we did actually make the festival. It was a close run thing tho.... both kids were poorly and so was my Mum. The day drew closer and frantic phone calls were made. Acceptance of missing the festival set in... but no! Even though poorly, Auntie Nats came to the rescue. Nats, I love you big time!!

We had a great time! Once we got in our truck and set off the pressure faded away. Travelling to Dorset in a mad truck with no seatbelts and a maximum speed of 50 mph (which felt like 100 mph) was liberating. We laughed and laughed and the years fell away. We were only there 30 hours, but it was enough to give us a taster - next year we are taking the kids! What a lovely place - no generators (apart from one for 10 mins) it was all wind and solar powered - so quiet! No nasty smells! (well... veggy food does that so no comment). The food was brilliant and we had the best breakfast we have ever had. We learnt loads.

I wove a rug! Well, I say its a RUG and Shaun sniggers. Its quite small but perfectly formed and it fits rolled up in a bag I made. Well, I say MADE but actually I went to make it with this lady who had a treadle sewing machine in her tent (!) but the belt broke so I fixed the sewing machine and she made the bag. But back to the RUG. Shaun had it under his arm when he went to get an organic beer and some bloke said "whats that?!" And Shaun said it was a rug, and this bloke said "What for, a f*cking hamster?!". And it was SUPPOSED to be about peace and love (man).

The next great thing was Molly's blood tests - they came back normal. NORMAL!! First time ever for Molly. Its fantastic news. And even if they do go up again, they HAVE been normal and so no doubt WILL be again. It has been a long slow decrease and I am chuffed to bits. So no more blood tests till we go to London next month! Fantastic news. She is really really well - even after the chest infection she got while we were away (I will not feel guilty, no nonono... ok, so I feel guilty). And on the back of that, and the transplant anniversary coming up in 10 days, I have started to write a letter to the donor family.

I thought I would be really hard, but it was surprisingly easy. I am so very grateful and I hope that the letter will help in some small way. What a decision for them to make at the worst time in their lives. Looking at Molly I don't think I could ever tell them how grateful I am. Not properly.

And the news goes on.... we have found a house and our offer has been accepted. Its a FAB house. Wonderful land, amazing rooms - better than I EVER could have hoped for. As Shaun said, if you were to measure up, floor space wise its probably no bigger than what we have, but its how its laid out. Its wonderful and I love it. And we can have chickens in the orchard, and crops and pigs............. HOORAY!

So still, despite all, or because of all, life is GOOD.

p.s. who wants radishes? I have heaps...... and potatoes, and onions, and lettuce and carrots................ and miles and miles of smiles.

MySpace

2006-05-18T11:15:00.000+01:00

Hey and ALSO - I have a myspace now! For the brave: www.myspace.com/funinlalaland
Everything on there should be very familiar to my longterm friends, but if now, well I think you might get to know me a little better.

Lu xx

Mi marido

2006-05-18T11:00:00.000+01:00

Thought it was about time I put up a decent piccy of my other half. So here he is - and mind, he's taken!! Love you Shaun xx

Birthdays!

2006-05-03T16:49:00.000+01:00

The Smiley Brigade

2006-05-03T13:31:00.000+01:00

Hello all! It seems a long long while since I posted a half decent post. Its not surprising really - I don't think I have ever been so busy in my life, but most of it is non-profit making! Well, thats a good thing and a bad thing I suppose! Good for the soul but will probably give the Bank Manager a peptic ulcer (mind you, seeing as the Bank Manager is of the on-line variety I would presume this would be a Virtual Peptic Ulcer. What form would that take?)

First things first though - Molly's 3rd birthday. I can't believe she is 3 and I am so very, very proud of her. Let's face it - this time last year I really wasn't very convinced of the fact that she would be here. That doesn't make me sad or teary - just ecstatic that she is so very very well at the moment.

I get very wary of answering peoples questions about how Molly is. Its not particularly "superstitious" thing - not like "gah! If I tell them she is well, then the bubble will burst and we will be back in the hospital". More because nobody can really understand unless they have a child with BA. Liver transplantation is not a cure. It certainly feels like one! But things could and no doubt will, go wrong either in a minor or major way in the future. We will still have hospital stays. We still have blood tests every 2 weeks or so (and I hate telling her we are going although she is very good once the initial "NO!" is over!!). There are "issues" that may or may not occur in the future. Her liver function tests are certainly heading the right way, but, nearly a year on, they are still abnormal. I don't care at the moment! She is loving life and is so very, very well in herself its fantastic.

So when people say "How's she doing?" how should I answer? I usualy say "She's fantastic!" because she is. But everyone smiles understandingly, thinking she has been "cured". Now that is great for their mindset and, believe me, I am not moaning here or griping at peoples concern. I am just left with a bit of a "hmmm. Stuff left out here." feeling.

That's the best way I can explain it!

But the birthday was a grand success! She got the Bus she wanted plus loads of other goodies that she is exceptionally pleased with. And we are exceptionally pleased with her too. xx

Right. Next topic!! Well, I feel that should be Daisy my eldest. She is so grown up now its incredible. She continues to do well at school. She is still very insecure (the whole Molly incident has taken a major toll on her sense of self) but things are getting better. The most important thing to me is to get this move to Devon over so she is settled. I feel this whole move will be the making of Daisy - its going to be great for her in so many ways and I can' wait for it to begin. I love her dearly and am very worried about her. She needs to get back to basics at a slower pace of life where both her parents are doing the same. Again, its hard to explain in this small paragraph. She needs a lot more love and attention than I can currently give her, working all the hours as I am at the moment. I want to involve her more. This move will help accomplish that.

So that moves naturally on to the move! I am not going to say much about where we are moving to - we have yet to have it confirmed that our offer has been accepted. The owner is a wonderful person and she wants to take her time to ensure that the precious land she is leaving is going to be in good hands. We can only reassure her so much - now is her time to consider. Fingers crossed because it is a magical, wonderful place to be, live and grow.

We have SO much we want to change, this would give us such a kick start it would be fantastic. But if this house isn't to be then we are determined we will still be as green and self sufficient as possible in any property we finally move to. We are doing what we can where we are at the moment, but obviously can't make any major changes to anything as it just wouldn't be worth it with a move just around the corner. We have accepted an offer for the house and now its just waiting.

When we move I want to get a job outside if I can - there is a fab organic nursery/veggy box scheme company not far away and I have already made enquiries (you know me, I don't hang about!!) about work which is looking promising. Who knows!

I am also looking at attending a course with the Strawbridge family. If you haven't seen their series "Its not easy being green" you are missing alot! Its on at 8.30pm on a Tuesday with only a couple of episodes left but they are truly inspiring. Their website is well worth a visit - loads of links with very very useful sites. I have put a link on the right hand side of the page under Links.

We are so very very busy, but so very very happy too. We are officially The Smiley Brigade (with very very large bags under our eyes! Molly - go to sleep!!!) xxxxxxxxx

Happy Times

2006-04-23T11:16:00.000+01:00

Music Video Codes by PutCode.com

A little merry post. Happy times are here, so I wanted to share my fave music video with you to make you smile. This is Christopher Walken at his best (in my opinion!!) with one of my fave musicians, Fatboy Slim. Enjoy!

Easter Egg Hunt! Happy Easter!!

2006-04-20T21:38:00.000+01:00

Hey Diddly Dee - A Festival For ME!

2006-04-20T21:15:00.000+01:00

OMG I can't believe it, I've never been this far away from home.....

Its a miracle. In fact, there are a couple of miracles here.

The first, and most important, is that Molly's blood results this week are the best they have been since last August (and they were on their way UP then, not DOWN). She is fat and pink!!! Its brilliant. However, part of me is saying "hold on hold on they could go up next week". But she is brilliant.

The next thing is that I am so very, very lucky to have such brilliant friends. Nats is having Molly for me - and thats a big favour cos of all the meds and waking up in the night etc. I should feel guilty but I don't - I feel very, very grateful!!! Nats, you are wonderful and Molly is so excited cos she loves you to bits.

Ces, one of my oldest friends, was another one who didn't hesitate and offered to have Daisy for me. She has had her before but never overnight. Again, a big favour cos Daisy is quite insecure and needs lots of love n hugs and keeping busy. She also is majorly excited, although nervous that we are going away.

All of this means that.....

Shaun and I are going to a festival! Its amazing!!! We are going to be away for 2 days and a night! On our own, just us (well, and god knows how many festival goers that is!). If you are interested its www.earthwise-uk.com

We decided we are FAR too old to rough it in a tent and with communal loos though. Memories of Glastonbury '93 are still fresh in my mind (phew.... river of wee.....).

