Brailsford family updates

I realised with the editing I probably didn't make the next lot of hospital stuff very clear. It's felt like we had to do a bit of chasing to get answers that we could have been given all at once. But you have to work in the systems I guess. So to be clear, I go into hospital on Thursday 11th November with the operation being the 12th. They hope to get me home within 2-4 days. That falls over the weekend so I guess it will be towards the end of that time period.  Having dates is good. We've been able to talk it through more with Zeb so he understands more of what will be going on. He had been starting to say things like 'they'll ring us tomorrow and we'll take you in for your operation and pick you up later'. So having more information means he is also more informed. Having dates means it's all more real. There is definitely something in there that is going to be dealt with. They are definitely cutting my head open. They are going into my brain. I mean I...

As Ruthie is at home we are trying to give her breaks in the day to rest up. This week whilst I have been working, Zeb has been a busy boy. Having lots of fun at friends houses. Going to Jimmy's farm, doing activities in the woods, parking around with grandad.  Today was my turn to have some time with this little lad. And what fun we had. This morning we went out for a lovely family breakfast with Ruthie at an all you can eat premier inn breakfast place. One of our favourite things to do if we ever stay away anywhere. Then we dropped Ruthie off and walked down to the train station. We headed off on the train to Felixstowe. When we got there we walked all the way down to the beach and to Mannings amusements all the way down the prom. If any of you know Felixstowe, that is one epicly long walk for a 7 year old. Then it was time for the thing he wanted to walk to. We played indoor magical crazy golf. Safe to say he is much better than me at this game. On the way back from the golf we ...

Is now the colour of my hair! I've never dyed it before, always been happy to be my natural colour. Which has always been a mix of all the colours when you look right at it. Becoming more dominant with white and grey. But that's never bothered me. I've always been happy to be me. However I've decided that before I go in to hospital I'm going to shave my hair off. I want to have that control before they need to take parts off. So I thought for fun, let's go blue! I can't get a good picture so I'll try and get Mark to get one when he's home so we can share. Picture now added. Doesn't fully show the blue. Looks like I won't be shaving it having now spoken to the hospital, but that's ok. We have an admittance date (I think that's the right word) of 11th November. This is just the date they are taking me back in, then we'll get an op date. But it's a step further forward. Obviously we'd like it sooner as it means ev...

Thanks to the loan of a wheel chair I got to see the sea today. It was windy and cloudy and cold but it was the sea. And I ate ice cream. We are still waiting to hear dates and treatment. The longer it takes to hear the more I can ignore it is happening. But I don't want to be waiting, I want to be through the other side. We're noticing I'm getting slower. It's harder to find the words I need to come out of my mouth and for them to get out. Having a shower this morning seemed to take forever. I had to focus so hard on what to do. Right Ruth, you've stepped in the shower, somehow it has to get wet. How do you do that again. I'm not sure if it's the way the tumour is sitting in my brain, or reactions to some of the drugs, or lack of sleep, or combinations. Earlier today I couldn't manage to be in a room where there was one conversation happening and I wasn't even part of that conversation I was just sat in the corner. I'm not finding th...

I will never be svelte because you know, food. I like it too much. It goes in me too much. My self control is around is not good generally. Even worse at the moment! This week has included two particularly tasty food deliveries. A lovely friend brought me round two juicy delicious mangoes. I really do love a mango but don't buy them often. They're not cheap, and you can never be sure if it's going to be a juicy good un or of you're going to catch it under ripe and disappointing. These, however, did not disappoint at all. Eat over the sink juice dribbling ripe. Yum yum. I had put some mince meat in the shopping this week coz I really fancied mince pies, it's never too early for me, and we hardly ever buy them coz my mum always home made hers so in my mind that's how they should come. However once I had the mince meat I had no energy for the baking. (Mark will tell you that my idea and thinking level is currently way above my doing level). I then had a message fro...

I guess it's going to be a little quiet around here in terms of medical news at the moment as we're just waiting for dates to be sent to us. I'm feeling ok. Probably better than I did before i went into hospital because I have lots of lovely drugs floating around my system now. Although some of those come with nice side effects! Definitely need to up the fruit and veg input! I'm finding I can't really do a lot, I'm getting tired very easily. I don't know if this is just because I've been day around a lot. Dad is coming round shortly to take me for a walk around our close, that will be the highlight of my day! I can't concentrate on much at once so am doing little bits of worddearches and sudukos and things like that where I can. Mark makes my lunch before he goes to work so that is all ready for me. He's a good un!

Actually she is home! I'm writing this from my very own bed having spent all night in it! There was about an hour period where they kept changing their minds if I was staying or going. I was telling them that Mark had to travel from Ipswich to get me, it wasn't just coming from round the corner so he needed time to come. And eventually the yes came! It was just as well his journey to a little while as it took the same amount of time for my discharge letter and medicine information to be ready. It is good to be back. It won't be for ages coz I still need treatment, but I'm with my boys for a bit and that is good.