quick update

I'm waiting for Jill to go up and get ready for bed....indeed, despite starting the process some 15 minutes ago, she's still at the bottom of the stairs girding her loins for the assault on the summit. I shouldn't joke, even walking the 10 paces TO the stairs is an effort, let alone ascending them...and we have our regular moments when she needs to stop and try and take on oxygen and catch her breath before starting again. It's weird because, when we do occasionally put the mobile oxygen reader on the end of her finger, her levels of O2 in her blood are actually quite good (the other evening she was higher than both Jack and I...what's all that about?). The reason can only be the cotton wool that is slowly clogging up her lungs....however, we still have times when she feels brighter and less "breathy"....but those moments are becoming increasingly rare I'm afraid.

We gave Hospice another call this morning. Despite the increase in morphine, and the introduction of some new drugs, Jilly is still really struggling with her breathing. Yes, we have better moments but generally there's little improvement to show for the upping of drug intake. Once again there was the suggestion of a few days in Hospice to "get her breathing under control" but we (me in particular) can't see how she could be looked after more attentively than she is here at home. We are doing our level best to be with her 24/7....even if it is at the end of the "doggy doorbell" during the night. I have to admit however that it's difficult to know if Jilly would be more relaxed at Hospice....she certainly wouldn't be able to look around and compose those never ending lists of "jobs" that we all so love to receive. She's not bothering to tell us anymore....we just get given a list!

As I type we've made the decision not to go upstairs.....well, not completely. We got halfway and decided to stop and come back. Bex has fetched pyjamas, tooth brush etc. and we're still getting ready for bed, only we're doing it downstairs next to the bed.


Our reader will know that we've trained the dogs (Beanie in particular) to ring a bell attached to the conservatory door when they want to go outside in the garden. Well, someone in their wisdom has given Beanie a new bone this evening....and (after chewing it for couple of hours) she's been made to leave it in the garden. She's desperate to get back to her new bone, and so has been sat in the kitchen ringing the flippin' bell now for 20 minutes....I suspect she will shortly be banished to her room so we can all get some sleep!


After extolling the virtues of Neff kitchen appliances the other day our (Neff) microwave has gone on the blink. When the power is switched on (without anything selected) the dish turns (very slowly) on its own, the light inside comes on dimly, and the door refuses to open even when the handle is pressed VERY firmly.....and believe me I've been "firm" with it! A trip to town is on the cards...how long can we survive without the microwave? Serves me right for tempting fate.


We've got Jill into bed now....slow acting morphine administered, fast acting morphine administered, blood thinners taken....and with luck we will be asleep very soon. I've even made her take (I didn't have to force her too much) a half tablet of Lorazepam (that's the "panic button pill" we talk about)...she really was getting herself into a bit of a state, and we need to avoid those moments of panic if we can.

Tomorrow is another day....and we plan (at the moment) to try to get to Pentagon (you know....where the building begins.....sorry, UK and non-Jersey folk won't get that joke) to select some kitchen and bathroom furniture for the new loft. All the basic building is now done and we hope to see the sparky for a first fix of electricity cables on Monday. Following that we can start boarding out all the walls and ceilings...and things really will start to take shape.

Right, I think that's enough. As usual, our "early night" hasn't happened...despite our best efforts, it's now 23:42 and time I tried to get some shuteye as well. Jill is asleep in front of me.....out for the count and breathing fairly deeply. Aren't drugs wonderful.... 10 minutes ago she was struggling to breath at all.

As Zebedee always said....."time for bed everyone".