So we are taking Shauns Dodge truck!!! Its a nice big lorry, complete with a little kitchen area so we can put a mattress in the back (well, he said just a mattress, but I am adding stuff all the time, like a duvet (just a small necessity), and a chemical loo in what was the kitchen area. You know, like in caravans. And we have some gas so we can have a little whistling kettle and some tin mugs!! COOL!!!

How excited am I? ARGH!!! CANT WAIT.

p.s. my potatoes are growing. And my little greenhouse is working a treat - I have too many radishes though. mmm. Where can I put them!?!?!?

History......

2006-04-09T21:55:00.000+01:00

Well, my making another blogg has raised a question - where did I learn to speak Spanish? Now I know its not perfect by any means and I am really rusty because the only time I speak it is to my friend on the phone every 3 months or so!!!

But! The story is: When I was 13 my family moved to Mallorca. I went to school and college there and sat my exams in Spanish. Perfect age! a 14 year old sponge..... and I was fluent.

It stays with me but it hard for a while. I remember I came back to England after a year or so, stayed for 9 months then went back to Mallorca. I stood on my friends doorstep and when she answered the door I couldn't say a word!!! Nothing would come out and it all came out back to front.... but I was OK after a few minutes!

I used to use my Spanish in my job and I would love to do that again. I learnt business talk instead of bar talk! Cool! I used to deal with Spain, Guatemala and Peru! Mind you, we made bottle tops and wine bottle seals - I suppose it was bar talk after all.

Another blog....

2006-04-08T18:05:00.000+01:00

For those of you interested, I have set up another blog especially for a friend of mine, full of family photos....

http://escueladecalor.blogspot.com/

Podge!!!!

2006-04-07T20:58:00.000+01:00

... has escaped twice. Where did he end up? Down the kennels bless him!!! Hes settling in well.

Thats it for today!!!

Devon Cream Tea - Jam and Podge

2006-04-05T19:13:00.000+01:00

I have been on holiday! 2 weeks. Its a miracle! Didn't think we would ever get the go ahead from the hospital. But there you go! We have been, saw some houses, went to the zoo and the miniature pony centre (b*stard goats ate my welly!!!) and basically had fun. The first week was a bit stressful, but things settled down a bit the second week.

It didn't start out that well at all - the night before we went our lovely dog Jammie had to be put down. She was getting on and had been really active until then. We had been a bit worried and were half expecting something, so she timed it right bless her. I am so glad we weren't away. We miss her alot and so does our little dog Poppy.

So ever the gluttons for punishment, we resuced a 14 year old Cairn called Podge. His owners sadly could care for him no more - his "Dad" is 82 and his wife has advanced Alzeimers. So Podge is now a Wilby and has fitted in really well!!! Mind you, we have always had girls, who aren't spade. Unfortunately we have found that Podge still has his nads. Mmm. Father at 14 maybe??? ARGH!!!!

Nicey Niecey Explanation

2006-03-18T23:59:00.000Z

Hello all! just a quick post... off on holiday on Monday!!! Bloody hell, won't believe it till we are there.

Molly update: All OK. Bloods still highish but stable so all OK so far. Osteopath: 1st night was brill. Nice chilled out kid who woke 3 times but was so relaxed it was FAB! Last night was pretty much back to normal. Annoying. Lets see what tonight brings. I will definitely take her again though, when we get back, because it was worth it just for her to be comfortable for that one night.

Had a hectic but nice week, my niece came to stay since Thursday and I just ran her back tonight. I haven't known her very long (well I knew her when she was little, but she grew up!!) and she is 17, georgeous and I am very proud of her. I like her alot too! Its been nice having her here and I hope she comes again.

So I was looking at her My Space and she had this little survey thing.... so I did it. Below are the results!!!

See you after the 3rd April!!! xx

Nicey Niecy

2006-03-18T23:57:00.000Z

*TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF - The Survey*
Name:	Lu
Birthday:	15th July
Birthplace:	Redhill
Current Location:	Horsham
Eye Color:	Sludge
Hair Color:	Pink
Height:	5.5
Right Handed or Left Handed:	Right
Your Heritage:	Is that where I come from or what I leave behind??
The Shoes You Wore Today:	Pink X18s
Your Weakness:	Chocolate
Your Fears:	My child
Your Perfect Pizza:	A Perfect Margarita
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year:	Nah, don't do goals.
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger:	lol
Thoughts First Waking Up:	eeeerrrrrrggggburgle
Your Best Physical Feature:	I think? my lips He things? Take a wild guess.
Your Bedtime:	when I finish what I gotta do
Your Most Missed Memory:	My Dad
Pepsi or Coke:	Either Neither
MacDonalds or Burger King:	blergh
Single or Group Dates:	mmm depends!!!
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea:	Wot?
Chocolate or Vanilla:	Chocolate Cake, Vanilla Ice Cream... together
Cappuccino or Coffee:	Tea.
Do you Smoke:	nopes
Do you Swear:	yeps
Do you Sing:	I warble
Do you Shower Daily:	I would LOVE to have the time
Have you Been in Love:	Yes
Do you want to go to College:	YES YES YES
Do you want to get Married:	I GOT married. Twice.
Do you belive in yourself:	Yes I suppose I do.
Do you get Motion Sickness:	Yes, spinny out
Do you think you are Attractive:	Er, to some?
Are you a Health Freak:	Hardly
Do you get along with your Parents:	Yes, for the most part
Do you like Thunderstorms:	Yes if Im indoors, No if Im in IT
Do you play an Instrument:	Piano
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol:	No
In the past month have you Smoked:	No
In the past month have you been on Drugs:	No
In the past month have you gone on a Date:	No
In the past month have you gone to a Mall:	Yes
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos:	No cos we are in England
In the past month have you eaten Sushi:	Yuk.
In the past month have you been on Stage:	No
In the past month have you been Dumped:	God I hope not.
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping:	Nothing skinny about it and no.
In the past month have you Stolen Anything:	Yeps... oooo.
Ever been Drunk:	Yes, very, lots of times.
Ever been called a Tease:	Yes
Ever been Beaten up:	Yes.. I extracted my revenge later.
Ever Shoplifted:	Yep
How do you want to Die:	Nicely thank you.
What do you want to be when you Grow Up:	Peter Pan
What country would you most like to Visit:	South America
*In a Boy/Girl..*
Favourite Eye Color:	Anything but grey.
Favourite Hair Color:	Don't mind, as long as they have some, somewhere....
Short or Long Hair:	Either, depends.
Height:	Tall or short, all have benefits....
Weight:	kind of medium, not too skinny, not fat either
Best Clothing Style:	Non fashion, no cardis.
Number of Drugs I have taken:	3
Number of CDs I own:	Too many.
Number of Piercings:	12
Number of Tattoos:	3
Number of things in my Past I Regret:	Nothing major. Don't do regret either.
CREATE YOUR OWN! - or - GET PAID TO TAKE SURVEYS!

Memory Lane

2006-03-08T00:26:00.000Z

For those of you who didn't see or know her, this was Molly pre-transplant last Summer.

50 Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

2006-03-08T00:09:00.000Z

Do you know, its 10 past midnight? This last week I have probably been more tired than I ever have in my life. And yet, here I sit.

Life seems very hard at the moment, and it really shouldn't. Normally a fearless kind of person, who doesn't particularly worry about much I can't change I am finding that my fears are sitting hard and cold in the bottom of my stomach.

Mainly for Molly of course. I am so scared sometimes, and I am sure any mother will identify with that, and even more so mothers who have sick children.

Having "gained" Molly again after her transplant, I dread a return to those days. I don't know how it didn't swallow me up. Molly is really well, but, for all our "wow" shes FAB! to everyone, her bloods still aren't normal. In fact at the moment they are pretty high, but coming down. They are putting this down to lots of chest infections, including Pneumonia last October and about 5 chest infections both before and after. She is on antibiotics again. She really is full of beans, but if her bloods don't settle down in the spring the hospital are going to start investigating. It makes my blood run cold. The fear of the investigations (she has been through so much) and the fear of further surgery for her. And then, the what if its serious? The fear of needing a new liver. The guilt of still being overweight therefore no good to her. And then there is the fucking bird flu. And yes, hey, lets not overeact. But you know what? They say its coming. And it could be just a 10% chance that it crosses the species barrier and an even smaller chance that it becomes a pandemic - but if it does, how on earth will she survive it? That little worry is a deep, sick knot in the pit of my stomach because there is NOTHING I can do.

So, the days seem pretty dark at the moment. I try and enjoy my time and we are very very busy with this that and the other. I am desperate for a "normal" life - more sleep, less pain and worry. I will get over this.

