Taking time out!

We are staying at the children's hospice this week...Monday to Friday 4 nights off! It is much needed and much looked forward to respite. Unfortunately because of everything going on in our lives it is not working out as time off as it should. So much is needing to be dealt with whilst we are here and the phone just does not stop ringing. We have our home phone diverted to the mobile because we just have to be available for the things we have to deal with. It is a bit frustrating but that is how it is! However, despite all of this we were determined to tak today for ourselves and Joshua and Christina. We had made plans to visit our friends from holiday. They live a bout 2 hours from the hospice and so we set off at 8.30 am and heded North towards them on the M1....within half an hour of leaving the hospice I had taken two calls...made one back to the hospice to deal with an issue for Rosie....more tube trials! Then the builder rang wanting a phone number for the Building control, sorted that one and sat back to relax and enjoy the journey. We stopped in Leeds City Centre before 10.30 so we had made good time. We enjoyed a quiet wander around the Market...remembering times gone by when David and I had lived in the nearish vicinity. Joshua and Christina were pleased to realise they were looking around a market where Luke had enjoyed to go. It was a delightful time of quiet remembering and new discovery. We found a nice market cafe for a light lunch and then headed back to the car. We headed towards our friends address stopping at an out of town centre to buy a smal gift for the girls. Then we arrived and settled into a companionable fellowship with Lisa as we waited for the time to meet the girls from school.

There was nothing special about our afternoon and evening together apart from simply being with people we cared about and who cared about us. The chidlren played a little too boisterously, the noise levels raised to rather too loud but non of us cared. They were friends pleased to see one another and we were friends glad to jsut rest in each others company.

All too soon it was time to part and head back to the hospice....we arrived back at 9.45 rather tired but pleased to have made the effort. A little frustrated by silly rules of medication that meant Rosie had not had her 7pm meds....I could get angry about the pickiness around this drug but I cant be bothered....realise eve had not had hers either and refused to wake her as it would cause more problems than her missing a dose....if she has a problem due to not getting it they will have to deal with extra suction and a wakeful child but if I wake her now it could cause a problem so I wont!

It is two minor irritations in otherwise excelent care and support!

Tomorrow is another day....we need to relax...the next few days after this break are going to be difficult. We will take it easy tomorrow and hopefully benefit from a quiet day.

Thanks Lisa Darren and girls we had a great day out and were sad to drive away...hope they calmed down enough to sleep!
Hugs