~*~Life as Me~*~

When the Doc shouts...........MOVE!

Today was the correct day for me to go see the knee surgeon. Anyone who knows me will testify to the fact that I am ALWAYS late, no matter how much I try, I am never, ever on time. Today I was 10 minutes early! HA! But being 10 minutes early did not come without trial or tribulation, in my true style I arrived at the right dept reeling at the obstacle course I had to go through just to be sat in that waiting room!

Started off with me leaving 1 whole hour and 15 minutes early to allow for parking and some traffic. Cheltenham hospital is a mere 7 miles from my house but is pretty much in the heart of the town so some traffic was expected. With Charley bundled up in the car with a bag of books, toys and drinks I settled in, got belted up and just as I was about to pull off Kirsten come running out the house...MOM MOM MOM! Now what, I thought. With the fleeting thought of just hitting the accelorator and pleading ignorance I wound down my window....she needed milk. Great! Started the engine and the diesel light beeped. This just gets better, I forgot to fill up the car yesterday when I got back from Bristol! So the garage it was.

10 minutes later we were finally on our way, the traffic was free flowing, I didn't get lost or take a wrong turn, in fact I was rather pleased with myself cos I went straight to the car park I knew was closest to the dept I needed. Impressed went to annoyance though after about 40 minutes of touring the car park when it would let me in, charge me for the pleasure of touring the confined area only to find there were no spaces AT ALL. Eventually, I decided to search and destroy a car park attendant, the one who sat looking at me, the one who I was convinced was laughing at me in his head. No i'm not paranoid in the least! He'd watch me go round and round in circles like a teddy bear for longer than any semi-normal male would or should reasonably watch for. Approaching this 2 headed species (ok he only had one head but I really wanted to make it into two at this point!) I wound down my window ready to give it some lip service only to be greeted with a happy and jolly guy who swapped my parking ticket for one that would let me out without paying! He said he had been trying to get my attention to tell me to come get it and go to another car park.

Stupid is as stupid does!

Ok, got to the car park, found a space immediately. Got no change. Only a £5 note. Brilliant. Ah, the Lido is open, they are bound to have change. Oh sure they did, £5 in 20p coins which amazingly enough wouldn't stay in the ticket machine on the first insertion, no each one had to go in THREE times before it registered, eventually all £2.80 stayed put and a ticket was issued.

I hate car parks!

Got to the dept I needed a whole 10 minutes before my scheduled appointment at 3.10, checked in and promptly took myself and Charley off to the bathroom. Charley done his stuff, washed his hands and sat at the door shouting through the air vent... 'helloooo'

I sat on the toilet, taking silly pictures of him and suddenly a security guard opened the door.........OH MY LIFE!! I screamed! Charley froze and the security guard went red! This guy thought someone was stuck in the toilet!! I threw the camera in my bag, zipped up and washed my hands faster than the speed of light. I paused at the door, wishing I had my pink cap to hide my face cos this was bound to be the most embarrassing few seconds i've ever had!

I think he ran off!

Composing myself we waited just a few minutes before a nurse called my name. She sent me for an x-ray. WTF? I mean, an x-ray will not show up anything but bones and the x-rays i've had have proven that. But some eejit lost the last one so I had to have another. So off we went.

Charley thought it was great, all this adventure!

Got to the x-ray dept and the young girl rudely told me that Charley could not go in the room. Well EXCUSE ME!! I stroppily told her that there's no way i'm leaving my child in a busy waiting room, any psycho could take him and this kid belongs to ME! Another nurse or whatever she was in the similar uniform came over and offered to sit with him. I grunted something like a horse and knew I had to leave my prize possession with a stranger. This is not good. I was not meant to have an x-ray, only an MRI and Charley would have been fine with me in the same room then, I had all this cleared up last week. Eventually I gave in, Charley was happy to sit and talk to this nurse, I made sure they sat where I could see them from the x-ray room I was in though. Three positions and 2 desires to hit the woman who contorted my leg in positions that even a normal knee would struggle with, I was finally done.

Whatever!

Getting back to the original dept I waited a few more minutes before being called again. This is good, fast trak service in an NHS hospital! Rockin! Stripping off the cargo's I waited for some crumpled old dear to come in and tell me my knee is injured. Huh! The doc I spoke to on the phone, the one who stood in front of me was DROP DEAD GORGEOUS and I instantly blushed. Darn, where did my size 10 figure and slim legs go to?!!! He stood there, examined both my knees, which happened to look a lot skinnier half bent, thankfully, then asked for the MRI results. The nurse looked puzzled, showed him the computer screen with my x-ray on it and he rolled his eyes. This is kinda what followed:

Doc: Why has she been x-rayed? Where is the MRI results?
Nurse: The notes say....
Doc: NO! The notes say NO x-ray but an MRI
Nurse: I'm not sure, there is obviously a mix up
Doc: Yes! I'd say there is.