We are definitely moving to Devon. My only two regrets are moving farther away from my mother and my friends. But I long for it and then I worry that its just another distraction and thats why I long for it. Then I stop worrying about that because, as far as I can see, thats what life is all about. Distractions. They say "You have to have something to aim for" and "they" are right, because otherwise life is just the same, day in, day out.

A Family Partridge

2006-03-07T23:55:00.000Z

Browsing through my piccies, and I found one of all four of us - so here we are, the Wilby Juniors.

You wondered whether we were trolls or aliens - heres your proof!

2006-03-06T13:35:00.000Z

And for those of you who didn't see this on the day - this is my handsome husband Shaun, all glammed up for Daisy's 6th birthday last October.

My georgeous Daisy Doos - Growing up FAST!

2006-03-06T13:31:00.000Z

Lu and Molly on the Bluebell Railway, Xmas 05

2006-03-06T13:27:00.000Z

Phhoey

2006-03-06T13:25:00.000Z

Just a little udpate. Am having trouble fitting all this new info and photos in. Bah.

Molly Moo and the Big Grin

2006-03-06T13:17:00.000Z

Hectic Ecclectic

2006-03-06T11:39:00.002Z

Well its all a bit mad at our house at the moment. LOADS of things going on. Looks like the move to Devon (oo-ar) is going ahead, house goes on the market 1st April and in-laws are currently in Devon for 3 weeks trying to find us all a new pad (yes, we want to stay together before anyone asks!!)

Now thats all very well, but the kennels are quite busy. Shaun doesnt' work at the kennels anymore, only when his Dad needs help, like now. But he is also working for the NCH (National Childrens Charity) dropping collection bags and picking them up. And I have my office job 9-5 on Tuesday and Wednesday. Plus he is trying to decorate the house. Plus we have to try and get the kids to and from school, which is OK when I am not at work, or taking Molly for blood tests, but really difficult when I am not here as Shaun can't leave the kennels. So have called in some major favours and poor Daisy has been passed from pillar to post. Mind you, she seems to be enjoying it OK! Only another 2 weeks to go. And seeing as I am at the kennels on my own on Mondays as Shaun has to work, I have had to get Molly into the nursery for an extra day - more bloody money!!

This week started the same hectic way as last week - and no doubt this week! Dropped Daisy at Mary's at 8am for school run (big favour number 1) and shot down to Brighton for bloods. Shot back up here, dropped Molly at school (big favour number 2)and back here for 10 so Shaun could go to work at 10.30.

Tidied house in a frenzy as Estate Agents due at 11 - wasn't a viewing and shaun said not to bother but hey, woman pride and all that! Customer picked up Dogs just as they arrived, so pissy hands - nice!!! Oh and put on a loaf and made tea for estate agents and had a chat.

So, house tidy but washing up and washing to do, nothing too bad! All done in a whirlwind. And no kids!!!!

Quite an achievement by 11.30!! Feeling very smug so just eaten a cream egg. Not so good perhaps.

Now the afternoon starts: Shaun races back from picking up (hopefully) full bags so that I can go and get Daisy and Molly. I race back here so Shaun can race over to the charity shop to drop the (full) bags off and get back her before 5pm so he can do the dogs (feed and put to bed).

ARGH!!

DILLIGAFF

2006-01-19T14:27:00.000Z

Its been FAR too long since my last post - thank you all for your messages and apologies for keeping you on tenterhooks!

I am a little superstitious at the moment - and I am NEVER normally worried about all that tosh! But it seems that if I say things are going well we get hiccups. But you know what? I am going to fly in the face of danger and say HA! to fate - we are doing great!

Molly is fab. We finally got that biopsy - and the results? No infection, no rejection! Amazing! Wonderful! Her bloods are still a bit hooky, but apparently thats just her! So we had 3 weeks off over Christmas - no blood tests or doctors and it was BRILLIANT. So pleased. And her next set of bloods weren't bad either! Are we getting there? I like to think so. She is putting on weight, and is now, officially, pink. She has rosy cheeks.

She has just gone into a little bed now too. Aw! She loves it. She goes to playschool on a Tuesday and Thursday, ALL DAY.

Daisy is really growing up. Quite the young lady now (that ticker counter is wrong - I really must sort that out! She will be 7 in October). We have had our moments with her but its been a rotton time these last few years. Shes great fun most of the time and I love her company.

My sister in law has gone back to Aus - I am not going into detail but it was a stressful time for her and she is very sad, but has to reunite her two sons. I wish there was something I could do, but there isn't. Hopefully she knows that if there IS something....

Steptoe and Sons continue from strength to strength... .Shaun has named his new recycling/clearance business Cr*pAway which I think if FANTASTIC!! We hope to do much m ore of this and I will go into more detail in my next post.

So life is good and if it throws some Cr*p at me? Well then DILLIGAFF!! (for the uninitiated.... Do I Look Like I Give a Flying F.....).

p.s. my favourite joke: What do you call a frenchman in sandals? Philippe Philoppe....

Distractions/Actions/Tomatoes

2005-11-30T00:48:00.000Z

Another age since I posted. The reason for this? My brain has deserted my tired body in favour of someone else. Possibly an alien because I am sure its been running in an unknown language for some time now.

Its been a busy Autumn. The last time I wrote Molly was gearing up for another biopsy - this still hasn't happened. Thats because she got a bad cold. So it was postponed. Then she got a chest infection. So it was postponed. Then she got pneumonia. Funnily enough, it was postponed. And bizarrely, while she had pneumonia, her liver numbers were normal.

Now the explanation for this was that the immune system was being kept busy so it "forgot" to try and oust her lovely new liver. And, sure enough, the liver numbers rose, and rose.

But then she had another chest infection. So the biopsy was postponed. And then... the liver numbers have been kind of declining ever since.

I don't want to tempt fate and say, "thats it!" or "we're out of the woods" but perhaps we can see a chink of light. Her liver numbers this week are roughly the same as last week - that is, not too bad, getting towards normal.

So thats the distractions.

The actions?

Fun! My sister in law is over now with her little boy, Shae. Daisy and Shae had fun the first week, fought the second week and have now settled in wonderfully and, for the most part, play really well together. Its good! Of course I am having fun cos shes around to make me feel good - she always makes me smile.
Job! I got a job! 2 days a week and its fab. Very local, little office, big business - they best combination. Havne't been here long, but its nice to be "me".
Playschool! Molly would go all day every day. I didn't even have to stay with her on her trial day. Bless!
Karate! Nopes - haven't made it back yet. I'm trying, but its just not happening.

Tomatoes? Well, lets throw them at:

Sleepless nights. Yes, we are still having them
Nights out - babysitting impossible. Molly comes with us (so does Daisy).
Sick. Lots of it. Molly has been coughing till shes bad. And then Shaun is nearly bad. Nice.

I'm off now! Catch you later xxx

2005-09-26T21:38:00.000+01:00

What a crappy day. Waiting to do Molly's blood test results tomorrow so we know what we are up against, but Hospital is fairly certain we will be up the following week for another biopsy and a review of what they are going to do. fuckit. Whats worse is that the little girl I know that had her second transplant recently had been admitted to ICU andI have just heard she didn't make it. Poor little kid and her poor mum and gran (her gran looked after her a lot). Its just so unfair and sad. So Shaun and me had a big shouting match (not an argument, just letting off steam etc etc, we are fine) and are not angry or upset anymore, just BLAH. Its hard not to let it affect us and our outlook for Molly, but every child is so very different. There is another little girl I know who has just had her second transplant and is so very, very well its wonderful news. But how on earth will the other little girl''s mum cope without her? I wish there was something I could do to stop it from happening, but its already happened and I can't imagine what they are going through.

We just finished the two weeks of going up and down to Brighton twice a day. We got into the swing of it and it was OK. However, apparently there could still be some rejection too. I wish they would make up their minds. And I KNOW we shouldn't get cross with the hospital - we would be lost without them and they are doing an important job, but its so hard not to get cross sometimes. They can't tell you everything, but they do have to do some amazing u-turns sometimes. Its not their fault, its just bloody biology but its very frustrating.

We felt in limbo before, and Molly is so well in herself now, but we still feel stressed and in limbo. She looks so well and full of beans, it feels like time is a ticking bomb rushing past and I am SO scared that things will never settle down and we will lose her. Hey, here come the tears again - for someone who never cries I have certainly done a lot of it today. Its like a tap - everyone tells me I should have a good cry and I will "feel better" - what a load of bollocks!!! Once I start its on and off all day and I feel like hell!!! There, that DID make me smile!!!!

Three Cheers for Cock Ups!

2005-09-09T05:27:00.000+01:00

We no longer have to go to Kings for these mega immunosuppresive drugs! Thank GOD!! I was so worried as they would have had to keep her in isolation and she would have felt so awful.

