Friday Focus 24/11/17 – Rearranging Jessica’s surgery again

Jessica’s surgery has had to be rearranged yet again. This time we made it into hospital, had an overnight stay and got Jessica ready for the surgery in the morning, only to be told that the surgeon was unwell, PICU was full and the surgery would have to be postponed again.

 

Rearranged - this week's word of the week

 

I know that it cannot be helped and that the doctors and nurses really don’t want to have to keep cancelling Jessica’s surgery. It is hard though to go through the build-up, get ourselves mentally prepared for it all and then return to normality, knowing that we will have to go through the process again. It’s hard for hubby and myself when we can understand and accept the reasons for this happening. For Jessica though, it is very upsetting. She gets so excited about having her “sleepover” and doesn’t understand why Mummy can’t just phone the hospital and make it all happen for her. I had hoped that actually getting to have a sleepover at the hospital would help ease the disappointment this time, but she was still very upset. I was quite relieved that she did manage to go to school with a smile on her face on Wednesday morning once she had had a chance to work through her emotions.

 

Every cloud has a silver lining though. For us, that silver lining is that we will now get to enjoy the festive season and be able to spend Christmas together at home as a family before we have to go into hospital once again. Jessica’s surgery has been rearranged for 28th December. I am hoping that the lack of elective surgery over the Christmas period will help reduce the odds of PICU being full and will mean that we are less likely to be rearranged again. Hopefully it will be third time lucky for us!

 

Having assumed that we would spend the run-up to Christmas in hospital also means that December is looking like a much quieter month than it normally would be. I can’t help thinking that this is also a good thing. It gives us the opportunity to slow down, to enjoy that time together without rushing about trying to do far too much and getting stressed out in the process.

 

 

Things I have loved this week:

  • Sophie going to her first Girls’ Brigade session with Jessica who was a very proud and protective big sister. It was lovely to watch the way Jessica took her little sister’s hand and showed her what to do.

 

Sophie and Jessica holding their drawings that they did at Girls' Brigade

 

  • Taking the girls ice skating for the first time.

 

Hubby and Sophie on the ice rink at Windsor on Ice

 

  • Watching Jessica and Sophie having fun with the toys in the ward playroom and riding the Little Tikes cars down the corridor.

 

Jessica and Sophie driving Little Tikes cars around Ocean Ward

 

  • The way Jessica made sure Sophie was okay about leaving the hospital with Nanny and Auntie Fizz. She gave her a big cuddle at the door and said “now you mustn’t cry Sophie. Have a lovely time at Nanny’s house and I want you to tell me all about it when you come back and see me after my operation.”

 

  • Jessica’s discovery that she could use the IV pole like a scooter. She soon realised that the quickest way to get around the ward was to stand on it and having Mummy push her around!

 

Jessica standing on her IV pole waiting for Mummy to push her around the ward

 

  • All the lovely supportive messages from friends and family. It meant so much to know that we were in so many people’s thoughts and prayers.

 

  • Spending time with my friend Katy who lives near the hospital.

 

Jessica with Godmummy Katy

 

  • Having lunch at one of our favourite pubs from our student days. It hasn’t changed at all since we were at uni.

 

  • Having a breakfast date with my lovely hubby.

 

  • Getting to watch Jessica in her class assembly.

 

Jessica holding silver pompoms while performing in her class assembly

 

  • Watching Sophie having fun with her friend at her toddler signing class.

 

The Reading Residence

22 thoughts on “Friday Focus 24/11/17 – Rearranging Jessica’s surgery again

  1. oh no, I know how it feels to arrive at the hospital to find out that surgery is cancelled. Like you say though, it has a silver lining and you can enjoy the run up to Christmas instead of being in hospital. It must be such a worry though xx I love your beautiful photos, I can really see your girls growing up now I’ve been following you so long. I laughed at the one of Jessica on the IV pole, I use mine as a walking stick, but sometimes it goes a little quicker than I can walk! xxx

    1. Thank you Anne. My girls are certainly growing up fast – especially when I realise that Sophie was a small baby when I first started the blog and now I’ve just applied for her school place! It is frustrating that the surgery got cancelled but nice to be able to enjoy the festive season at least 🙂

  2. Oh, how frustrating. Sounds like you went through the entire build up and were all set, so that must be a disappointment for you, and of course very difficult for Jessica to understand. It’s good that you’re seeing the positives, and now have a relatively relaxed build up to Christmas that you can all enjoy together x Thanks for sharing with #WotW

    1. Thank you Jocelyn. Now that Jessica has got over her disappointment, she is looking forward to being able to enjoy the festive season 🙂

  3. Aww! Poor Jessica….It is so frustrating and upsetting. You build yourself up ready for surgery only for it not to happen. Sending hugs. Good luck for December. At least you get to enjoy Christmas together….
    It looks like you had a lovely week even with the visit to hospital. They can be a lot of fun. hehehe x

    1. Thank you so much Kim. Hospital visits can be fun – especially when you don’t have the agonising wait while they’re in surgery to contend with! Hopefully it will be third time lucky x

  4. Fingers crossed it’s 3rd time lucky because it is so hard to build yourself up & then have to deal with the operation not happening.
    As you say at least you get to spend Christmas time making special memories and having family time.
    And how lovely all the activities the girls took part in this week,

    1. Thank you Donna, hopefully all will go well next time. In the meantime, we’ll be making the most of the festive season 🙂

  5. That must be so frustrating to get told a change is happening. Still, you will have so much fun with the girls at Christmas, every silver lining and all that X #wotw

  6. Aw what a week you have all had! I am so sorry you are going through the Louise, but like you say it isn’t the right time for Jessica and well done Sophie for her first Girls Brigade session. I bet you were so proud of Jessica making Sophie feel better about leaving, I have been following Jessicas blog and hope it all goes as planned for next time for you all x

    1. Thank you Sarah, it has been quite an emotional rollercoaster but hopefully things will go smoothly next time! x

  7. Aww I’m so sorry it didn’t go ahead again, it must be such an upheaval for you to be going through it all again. I do hope you have a wonderful December and Christmas though and that the new date is the right time for Jessica.
    Nat.x

    1. Thank you Nat, at least we can get to enjoy the festive season and hopefully it will be third time lucky for us x

  8. Oh no what a shame, I can understand your frustration. A lovely slow-paced run up to the festive season sounds like just what you all need. Jessica sounds like she’s a lovely caring big sister to Sophie, how lovely. Hope you have a lovely weekend x #WotW

    1. Thank you Angela. She is a lovely big sister – it is lovely to watch the girls together; they have such a lovely bond.

  9. That must have been hard to get the surgery rearranged again. Loved reading about what Jessica said to Sophie as Sophie left the hospital. What a caring big sister she is!
    It must be nice to know you can enjoy Christmas now and I really hope the surgery doesn’t get rearranged again. x

  10. What a shame it’s been postponed again. As you say, that’s probably better for the Christmas period for all of you guys. Hopef you’re able to make the most of the next couple of months.

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