At which point he slammed down the patient notes and walked, no stormed out the cubicle. The red faced nurse followed and Charley and I sat there looking at each other. Then Charley said:

Uh oh, looks like she's grounded!

I couldn't help but crack up at that! In the background I heard the doc shouting his head off, I mean really giving some poor dear the verbal welly! I cringed, ok I was kinda expecting the MRI to be done today but lets face it, mistakes do happen and my knee is not life threatening. Inconvenient yeah but definitely not enough to cause the world to end! A few minutes later the doc came back, profusely apologised and expressed his annoyance at not being able to get the next step underway and told me that he will personally book me for an MRI scan then an appointment back with him. He explained that he had specifically asked for a free appointment for me today and it hadn't happened. This was a doc used to getting his own way and with those looks I have no problem there!! :D

So, I hobbled back to the car, slowly, munching on a sandwich and listening to Charley munch his apple! I came out exactly the same as I went in, just £7.60 lighter and a blog post to boot!

Along the way I had shown Charley where he was born, the place where he'd spent time in special care, and the place where his brother went when he had pins in his leg! All was not lost really, in a weird kinda way. So today i'm no further forward than I was when I woke up but at least I got inspiration for a blog post!! :)

Isn't life just wonderful? :)

~*~Debs~*~

Things that Charley says.....

Conversation in the car with Charley whilst on our way to Bristol:

Charley: Where we going again?
Me: Bristol
Charley: Who made Bristol?
Me: Well......{getting ready for a long answer here}
Charley: Did God make it?
Me: {relief sigh} Yes!
Charley: Did he make motor ways too?
Me: Well not Him personally but He inspired someone to think of making them
Charley: What about fire engines?
Me: Same kinda thing really
Charley: Ok, so you know a lot dontcha mom?
Me: Sometimes
Charley: Yeah sometimes, cos you dont know as much as me do ya?
Me: HUH!!!

My kid is just amazing at putting me in my place! :)

~*~Debs~*~

Charley & the Mysterious Glasses

When Charley was first prescribed glasses I knew right then that it was going to become the bane of my life. Not only because I had to get this 2 year old to keep them on but I was also going to be facing the regular visits to the opticians for repairs created by a whole range of ways. What I didn't think of though was having three pairs at one time and STILL not being able to find ANY!

So here's how the story goes:

• Chose some really cute metal framed glasses that spent more time chasing him than him wearing them.
• First year rather successful in all. Only had 12 visits to the optician.
• Then they needed replacing with a new prescription so off we went in search of some cool frames. More metal ones but in blue rather than black.
• They lasted a couple of months before they got totally twisted after he fell asleep in them!
• Then came Garfield.
• Then came the twisted arm whilst he play fought with someone and they popped a lens.
• Then came a gold metal framed pair.
• Oops there goes the screw and the split side arm.
• Oh, here comes Blues Clues
• There goes Blues Clues
• Here comes Garfield again, good old trusted back ups
• Another replacement prescription so here comes some silver ones
• There goes the silver, never to be seen again
• Still no sign of Blue's Clue's even though he had them on when he went for a nap one day
• Then comes the gold metal framed ones.
• Hello Blue's Clues
• Goodbye gold metal frames

Today, its still Blue's Clues. The gold metal need to be fixed again, this time they got into the washing machine. I'm sure if each pair could talk it would be telling horror stories, not funny tales.

At least he keeps them on now, he remembers first thing on a morning and tells me when they need cleaning (by his standards not mine cos if they aren't dirty enough he wont let me near them!).

At least Vision Express can rest in peace that they will still be trading this year!! :)

~*~Debs~*~

Charley ~ Says the Darndest Things!

Most days Charley asks me questions that are pretty much easy for me to answer, just a little common knowledge is all thats required. Other days its all about his imagination, how things could work verses how they do. Sometimes he tells me things that I have no sure way of knowing how he knows the stuff. He is very up on the process of volcanoes, he knows about yeti's and ski jets, he talks about machinery as though he designed it all. His general knowledge has got him rated 9 months above his actual age. Conversations can go in any direction but often not the way I see them to go.