The bottom line is that its probably not rejection - there was a virus test (for those of you with liver kids, see bottom of post for full explanation!) that the results were missed. When the test was repeated earlier this week the result came back this afternoon "highly infected with CMV". Yow!!! Which means 2 weeks of twice a day I.V. antibiotics but hey, I can live with that, jsut means alot of travelling a day but at least she doesn't have to stay in and...

ITS NOT REJECTION.

Phew.

Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Vanish Stain Remover

2005-09-07T21:07:00.000+01:00

Well the day started bizarely (see end of post). The dog (who is getting on a bit) got on the sofa overnight and left a rather unsavoury wet patch (hence the Vanish) and then Molly dropped a load of baby fruit on the carpet.

Took Daisy to school first thing then picked Molly up (still can't take her to the school) to take her down for blood tests in Brighton. Got stuck in bloody Cowfold for a quarter of an hour (I even turned off my engine) for no discernable reason apart from people fucking about and not paying attention.

Then got three quarters of the way over the downs only to be told bloody Dyke Road was shut at the bottom (thats where the hospital is) so I had to double back and go down the fragging motorway then all the way across again.

Got to the hospital and saw the phlebotomist fast. But the lab keeps getting confused so we had to try and sort out whether the result we had was for AST or ALT (quite similar, but react differently). So it took a while. And we still don't know.

Came back and accident was clear - hurrah! Then got stuck in bloody Cowfold again. Gah!!

Got home and new PC for next door had arrived so set that up and Molly had lunch with Granma and Grampy - ah! sweet!!! My mate turned up and I helped her with her Spanish homework (Senor, hay una tarantula debajo de mi bide)

Had to change Mollys rather icky nappy. She is very sore so I covered her in cream. Then she SHOWED me where she was sore and (turn away now if you are squeemish) stuck her finger up her bum. I don't think she meant to.... in fact I know by the look on her face that she didn't mean to, but you know, with the cream and everything.......

Picked up Daisy from school and from the minute she walked in the door she was living in Hype City bless her. I am nearly hoarse from telling her to "calm down Daisy" and "CALM DOWN DAISY!" and "FOR GODS SAKE SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT, Daisy". Then had to rush around because another set of people came to see the house. (ah, may have to further explain that in a later post!)

So poor little knackered hyped Daisy ended up going to bed early (eyes rolling!). I couldn't be arsed to cook by that time to killed two birds with one stone and took Molly out in the car to get a Kentucky (NOT exactly grown your own organic, but for GODS SAKE do I look like I give a shit tonight?!?!?!??!). Which was fine. Except that Molly fell asleep about halfway there and I had to go around the block about a TRILLION times to get a space RIGHT INFRONT of Kentucky so I could keep an eye on her.

Then things got better. Came home, Molly stayed asleep even when I put her into bed (hurrah!!!) and Daisy was asleep too. Ate said Kentucky and am now suffering from wind (you may laugh, but I know it happens to you too).

......... and what started off such a strange day?

I managed to flip my right hand side (or is that foot side?) flip flop off my foot and tread on one of the little stones that Jammy (the dog) brings in so that she can clean her teeth (don't ask - my friend Lisa thought she was having a fit once but she was just cleaning her teeth) and swore quite competently.

Therefore Molly now calls my trendy shoes my "b*stard flop flips".

Up Down Up Down

2005-09-07T06:58:00.000+01:00

Well I don't know! These blood tests..... Mollys numbers are up again, (ALT 233) so we are still in the "rejecting" period, although it is mild.

Bloods again tomorrow then, if they are still up or higher, up to London on Friday for the first of 3 i.v. doses of anti-rejection med (over a week but apparently we don't have to stay in).

I must say, it got to me this time. Those of you who read this blogg regularly will know that not alot gets me down, but Molly is SO well and the last vestiges of tummy upset had gone. We fully expected the numbers to be down and it was such a shock. Shes so well!!! Apparently her liver is just irritated but something and they are going to find out what. But by Christ its back to London Waiting!!!!!

On a much lighter but just as scary note, we got the house valued and it looks like a move is on the cards. And blow me, its not even on the market and we had someone see it today and someone coming tomorrow...... ARGH!!!!

Come on Molly!! Settle down little one!!!

The other good thing - new toy new toy! New PC!!! Its superfast with a nice big flat screen (not that my eyesight is failing but you know, I was 36 this year. It will be large print books soon).

So I wrote this blogg extra fast! Sorry no photos - haven't installed the software yet (been spending all night trying to sort out AOL!!! Will be changing to Tiscali very soon - new email will be published here!)

Night!

London 'Waiting'

2005-08-24T05:17:00.000+01:00

Off to London tomorrow. Molly's blood test results were a bit screwy, and we are dealing with probably rejection. Hey, don't panic, apparently its pretty usual around this time after transplant.

There was another little one in the same time as Moll and she was in last week with the same thing and went home yesterday, so that was reassuring.

So, we leave at 6.30 in the morning (gadzooks - when the hell AM I going to get any sleep?), bloods at 9 sharp, ultrasound at 9.30. Nothing to eat past 7.30 and no fluids a couple of hours after that. Then, hopefully if a doctor can be found, a biopsy around noon which will mean results tomorrow tea time. If too late then we will have to wait until tea time thursday. In Camberwell, with f*ck all to do. Waiting waiting bloody waiting.

Then if its rejection, 3 days of steroids and home when her numbers settle down. If not, GOD knows, I will let you know!

So, thats it. Not a lot of light relief yet. Apart from a brilliant email from my long lost neice that started Auntie Lu...... Thanks Neice you make me grin!!

Oh, one more thing - Daisy went off on a little summer jaunt with her best mate to Bexhill on Sea! She went yesterday, it was on the spur of the moment and she comes back tomorrow - it all conjurs up a wonderful Enid Blyton kind of summer - Daisy and her mate, the slightly older sister and the little younger brother - all having a Famous Five type of time in pools, lakes, beaches, little trains.... I am so pleased and proud!!! I had to rush around and pack all sorts of bits and bobs for her - its was, in Enid Blyton-esque "all terribly exciting".

Non Starter for Ten

2005-08-21T01:23:00.000+01:00

Do you know, I feel that crap today that the only thing I could rouse myself to do this afternoon is update the blog.

But I just can't be arsed.

After 3 years and 3 nights of sleep (that is NOT an exaggeration) all I want to do is sleep. And escape the kids, the housework, and the humdrum. And my waistline (or lack of it).

No More Sicky-Poo

2005-08-20T06:05:00.000+01:00

Now I was just re-reading the previous post about Moll's transplant and how poorly she was that week. I thought I had better let you know what happened there!

The hospital gave Molly Immodium to counteract the diarrhoea. Once I stopped it (it wasn't working, lets face it), the poos started becoming normal (I know -eeeewww - but when you have a kid with liver disease you become poo obsessed). And, more bizarrely, the tantrums stopped. Just like that. She has had a couple this week, but totally different really, "do-able".

And she is eating loads. She needs to drink more, which we seemed to get on top of today anyway. So there you go. Mini Update.

Where in La-La Land Exactly AM I?

2005-08-20T02:10:00.000+01:00

Its a strange time. Molly is exceptionally well - amazingly well - fantastically fantastic and I adore her. She is playing, running, laughing, being cheeky, doing horrendous nappies and laughing. She is sleeping (well, if you can call it that) in the bottom bunk with Daisy.... and yet we are only a few weeks after she has had a liver transplant. Its a miracle.

And yet..... its still a see-saw. Her blood tests have been perfect... until this week. So we are looking at a probably biopsy later next week/early the following week. Exactly - we are WAITING again. Its a normal part of liver transplant and we were told to expect one or two of these times at least ...... and yet....... BLERGH.

Do I have to explain any more? Probably not. I am thankful, grateful, ecstatic that she is so well and so happy. And yet I am low, tired, washed out and world weary.

We were thinking of booking a holiday for the end of October. Everytime things start looking positive, something else looms.

There is some more amazing news that puts a MASSIVE smile on my face! My niece, who we haven't been able to have contact with, has been in contact with her mum, my sister in law and best mate. Along with the rest of the family I have been waiting for this day and I can't stop grinning! I have the pictures she sent all over the place and she looks SO much like her mum it took me back to our teen years and made me laugh and smile! I can't WAIT to meet her and hope that she feels OK and not scared - her mum is amazing and fun and loving and she will adore her I am sure! That, of course, is a load of WAITING OVER!!! 14 years of waiting! FANTASTIC!!!! She was this little chubby blonde 3 year old leaping over my sofa shouting Stuck! Stuck! when she got her sock stuck on the edge and was dangling upside down. Now she is 17, absolutely georgeous and learning to drive.

