JAI #73 & Skye update!

Hi bloggies!

Sigh … did you hear that latest interruption???? I have been trying to get here all afternoon … but it has been one interruption after another! 🙄 I thought I should give you a quick update about Skye’s doc visit yesterday … but for those who are bored before I even start (totally understandable) 😉 … then scroll past the next paragraph!!!

I have to say … it has been a “big” 24 hours … of emotional ups & downs. Our visit to the orthopaedic specialist yesterday was not great news. (I need to give you the reader’s digest version … because the novel is a mammoth one!) We were told that Skye had two options … 1. Full leg plaster for 8 weeks followed by another 4 – 6 weeks in half leg plaster. NO SPORT for 4 months until full recovery.  OR … 2. Surgery … a “nail” inserted down through the centre of the tibia … with screws just under the knee and just above the ankle. 2 – 3 weeks on crutches (no weight bearing at all) … then 2 more weeks “careful” before she can drive. NO SPORT for 4 months until full recovery. This was not an easy decision … the surgery option means that Skye will have restrictions — ie. no high impact/speed type sports such as motor bike riding, sky diving etc. She runs the risk of more serious injury to her knee if she breaks her leg under high impact (ie. the leg wouldn’t break due to the nail being there … so the impact would be taken by the knee.) As a mum … I wanted the “safer” option (plaster) … which would give an outcome of “completely back to normal”. But … I am a mum! And … I am NOT  a risk taker … it is not in my nature or personality. After ringing the uni about outcomes with courses … and weighing all things up … Skye decided that she couldn’t bear the thought of 14 weeks in plaster … and with such a quick recovery after surgery decided this was what she wanted. We went off to book her into the hospital for surgery TOMORROW! And … then went home to “second guess” the decision. Yes! The mum wanted to make sure it was the right decision!!! (I know … I am hopeless!) Long story short … after phoning the doc today to get a few answers to questions … he assured Gav that this was a perfectly reasonable decision. That it won’t impact her career (physical education teaching) … in fact her leg will be stronger with the nail inside. It is only more of a risk with the high impact type sports. He commented that surgery was the more common decision for younger people … and he felt it would be fine. So … Skye has decided to go ahead with the surgery tomorrow. I am okay about this … but if I was honest … I would do anything … including 14 weeks of toilet stops … including driving her to uni each day (& waiting) to have her back to normal. But … this is not about me … I am looking at it from a “mum perspective” … and Skye is a different personality than me — able to cope with risks more … and willing to do this to enable her life to get back to normal again more quickly. I have to accept that! There is no “right & wrong” here … it is a decision that is a personal one. So … off to the hospital tomorrow! We have to be there by 8am and she is first on the list … but that … of course could change. It is usually an overnight stay … unless the patient is coping extremely well with the pain. You can imagine how drained I am feeling … another major decision … and another difficult day tomorrow. Sometimes it is so hard being a mum! 😦

So … I do have a card to share! I spent a few moments this morning (well … a little more than a few moments …) doing the Just Add Ink Sketch challenge for this week. It is a great one! And … again … even a tiny bit of stamping … is GREAT THERAPY for a busy mind!!! Don’t forget to pop by the JAI site (click sketch pic to visit) … and check out all the other gorgeous creations for this challenge! I haven’t had time to leave any blog love this week for any of the entries … but I hope the girls will understand! Life just can’t get any more crazy for me … can it??? I think I am going to just squeak in with this entry … the deadline is 2 1/2 hours!!! 😀

I was kind tickled with this one … considering my head was anywhere BUT with my stamping! I did a mask across the top section and it turned out rather nice … didn’t it! 😀 Being a male card … I decided to go with the crimped card rather than some ribbon. And … a jumbo brad & twine to make it a little more “nautical”! This is a fab colour combo that I have used before … and had to add it as a fav to my Colour Coach blanks. I love it! Pear Pizzazz / Not Quite Navy & Basic Black! 😀

Mum is doing well … although a couple of slight hiccups have meant she has not yet made it to rehab. But … it seems that because the physio has been working with her in the hospital instead … she may end up going straight home … even as early as this Friday! My sis (Louise) & niece (Tahnee) arrive from Queensland tomorrow … and will stay with her for the next week or so. Then Tahnee will stay on for a couple of weeks more. It is a huge relief to me at the moment … to know that someone will be with mum … while I continue to care for Skye! School holidays begin on Friday … 3 weeks of minimal routine. I hope that we might manage to get a week down the coast … especially seeing we won’t be getting to Vanuatu to visit Gav’s sister’s family now. 

Well … Gav is out at a medical dinner … Ree has just left for Bible Study … Sandy is out at soccer training … and Shane is in bed sleeping before night shift at the nursing home tonight. So … it is just me & Skye … and I need to go and help her with her “bath” … and wash her hair before she goes for surgery tomorrow. How funny … we sat down tonight to watch an episode of “Packed to the Rafters” (season 3 on DVD) with Skye … while we ate dinner. We were up to the episode where Nathan gives his kidney to his g’ma! A surgery / hospital episode. I did turn to the girls at one point and ask “Why are we watching this tonight?????”!!!!! 😉 Yes … like Julie Rafter (Nathan’s mum) … I am nervous about tomorrow. But … I am trusting that Skye is in God’s hands … and the outcome will be fine! Take care, everyone! And … if I am not back for a couple of days … you will know why!!! 😀 Hugs xxaxx