Hospice MeansTime for Us!

So Wednesay saw us packing for the hospice. Joshua and Christina were not coming with us but joining us on Friday so each needed clothes for the days at home and clothes for us to take with us to hospice
Packed and bus loaded by 11.30 we headed off to the GP to collect some medications for Rosie and then on to fetch Jonathan, Rosie and Eve. Stopping at the Fish and Chip shop for lunch.

Once the children were collected and loaded on the bus we set off towards Grimsby. The traffic was not bad at all and we made good time and so chose to divert to Cleethorpes and check out what was on at the cinema. A nasty looking accident ahead caused us to divert around the country lanes but we eventually found our way back in towards Cleethorpes where more diversions led us around the houses due to road repairs! We eventually found the cinema and decided on a film to watch.

Once arrived at St Andrews we set about the paperwork and unpacking and settling in. Three lots of Care Plans, changes in medications and altered feeding regimes made for 2 hours of handing over! I get very irritated at some silly beurocracy and then irritated at medication issues, They can only use medications that are within 3 months of dispense date. Eve gets a bottle of Glycopyrulate and a Bottle of Clonazepam, both tablets, and they each last 4 months both at the later end of that time and both unacceptable to the Hospice. I snatched them back and said I would give them as only twice a day and we will be there either end of the day. No Nurse had to go and have a conversation about this and then sort out paperwork for a new order to be made. I read through Jonathan's care plan to try and get ahead but no we have to go through that page by page! Grrrrrr it is gone 5 pm by the time I sign my last signature and we depart upstairs, somehow David is more irritated than me and we end up haveing a bit of a disagreement over what we do next. I am determined we go out he is feeling he cant be bothered. Eventually we agree to go to the Cinema and then for a meal but not feeling as relaxed as we had wished.

We find a way back to the Cinema avoiding the diversions and choose our film, True Grit! The endless trivial snapshots, adverts and trailers only prove to make us more irritated and frustrated but then the film started and we sat back and relaxed and slowly unwind until we are fully engrossed and enjoying the film and each other and the atmosphere.
It was a good film we really enjoyed it and when it finished we were stiff and weary and felt it was a succes.
There is a Carvery opposite the Hospice that does an all day Carvery for £3.49 per person. It seemed a good idea to go back to the Hospice and park the bus and then walk across so David could have a drink and not worry about driving.

The meal was delicious, the relaxing and talking and nothing to worry about! Just as I was putting my coat on to walk back David spotted the wide Screen TV in the Bar and the Arsenal game on. So we diverted again to the bar instead of the carpark, but it was actually quite nice to relax on a soft seat and at least Arsenal won so David was happy as we eventually wandered across the carpark, across the road and into the Hospice to bed!

Thursday Morning I woke around half five. I switched on the audible book on my phone and laid there listening, at 7 I got up and had a leisurely bath, the a quiet cup of coffee in the parents lounge before wandering down to Give Eve her medicine, once David was up and breakfasted we headed out to Hull. It was a misty morning and the Humber Bridge was shrowded in mist very different to the last time we crossed with blue skies and sunshine but there was less traffic too and we were soon looking for a parking space. Pulling in to a meter bay I went to see if there were any disabled concessions but could find nothing. We decided to drive on and see what other parking there was. As we stopped at a red light there was a parking attendent helpfully walking our way and so I wound down my window to ask him. Apparrently there was no charge and no time limit and so we headed on and parked in the next bay, right beside the BBC television Centre!

It was a lazy pointless, in a nice way, meander around the City we bought bits and pieces and looked at things on a wish list and had a lovely lunch and a coffee and a sit and watch people busy themselves along. Then we headed back to the Bus. We had not looked at watches all day had no idea what time it was until we switched the radio on. We made a leisurely journey back to the hospice and went straight up to the parents accomodation to sit and slob in front of the Computer and TV. We had ordered a meal from the Hospice Kitchen and so around 6pm we wandered down for that. A beautiful Roast Pork dinner followed by Bannoffee Pie for me and Apple Betty, Gluten Free, made especially for David, delicious!

Then We had an hours snuggle with Eve whilst Rosie brought us books and bricks watched by her carer. Then it was time to retreat upstairs and slob again!

First day of respite has indeed been restful and enjoyable. Marred only by a frantic message from Christina who is recieveing texts that are taking her credit! So a new Sim Card is needed once she gets here. Hopefully that will be an easy solve, At 12 she is very gullible to texts that offer her somthing for nothing without reading the small print. I do keep telling her not to answer texts from people she doesnt know. Hopefully losing the £10 credit I had given her will help her to realise this time! I have sooken to her this morning though and apart from a horrid cough she seems happy enough.

So now it is Friday and we have till 4pm to do our own thing. Not sure what David will like to do he hasnt shown his face yet!