And heres another equally brilliant thing - I haven't seen her for 5 YEARS! But my best mate, her mum, my sister in law is COMING OVER FOR 3 MONTHS!!! God are we going t have a ball. We can reminice again about me being 5, with a plum in my mouth meeting her brother (my hubby now!) for the first time and uttering the immortal words "My names Luthinda and I want a Pony".

So there I am smiling again, after all these strange days this week. There are downs and ups, ups and downs and life goes round and round and round - but my God I can ALWAYS find something to laugh about!!!! The day I can't I must have been taken over my aliens, cos its just not me and I don't stay down for long.

Even thinking that I have to go to Camberwell for another week with Moll I have been plotting - she only needs to be in for bloods and 1 dose of IV a day - which means we can go down to the crummy charity shop in Camberwell which is like an amazing Aladdins cave - we kitted ourselves out for 6 weeks there and now I can go "gold panning" there again!

Ah well. Time to put the kids in the bath. Mmm. Could be interesting............................! Wet floor and wet Lu here we come (now I could be rude here but there is absolutely no hint of that on the bloody horizon for f*ck it).

p.s. I got home and rebelled. My hair is now, officially, Pillarbox Red and I love it.

Tom and Barbara

2005-08-11T06:29:00.000+01:00

Now I just have to add another post that is only semi related to transplants, if only for the time I wasn't here!

If you have read my blogg you will know that I have been attempting to fill my patio with foodstuffs that I have grown and the occasional pretty thing like flowers and bits of corn.

Of course, everything bloomed while I was in London for 6 weeks! Bah!!!! Mum in law kindly sent me some piccies which was brill!

However, I have successfully grown two cucumbers in my "multi" pot. God knows how many tomatoes in the top of the multi pot - all green at the mo. Will they ripen? Who knows! Strawberry plants in the sides were a bit smothered. So I tied up the toms with my reel of twine that I got for my birthday and trimmed all the old crap off with my new secateurs. Marvellous!

We dug up my tub of potatoes and they are brill! Lovely new spuds and we ate some last night and they were SCRUMMY! (look, Molly may have been sick afterwards but that was just co-incidence OK!?!?!).

My stocks got drowned cos they had no drainage hole. My spuds were the same but apparently that was good for them as the soil was fine. Sunflowers are sky high and just about to bloom. My herbs have gone mad, as have my verbena and lobelia and my sweet peas out the front have two blooms. Mmmmm. They smell yummy.

Just thought I would tell you. Not that I am boasting. Just I GREW STUFF AND WE CAN EAT IT! How Cool is that?

All Change! New Baby.....

2005-08-11T06:18:00.000+01:00

This is NOT going to be the upbeat post I thought it was! However maybe recounting the miracle might put things into perspective?!

Molly finally got her transplant! I can't believe it, as these last couple of days we are having a bit of a nightmare again, but I digress and will start from the beginning.

I got the call Monday 27th June when I was at Tescos, halfway round with a full trolley! We dashed back home and waited for an hour for the ambulance. So I called the co-ordinators, who were somewhat horrified that we were still in Sussex! I asked if the team had gone out yet and was the liver viable. The answer came: Yes! Its here and Amy is already out of theatre...

(Now I must explain about Amy of course! Amy and Molly are the same blood group and although a fair few years apart in age, birthdays are only a day apart! We always wanted Amy to have a big lobe and Molly to have a small one. So the fact that Amy was already out of theatre..... )

Well the ambulance came after some heavy verbal artillery from Kings and we were blue lighted up to London (it was an ambulance car - cool!). That is most definitely the only way to travel through London thats for sure! Throughly enjoyed the ride. Molly slept through all the sirens etc until we got to the hospital. Then a fire engine went passed and she woke up!

We were in theatre within the hour - amazing! Great actually - we didn't have that awful wait to see if the liver was viable and no hanging around on the ward waiting to go down - it was all whoosh bang go go go!! Once we got over the initial minute of emotion at letting her go into theatre, there was a big AH! from both of us. The relief of a liver finally being suitable and no more watching our child get sicker day by day right in front of our eyes - I can't tell you how relieved we were unless you have a sick child yourself. Its amazing.

And then 6 hours later (yes only 6!) we had her back again. They had a bit of trouble getting the old liver out - lots of adhesions etc. But once it was out it was all plain sailing. As of to date, the graft (liver) itself has been consistently good. One less thing to worry about! It was a good match for her.

24 hours later, Molly was back on the general ward. She took her vent out herself so they had to hurry things along somewhat! We did have a few issues with pain relief, but it got sorted in the end.

2 weeks later and they were talking about discharging us! Now that WAS scary - bit too soon. What they did do was discharge us to a flat for a few days. (Explain: The Rhys Daniels trust was set up by the parents of two children with health problems. The trust buys flats nearby to the hospitals so enable families to stay together. It was brilliant and a complete lifeline.)

Then the trouble started! Nothing too major, we have been lucky. But Molly did get a load of fluid - a bile leak for those in the know. This is due to Moll having a "cut down" liver. It has a raw edge that has to heal and it just took its time! Poor baby had 500ml (about a pint) in there at one point, all infected. So 3 drains later..... and a little infection, and a tummy bug...

We came home on Friday after spending a few days at the flats. She is AMAZING. Skinny little thing at the moment as she is still having bad diarrheoa and is occasionally sick. But she is running, climbing, laughing - its wonderful to see.

We are going up tomorrow for a check up and an ultrasound to check for fluid. The main trouble we are having is that she is not eating or drinking hardly anything (although that has been slightly better today) and has lost loads of weight. She is also having TREMENDOUS tantrums. Now that could be seen as a good thing. Indeed when it started we were pleased she had the confidence and energy to throw her weight around a little. Unfortunately these have built to around 6 today, lasting anywhere between 10 mins and 1 hour. They come on fast and she really gets incredibly upset - almost to the point of making her sick. We are wondering if its the steroids.

So tomorrow hopefully answers some questions - or poses more. And yes, this has put things in perspective a little. She is so much better health wise - its just that we are exhausted from worry and lack of sleep. (No, she isn't sleeping yet!).

We are so very glad our little girl is on the mend but god, I hope she starts eating and drinking soon. She WAS eating and drinking LOADS after the op - I couldn't stop her! Its just tailed off slowly but surely over the last 2 weeks. She was looking chubby and full of fun - now she is tired and angry. Not what we want for her. But she no longer has Biliary Atresia!!! And no longer has a huge tummy. We don't have to worry about bleeds or dehydration (well, not as much). She is fantastic and I am in total awe of the surgeons. Thank you all.

p.s. did I mention the bombs???? I am sure you are all aware London was bombed - Kings College was somewhat in the middle of the trouble area - suspects everywhere and the man that was shot (was it 5 or 8 times in the end?), well that was a mile down the road. Lots of sirens/raids/explosions that just weren't on the news. Scary stuff.

Ooo-La-La

2005-06-27T04:35:00.000+01:00

Nothing much occurring our end really. Still waiting for little Molly to get her liver. She is doing OK at the moment and seems quite perky although she does get tired quickly.

Shaun and I have started a RHS (Royal Horticultural Society no less!) course level 2 in horticulture. We had a look at all the general gardening courses but thought, well, in for a penny in for a pound. So we went the whole hog and should end up with some qualifications at the end of it - if we pass!

So the course work turned up the other day. Cr*pping Hell!!!! Read the first page 3 times and didn't understand a word of it. Got a whole host of words to learn including thallophyllic (NOT phallothyllic Lucie, whoops....), cryptogams, monocotyledons and dicotyledons and thats only the very beginning. But we ARE enjoying it and its nice to study together. Just a tad daunting!

Karate is going well and I have lost a lot of "size" and the weight it dropping now too. I love it and could throw myself into it totally. My Sensei wants to get me back to grading where I was, thats 6th kyu (green belt) to those in the know. Its going to be hard work but I am so enjoying it. Its done me the world of good to get out there and forget, well almost forget, all the stresses that life is throwing at me at the moment. Mind you I have to keep the phone of in case the call comes in for Molly, and the phone going off (I have it set to "Rooster") usually cracks everyone up while I am running around like the headless chicken itself just in case its "The Call".

Do you know, I really haven't been up to much else? Quelle surprise. Oh, did go into town yesterday and surprised myself. It was the French annual market and of course I had to have a look. My sunglasses exploded on the way in the car (don't ask) so I tried to find a pair on the Mr French stall for a fiver. Found the style but the colour I wanted was buggered up (arm hanging out to one side). So I said "Je te donnez trois, et je l'arregle". Not perfect. But I got them for £3. Bent the arm back and?

mais tres bien!!!

