Old Fashioned

"Mummy, what were computers like when you were a girl?"

"Well we didn't have one at home. And there was no internet."

"What else was the olden days like?"

*strangled voice* "I didn't live in the olden days."

"Yes but you were there when everything was old-fashioned."

Discharged

Darling Girl had her regular appointment at the Paediatric Respiratory Monitoring Clinic today. We have been attending since she was five months old and fresh out of SCBU. The visits have dwindled down from the bi-monthly check ups with home visits in-between (with Resp Nurse Michelle). The last couple of years we have only had to go once in the summer and then September, January and March.
Dr A is lovely. He comes to the waiting room, "Where is my girlfriend?" and Darling Girl hurtles towards him for a big hug! About a year ago he tentatively mentioned discharging us. But it didn't happen.

It did today!

He collected her from the waiting room and carried her into his surgery. "I have missed you," she said. As usual he had medical students in the room. I usually have to outline Darling Girl's medical history. But not today. He wants to see if she can answer his questions.
She told him her date of birth and school; she knew about being a tiny baby in an incubator: "I was prem. I had special medicines and tubes up my nose."
Dr A writes: "delightful, intelligent chatterbox" in her notes. Then he talks to her (not me) about her height and weight and explains what centiles are and how is has grown in proportion for as long as he has known her.
Darling Girl admits to being forgetful about her inhalers at school. That's fine. She can stop using them now.If I have any concerns I can contact him through our GP. Dr A admits that it may actually be faster than being a re-visit.

Dr A gravely bent towards Darling Girl. "That's it. You are discharged." Then he explains he doesn't need to see her anymore because she is finally well. She looked so sad, so he invited her to see his new clinic when it is finished. "You are not my patient anymore. You can just be my visitor."
Then another big hug for each other.
Michelle comes in for hugs as well.
I get caught up too.

Then for one last time Dr A carries my Darling Girl back to the waiting room.

When we arrived home we phoned Daddy and Nan and texted lots of people! We had a little celebration - just the two of us, before I had to get her to school.

Then when I was back at home on my own it hit me what a big deal this is. Darling Girl will be 7 soon and this is the first time in her life that there is no appointment made for her anywhere. After almost 7 years she has done it. She came into this world a very poorly tiny baby; and now she is an ordinary little girl. I cannot express how happy I am.
There is so much emotion - joy and relief all wrapped up together.

Spring

Well, its not called Spring for nothing!

Golden

My parents in law celebrated their Golden Wedding this week. We enjoyed a special Sunday lunch with them today.

Laughing

Of course I watched the first couple of hours of Comic Relief! Thank you if you were someone who texted or emailed to check I was able to watch DT in his skinny white suit. Swoon.

Lovely caps from the DT Forum.

But what we laughed about the most was Darling Girl. Her reaction to the little girl on "Outnumbered" was priceless. She literally fell over laughing when the girl described a picture of Barack Obama as a fairy amongst blood sucking bats.

Please imagine clip embedded here. We found one this afternoon and we were able to re-live the helpless giggling, but now as I am blogging I canot find it!

Obviously the serious messages did raise some questions from Darling Girl, especially the sick children in Africa. She wanted to know if she had done enough to help; and I think with the fundraising at school and at Rainbows I think she has.

Funny for Money

We did something funny for money!
Although Darling Girl did struggle to keep her nose on, whenever she smiled it fell off! She went to school wearing as much red as possible plus some strange hair (4 bunches and deeley-boppers).

I got to wear jeans for school and miss the disco since it was my PPA time. But I did wear my nose to take the register. Ewwww. Nicer smelling nose next time please!

But not a bad day for a Friday 13th!!

Six months

So, you can learn to be a teacher in 6 months can you?
So can I have three and a half years of my life back that I clearly wasted getting my teaching qualifications?
No?
Oh I see, it's to recruit high quality candidates.
So everyone who is currently teaching now is low quality?
No?
You didn't mean that? You only meant in shortage subjects.
Yes - like maths!
Because we all know how good bankers are at maths... the evidence is all around us.


Grumpy? Moi?
Yes!

Ugly Dolls and Red Noses

These have to be some of the ugliest dolls ever. This is about the actual size. Ugh! And the bendy dalek....Why?

I much prefer these David Tennant presenting Comic Relief photos!

Tribute

Darling Girl is still coping with the loss of my sister's dog. She has been given some photos of him and has been drawing lots of pictures.

This is one of her favourites and I had to scan it before she gave it to her Auntie.


I did ask her not to take it to school to show the teacher.

Birthday

I had a birthday!
Not the BIG one, but really pleased to see colleagues surprised that it is the BIG one next year!

I was spoiled by my family and friends.
I am already using my second hand cricut, but I did save one of the carts to use on my birthday. Plus Hub and Darling Girl treated me to a new radio for my car so I can plug my constant companion in - my iPod.
Plus flowers and lots of cards and good wishes.

I am now waiting to start feeling older and wiser.