Strawberry Fayre

2005-06-18T05:58:00.000+01:00

Oh dear - its been a while, which means I have loads to write. Which won't happen of course! You know me. So a quick run down...

Still enjoying having Daisy off school, if a bit hectic! I am not as bad a teacher as I first thought. We are doing things our way, with some help from the school, and enjoying it very much. And if I have a little trouble gettng her to do stuff, I just made her laugh by saying terrible things like "crappy maths! come on! I'm bored and this is pants. Count the blimmin fish and lets go and play!". Probably not the best strategy but hey, what do I care? Shes counting the f*cking fish.

We did the school trip - they were going Tuesday so we went Monday. And the wonderous Terri (Molly's Dr in Brighton's secretary is married to the manager of Brighton Pier (got that tenuous connection?)) and gave us SHED LOADS of free ride tickets. My mate Lisa came with me and, wonder of wonders, Molly was on top form and was more than happy to spend time with Lisa, which meant I got time to spend with DAISY!! Yay! Which meant, 4 rides on the log flume without even getting out of the boat - round and round and round and round. Daisy wrote in her news book: I went to Brighton and I went on the log ride four times. We got wet and Mummy screamed. mmm. Not sure where the SeaLife featured in her day out, probably not where it should have! (Molly loved the fish tho! So did Daisy actually.)

We also went on something called the Galaxian which was amazingly hectic and the funniest ride I have been on for years. The school trip stopped at the Peter Pan playground. Which looked so tame after the Galaxian that Daisy wasn't even remotely interested in it. Ah. Oops.

Also went on the trampoline!!!! Haven't done that for YEARS! Pulled muscles!! Found my pelvic floor muscles... didn't exist........... eeeeewwwww!!!!!

All in all had the best day out for a long time.

Then yesterday it was up to Kings for Molly's checkup. Took Daisy with us. And it was a very positive day - she is better all round that last months panicky trip and is holding her own with the fluid in the belly thing - without her medication. And she has put on weight (not just weight in liver, fat and muscle). And grown. So that was brill. Then we came home on the train and stopped at Gatwick for tea. Pizza Express.... we tried again and No! daisy didn't throw up at all. Fantastic. She ate a whole junior pizza and the biggest ice cream in the world. Molly took me into the bag shop which was a terrible mistake. I didn't buy one tho! Only cos I was feeling stubborn and didn't want to be too predictable. And now I am sad.

Tomorrow is the village fair. I am taking Daisy in the afternoon and leaving Molly with Shaun et al. Can't wait! Should be fun.

As for strawberries - yes, they are growing. One is almost red! and I bought stocks last weekend which are growing in one of those funky tub things. And my potatoes have gone mad, which is a bit scary kind of like triffids in a pink tub. Bit obscene really.

Tomorrow morning sees the weekly visit to Horsham market and the vegetable man, which means, of course, that I will buy some plants from him. he usually sells about 6 in a pack that he has pre-grown for about £1.50. Surprise plants! But where can I put them? If I put much more on my patio we won't be able to get out there. Oh well. I like living in a jungle, me.

Hi-Yah!!

2005-06-09T00:30:00.000+01:00

Oh yeah! Forgot to say - took my courage in my hands and went back to karate after a 13 year break!

It wasn't nearly so bad as I thought it would be. I am NOT as unfit as I was when I first started (which is a miracle as I was 21), and I haven't forgotton too much - just really rusty!

I was fine yesterday (the day after) but a bit sore today. Nothing too much apart from my knee which I twisted due to bad technique. Was going tomorrow night, but now I am not so sure as I don't want to do too much damage to my knee - fancy doing it the first night!!

I am really pleased to be training again and its nice to have something (or someone!) to take my frustration out on. I definitely benefitted from it. And I should lose even more weight. Bought new jeans the next size down the other day, so it may be slow, but it IS coming off!!

Belly-Full

2005-06-09T00:16:00.000+01:00

A day of changes! After speaking to the hospital in light of their panic when chickenpox once removed was mentioned, we have decided to keep Daisy off from school for the meantime. If, God forbid, Molly still isn't "done" by September Daisy will go back as it is her first proper year (she is in Reception at the moment) and I am concerned she won't get back into the swing of things. So Mummy is now "Mrs Wilby" - teacher extraordinaire!

I have had to get organised (groan!!!). It means giving her day some structure, following on with the school work as much as I can and keeping her from running wild/emptying the larder out of boredom. Its been quite hard explaining to friends that I can't keep chatting on the phone. Do you know, I could quite easily ban incoming calls? I love email its so much more civilised! I know I know, born a hermit......

On a more serious note, Molly's Sprinolactone (for fluid in her belly) was stopped the other week as they were concerned about her high potassium (we don't want to buggger up her kidneys). Its taken a while but as of yesterday, and getting worse, Molly's belly is absolutely huge. We are going up to Kings next Thursday so providing it doesn't get much worse we will hang on till then. Fingers crossed please!

Finally planted my strawberries etc. Have a tall strawberry pot with 2 strawberry plants, 2 cucumber plants and a tomato plant in the top. Yum!!!!

Achey Breaky Heart

2005-06-04T01:43:00.000+01:00

Another day gone - shwammmm - new lightsaber added to the collection. We now have Luke Skywalker, Samuel Jackson ("Jedi in his own right, he is") and Annakin Skywalker (boo! hiss!! includes impossible maze puzzle.)

Boring day at home, then had a nice visit from my mate that cheered me up! Molly went for her nap this morning and I thought - brill!!! time for a bath (she goes down for 2-3 hours). Ran the bath.... Molly woke up. Argh. But then Tash came and we spent a nice afternoon together which really cheered me up and chilled me out.

Daisy went to my mums until Sunday - I will miss her but she does have fun. Her other Grandma took her and they all spent some time together with Daisy was over the moon about!

Molly took over her quota of milk - in fact 100ml over! That might not mean much to some of you, but those of you with sick kids with rejoice! And then, top this, ate a bowl full of pasta! Again, a Molly bowl - probably 3 to 4 tablespoons, maybe a little more, but ALL GONE! Due to no nap, she went to bed at 5pm - so did the invoices, had my tea, writing this blogg. Then I will do Shauns tea and have a bath.

THEN

I am going line dancing. tum te tum te tum. no giggling at the back.

Star Wars Schmar Wars

2005-06-03T07:31:00.000+01:00

With Star Wars III all the rage and little lightsabers everywhere, it was only a matter of time before my two little girls turned into Jedi Warriors full of mischif-chlorians.

Two mini lightsabers from cereal packets later and they "schwoom, shwam"-ing around each other. Which is really funny, especially with Molly doing it. With her lovely yellow-green skin tone at the moment and the fact that she is so weenie.....

Yoda lives.

Droopy Drawers

2005-06-01T05:27:00.000+01:00

And there went another day - whooosh!!! We all seem to be back on an even-keel this afternoon. Yesterday felt a bit like the day after your holiday - all hanging about with nothing to do.

Molly made me laugh today - came over to me at the pc and started shouting "PANTS! PANTS!" Well, it took me AGES to work it out! She had some jeans on that were a tad to big for her and had fallen down under her bum. Apparently that is PANTS!!! I would kind of agree with her. I had a similar thing all day - my jeans are a bit big now (note the smug tone to that last sentence) and my belt was in the wash, so it was PANTS all day!!!!!

We finally realised why she is not eating and no, its not just because she needs a new liver! She is teething - poor kid! Thats the trouble with these little ones, they are so tolerant of pain that I didn't realise. So she has all four big back teeth coming through. For some reason to do with the liver thing, her teeth are very small and extremely sharp and pointy - so her poor little gums were bleeding. She also has terrible nappy rash. Calpol Calpol Calpol we love you (although Molly hates it - bizarre! All these gross meds she takes and she screams at calpol.... wierd).

We have also found that she is attached to certain things and hates change. She FINALLY wore her new slippers today that I bought her for her birthday - I had to hide the old ones until she forgot about them!!! She has to have her pink coat, and her stripey cardy (I have put it in the wash 3 times and she keeps dragging it out!). I am really pleased that I bought an extra pink blanky dog when I realised how attached she was to it. I keep swapping them over so neither is too new and have one in the transplant bag.

Right, off to do some knitting. Gah!!!

They Were Right Before! The Earth is Actually Flat (super mega mix v. 3)

2005-05-30T18:00:00.000+01:00

Amazingly, Molly went to bed at 3.30 in the afternoon and didn't get up until 6am! That includes the usual milk stops every 3 hours or so, but really not too bad - we were all SO tired after yesterday.

Got up this morning feeling out of sorts and two dimensional - all of us just a bit snappy! Now, having had breakfast and writing in my blogg I felt a lot better. Having just started it for the 3rd time - snappy is winning again!!

The sun is still out at the mo (forecast thundery showers - nice!) and we have a few things to do. Washing (yuk does it ever end) and then we are getting the kids summer things out of the loft - cue thunder - put the winter ones up in the loft, and Shaun said he would help me change the curtains - hurrah!!!

Then, if the weather holds, I am going out on the patio! Yes, I am still trying to kill things in pots - I now have more things to put in - 2 strawberry plants (have got a special pot for that already apparently!), 2 cucumber plants , a tomato plant and two sets of mini plants I got from the Daily Mail - now theres a thing, they came in the post half dead! So - ta da! - I revived them in my lasagne dish! And they are fine! Its a miracle. So had absolutely no choice but to buy two more hanging baskets to put them in. And then theres a little mauve daisy plant that looked pretty. mmm. Ordered a little gardening kit from the paper too - no doubt that will come when I have finished/killed everything! I haven't actually killed anything yet, although I did spray my rose with a weak soap to kill the greenfly (as advised!!) and then noticed something was eating my herbs - so sprayed them too. Not sure if that was a good idea or not! Soapy marjoram possibly not great.......... . Wanted to buy ladybirds and a ladybird house, but soap was far cheaper!!!

Daisys sunflowers are growing and I have planted my sprouting potatoes in a big pink plastic trug/tub thing. My own mini garden on the patio! Shaun is going to make me some window boxes too - how twee is that?!?

The wildflowers outside Daisy’s playhouse that we fenced off look wonderful - I weeded out the grass and left anything vaguely pretty and it does look nice. The foxgloves by the house are huge this year and are just starting to flower - mauve/pink colour. Amazing!

I put on 2lb during the week but today, weighing day (groan), I have lost one of them (where did it go? where did it come from? it must have been a stray needing a temporary home).

PLEASE feel free to leave messages on my blogg ! It amuses me! My email is luciewilby@aol.com if you need it when you try to leave a message. I don't like the "messages 0" thing its depressing. And no, I don't offend, lifes too short. If you say something offensive thats up to you - its your problem not mine

Away Day

2005-05-30T03:33:00.000+01:00

Gah! Got the call yesterday afternoon for Molly's new liver! Amazing! Had about 10 minutes to get our sh*t together..... gah gah gah!!!

Had a hectic ride in an ambulance (Daisy was impressed - it was flourescent yellow) up to London. 2 hours and lu-lu came out flourescent green (Yuk, no windows....). Up to the ward where they put her cream on and sent us for an x-ray (no forms, so half an hour later ward nurse flinging her weight about we got the x-ray). Back up to Mountbatten ward for swabs (Molly thought the ones up her nose were most amusing but was absolutely outraged by throat and groin!!!). Then 3 attempts by ward Dr to get canula in. After bruising two hands and an un-anaesthestised foot Shaun told her to sling her hook (well, nicely I add - which is amazing for him) and got the Registrar in. Had to be in the foot of course, but we "iced" it with spray and she went in first time no probs. Why do that have to practise on kids?

Then came the wait... wait... wait. 1.15pm the news came that the liver was NOT suitable -too fatty. Gah Gah Gah. So we spent the night, catching an hour or so of sleep. Molly was disconnected from her drip and came in bed with me for a while. Then we had to wait for the Dr to give us the all clear and go home. We got home about 12.45pm.

And now? I could go to bed!!! We don't feel too let down - we knew it was a possibility. Actually I feel better for having been - I have "edited" the hospital bags - I now have stuff I will actually need in there!!! And I know what to expect. And, of course, it feels one step closer and I don't feel so panicky.

Ask me next week how I feel and no doubt it will be..... panicky - "will the liver ever come?". But for now...........

its close

Pavement Pizza

2005-05-25T05:35:00.000+01:00

Shit day/night////life! But is all started so well....

Took Moll for bloods this morning which actually went very well and very fast (phlebotomist - always good!). Had a day in Brighton which was very nice. Picked Daisy up from school, got home, and got Daisy changed into her new uniform and off to Rainbows to Enrol - cute! Stayed the session with Molly who enjoyed it as well. Made Rainbow fish.

Then the plan was to take them out for tea to Pizza Express - which we tried to do. Walked into the restaurant, got to the table, Daisy threw up before we sat down. I cleaned it up, we left.

Hmm. Thought she was car sick so went for a little walk. Decided on fish and chips (oh great, just what I need on a diet, but didn't like to argue!!!). Picked them up. Drove halfway home. Stopped once cos Daisy felt ill. Carried on. Daisy then sick three times in the back of the car. EEEEWWWW.

Got home, Shaun cleaned the car while I cleaned the kids. Took Daisy to bed after putting Molly in her bed. Daisy sick again, extremely neatly, in her heart shaped bucket. Much easier than in the car I must say. Very tidy.

So shes got a bug! Argh! Which of course is well dodgy with Molly, as if she gets vomiting or diarreah she has to go to hospital for fluids because the artery leading into her liver has extremly high pressure. If the pressure falls blood can't get into the liver and cells start dying off i.e. mega infection. So if she gets it I will be spending a while in the hospital. Marvellous.

Got cross with Shaun. Shaun got cross with me. Going to bed. Why can't they PHONE????? Where is her liver???

scoubie-doubie-doo

2005-05-24T03:16:00.000+01:00

Hmm. Whats to report? Well, skipping aside, the next big thing appears to be scoubie-dou - for those uninitiated when they were at school way back when, its the "art" of knotting plastic strings together to make, well, knotted bits of plastic. Pretty colours though. Hang them off your bag/round your neck etc. You apparently can make animals etc, but have yet to see any emerge. Needless to say, with an impatient 5 year old wanting to do them, I have been making a few myself. And found myself strangely addicted......

Molly had a visit to Kings College Hospital again last week. She is OK but some aspects of her disease are slightly worse. I am not going to go into it to much, suffice to say we are feeling the pressure of waiting and are wondering how long she can manage this disease as well as she is - she is fairly exceptional in the way she is coping. That said, she had lost weight so they upped the concentration of her prescription milk and we have stopped worrying about "meals" - she has such a tiny tummy she can hardly fit anything in (unless we go out for tea - then she manages a whole jumbo sausage to herself!!!). And yes, I really think she has put some weight on. Well I am sure she has.

The new pills are working well and have started today after advice from my mate Kay, to take Soy Lecithin to try and break down a possible fatty liver. Grand weight loss total: 10lb. Yay!

And thats it. Off to Brighton tomorrow for blood tests (long story, last week at Kings was a bit of a cock up with a new doctor and LFTs didn't get done) and a days shopping. Was going Wednesday but no electricity all day tomorrow so thought I might as well go out!

Daisy is getting enrolled (finally!) into Rainbows tomorrow which Iwill go and watch. Then we are going out for dinner, Daddy's treat. That will be GREAT! We haven't been for a very long time.

Ta-Ra!!

Chunky Mooey

2005-05-13T00:42:00.000+01:00

Ah another day dawns. Moll still awake about every hour and a half, weather sunny but bloody cold wind. Brrr.

Felt low again today, but diet was going well! Got cleaned up a bit after the panic that was the birdhouses. Well, the kitchen at least. Watered the plants and planted the sweet peas in the butler sink outside the front door.

Molly was due to go to playschool, but they have a bout of tummy bugs so to avoid a stay in hospital we stayed home. Took her for a ride on her trike down the track which she thoroughly enjoyed.

Then we went to pick up Daisy from school, with the idea that seeing as I had to go to the village to pick up Molly's medicine I would treat them at the sweet shop and take them to the tea room. All of which we did, apart from a detour to actually visit the doctor after Molly fell flat on her mooey (crack! Thought she had broken her nose...) on the way to school. She has nearly bitten through her top lip - looks a right mess! But it stopped bleeding and it doesn't seem to worry her unduly. Apart from looking like a chimp with colagen injections that is.

These are the days......

The Wilby Juniors - Fun in La-La Land

2005-05-11T21:36:00.000+01:00

The Wilby Juniors - Fun in La-La Land

NOT Fun in La-La Land, I can tell you!

2005-05-11T21:27:00.000+01:00

Well, Molly is now 2 and has had a birthday. She had great fun. But we are STILL waiting. I know they have told me that she is actually in better shape now than she was but hey, she is still waiting.

She isn't sleeping at all well now. She woke up now with "T-ache, T-ache" - Tummy ache to you and me. Of course she gets tummy ache - poor little baby.

But she is OK. She's just fed up like the rest of us. I know it will happen, but it feels like it will never happen.

I am still trying to lose weight - I have lost another 1lb. Wa-hey. Its just not coming off. The Dr gave me some tablets that, ahem, will make you go to the loo if you eat fat - it stops you digesting it. However, seeing as I am not eating fat they aren't doing anything to me! Which is good, I suppose!! But the weight isn't coming off either. 1lb comes off, then it goes back on. I just wish I knew whether or not I would be suitable if I could lose the weight - I am sure it would help.

Anyway! Its a doom and gloom post. But! We HAVE been making bird boxes, and they look great! The local gardens have taken them for their gift shop, together with hand painted plant labels and greetings stabbers - its been a very busy week which is tiring, but worth it. I took them this morning, so am hopefully going to have a quieter end of week! We did 7 boxes.

Thats it! I am cold and tired. I want a bath and bed, but its 9.32pm and we have some estimates to do too. Gah.

The Weekend Good Life

2005-04-24T06:45:00.000+01:00

Not a bad day today - if hectic. Got up at dawn (thanks Moll) and then got up and ready to get to the Farmers Market in Horsham. I like to be there about 8.30 but it was lashing down with rain so we hung on!

The market was good. Only one of each type there, but the veggy man was great. Bought, for the grand sum of £7 - purple sprouting brocolli (yum!), 2 cucumbers, bag tomatoes (v nice!), 3 onions (bit wet, was raining), celery, 4 jonagold apples, 1 big bag cox apples, 1 parsnip, er, 1 small cauliflower, 1 bag "big" carrots, 1 large bunch of carrots (new ones, lovely!). then I went to M&S (cop out!) and bought an iceberg lettuce cos I am addicted to them.

Tipped the buggy up once (it was really heavy - Moll really needs to put on some weight). Bought the kids cheese straws, ate one (ARGH!!!). Bought Moll a birthday present (she wouldn't let it go - I had absolutely no choice).

Got back with loads of time (managed to get back to the car park pay machine 2 mins before the next price hike - result! (I always get stuffed up by getting there 2 minutes after)). Then everything ground to a halt. Put Moll down for a nap, ate lunch with Daisy and watched Spiderman (ffwd the nasty bits!! ). Moll woke up. THEN - 2 haircuts turned up that I had forgotton about. So I am £15 richer, but the house is still a TIP.................

ah well. If the dirt on the kitchen floor gets much deeper at least I can grow my veggies indoor.......

Baby in Waiting

2005-04-20T17:34:00.000+01:00

What a weird day. Dropped Daisy at school this morning and took off to town to pick up some stuff - mainly to look for a fleece jacket (its COLD in the mornings in the playground but not cold enough for a coat). Of course, even though I could see my breath in the air, all the shops were selling bikinis, cut offs and thongs (shoes and pants!). Neither of which would look good on a COLD overweight 35 year old. Wonderful.

However, I did end up with more plates. NOT that I need them. Its just they were sitting in the charity shop and were a complete bargain. Spode and georgeous. So I bought them. Argh. And a bag of clothes for Molly too which were even more of a bargain. And a pair of Jodhpurs to sell on eBay which were almost perfect. And then I went and bought Shaun's benecol yoghurt. And came home.

And then tidied the kitchen. Then got Daisy. All the while kind of "waiting". Waiting for the blood test results to come in but mainly waiting for Shaun to come home (not used to him being away at work!) and mostly for a liver. Now please.

And the kids? Driving me MENTAL.

Weird day.

La La London

2005-04-20T07:08:00.000+01:00

A day in London today! Got to Kings College Hospital around 12.30. Saw the Dr, did bloods, ultrasound, Vit E jab and spoke to co-ordinator. Weight and height - both increased (Molly has put on fat and muscle - hooray!). Ultrasound was pretty much the same as before and she has hardly any fluid hanging about in her belly (amazing). They are pleased with her and are still amazed that she is eating relatively well - long may it continue.

They haven't done any transplants on the kids side for about 3 weeks and Molly is still up in first place - fingers crossed it won't take long.

I had my blood results too. My cholesterol is 5 which is normal (yay!) and all my other blood tests are good too! So we are continuing with the diet for 2-3 months then, if god forbid Molly is still waiting, we can run some more tests on me to see how suitable I am as a donor.

We then hit rush hour, so decided to detour to Nando's for dinner. Lovely yum yum! Got back to my organic veg delivery -not bad at all except only 4 apples when we get through 12 a week. Hmm. Also email from farmers market info - one in Horsham most Saturdays so am going to try there this week and see how it compares. How hard can it be?

To top a strange day off - I went back and put in all the stuff I had eaten today (hmm including a Twix - not good!) but have found I am only 2points over which can be rectified tomorrow. Amazing! Thank god I joined WW again - if only to keep me sane.

Now I just have to find out how to cook the Celeriac - thanks Delia, looks like I can roast it!!! Have something else too - Kol Rabi - better look that up too....... night night!!!

2005-04-18T23:51:00.000+01:00

We are trying to "go the Good Life". It probably won't surprise anyone that knows us thats for sure! We have planted (well Shaun planted I did a bit of raking and put some seeds in holes when Moll was asleep!) our veg - french beans, broad beans, spinach, peas, and some other stuff I can't remember (some in trays!). Can't wait for it all to start coming up!

Next year we will "do" our own chickens too. Did you know that even if you buy organic chicken it still gets bumped off in the same plant as the disease ridden stuff and dipped into the same hot water as all the other chickens???? Yuk. So we want to do our own. Well, Shaun will have to do the nasty bit! I'm too chicken (groan!)

Other than that, tomorrow I get my first "organic veg and fruit box" delivered! Works out about the same price and its as local as it can be. Cool!

God life is very humdrum other than that. Its just waiting about for Moll really. Daisy joined Rainbows last week which is very sweet and she enjoys it very much! Its like pre-Brownies. She will still be riding too which is good. Since the weather has been better I haven't seen her for dust! Out riding her bike, or working with Daddy or Grampy or just bumming about outside here and there. Everything that I wanted for her.

The school is improving too. FINALLY they are installing electric gates which is BRILL. (Dids got locked outside in the playground (not secure) which was scary. So now the kids can't get out and no-one can get in without permission. About time too!!! Her teacher is back on form and they are learning well. Altogether I am happier about her schooling and don't have to worry anymore. Well, for the time being anyway!

We are still thinking about a move to the West Country. Obviously we can't do anything until Moll is "cooked" and stable but then, lookout! I think it would be good for all of us. Mum has also been thinking of moving for ages - anywhere from Norfolk, France, Gloucestershire etc. Now we are thinking of West Country she is too which would be brilliant. I would love us all to go there together. The Hospital say they will still treat Moll even if we live down there so thats good too. Hopefully we won't have to make the trip too often.

Shaun has struck out on his own now - he is doing the Handyman thing which he loves. To quote "Small building work, gardening, property maintenance, incomplete diy projects, clearance (house, garage, shed etc)". We want to do the clearance and re-sell thing cos we love it!!!

Blah Night Ahead

2005-04-18T21:10:00.000+01:00

Well, its 21.10 and the kids are in bed. Have been up to Daisy 3 times but she is settled now. Have been up to Molly 3 times too but am feeling that we are in for a rough night. Ah well. Off to Kings again tomorrow. So am going to read for a while and then head up for BED!!!

Shaun had an excellent find in the skip where he works today - some Epson toners, new, for a colour laser printer! Cool!! 2 of. Worth £114 new. Will hang on for a while just in case someone needs them back!!! Otherwise, eBay here we come.......

What else? Nearly burnt the house down again.... left the back burner on my shitty cooker, but unfortunately had put the electric hot pot on the hob to serve up....... ooops. Shitty meal too!!!

Yoghurty ice cream was nice though! (low cal)

Diet for Molly not going well at all. Weighing myself again Wednesday but it looks like in 2 weeks I have lost the grand some of, wait for it, 2lb. Fantastic. Really should be able to reach my "'I've lost 3 stone" target in the next 3-4 months and help Moll out by being a live donor. NOT. So, Weightwatchers site here we come cos I must be doing SOMETHING wrong. Bugger it - hate giving them my money!!!!

Night! Buenas noches.

The Wilby Juniors - Fun in La-La Land

2005-04-18T17:19:00.000+01:00

The Wilby Juniors - Fun in La-La Land

Fun in La-La Land

2005-04-18T13:44:00.000+01:00

Well, this is just the first post in a long line of them, no doubt.

I am not going over old ground, suffice to say that my youngest is waiting for a liver transplant.

So my life revolves around my home and her health.

My eldest is doing really well at coping with it - 5 going on 15 when she is at school tho!

This is us:

Shaun (40 this year - Ha!), Lu (36 this year - Bah!), Daisy (Dids) (51/2) and Molly (Mol, no less) who will be 2 on 1st May.