While i'm sorting some stuff in the back garden he has some cardstock, paints and glitter out making his friend a card. He's already given his home made post box away to his friend and now its another friends turn to get something created just for them! Conversation with Charley went like this:

Charley: What day is it mum?
Me: Thursday
Charley: How many days till Date with God day? (Sunday)
Me: 3 days
Charley: Is that 3 sleeps as well?
Me: Yep. Why?
Charley: I want to give Matthew his card
Me: Cool. He'll like that
Charley: Good cos i'm not making another one, my fingers are tired! (To my knowledge it isn't Matthews birthday or any other special occasion)

Less than 5 minutes later he sits on the back door step, head on hands and sits there thoughtfully. I ask what he's thinking...

Charley: Just thinking
Me: About what though?
Charley: Is there a Queens castle on the earth?
Me: Yep, wanna see it?
Charley: Yeah!

We go into the kitchen and pull up some pictures courtesy of Google Images. Browsing through the first page of them the cogs are going in his head again....

Charley: Where's the Queen?
I then dutifully pull up pics of Queen Elizabeth.
Charley: Does she like grapes?
Me: Um...I guess.
Charley: She's so cool then, do fairies wear skirts?

Ok lets just back up there.....how did we go from the Monarchy to grapes to fairies?

This is just TEN minutes with Charley and my head is whizzing already! Naturally I answer his question, he grabs a handful of grapes and runs off to the living room to strangle-hold the dog cos whether he wants to or not, Jake IS going to be carried around!

~*~Debs~*~

Putting Jesus Christ into Easter

Today was a day of production in our Mini Mansion ~ I dont just mean the fairy chores {though they were all done and dusted by midmorning} so on we went with a load of crafts and a lot more laughter with a few spoons of spiritual filling as we went through the days events.

We started off loading the dining table with craft stuff, so much so we barely had space to actually do anything! First came the Easter card kit that Charley put together for neighbours, then came some handcut flowers, press out bees and rabbits....to then me spiked on some twisted, brightly coloured pipe cleaners to make a set....for each neighbour! Now I wasn't quite quick enough to get photos of these which I could kick myself for because Charley got such a buzz with the reception from Jill and Julie when they saw them! The kid was floating on air!! Lol

Then we made a little basket of delights for my friend Taynia who is going through a hard time right now. Knowing what she is enduring, I truly stand in awe at her strength and wisdom, even if she doesn't feel it herself some days. Taynia is a truly special person that I have come to know gradually through my time here in Gloucester and she never amazes me at her humility, love and respect for everyone around her, regardless. So Taynia got this:

Not good photos from my camera at the moment, I think it could do with being looked at.

Charley and I decided to take a break, Kirsten was out with her friends Melissa and Gabby doing their thing at the Youth Club. Charley decided to do a dance for me, this time I had my camera to hand and got most of it....

 

He totally loves dancing, as soon as he hears music he's off, even if its the radio playing in the kitchen! He has his favourite songs, he sings along to his tv character shows and each time he thinks i'm unhappy he starts to sing Twinkle Twinkle in the sweetest high pitched voice ever! I look at him and tell him how beautiful that was and that I love to hear him sing. I remind him that if i'm not always smiling thats not because i'm sad, sometimes its because I have nothing to say {yes it does happen!} or i'm thinking, or even concentrating. He looks at me with twisted expressions trying to ascertain if i'm being honest with him! We get there though, I think its so sweet that he cares how I feel, though I dont want him to feel that he is responsible for my feelings either.

Conversation over breakfast:

Me: Charley will you go and get your clothes now please?
Charley: I'm on the case {said in the Tigger voice}
Kirsten: I'll time you
Charley: No Kirsten, I'm not a cooker and your not a timer!

Conversation after our morning cuddle in bed when Charley knocked my drink over by accident:

Me: Oops, Kirsten grab that towel quick
Charley: Sorry mum {giving me the saddest face ever}
Me: Dont worry, its just a drink
Charley: Thanks mum
Me: Move your foot Charley, QUICK
Charley: I AM quickin!!!

Conversation whilst I stood in the kitchen talking to the cat:

Charley: MOM!
Me: What?
Charley: I LOVE YOU!
Me: I love you too
Charley: Thanks mum
Me: Your welcome
Charley: I'm glad your my mum
Me: Oh thank you, i'm glad i'm your mum too
Charley: You are? You love me that much? {raising his eyebrows and stretching his arms}
Me: More than that, way more
Charley: Wow mum, your so cool
Me: Yeah I just rock eh? {whispered to myself in amusement}

Sometimes we have the smallest insights to his mind, yet they most often come out in his fantastic sense of humour. Charley loves tools, there are some tools I let him play with and sometimes when the quesitons and curiosity is there I will let him fiddle with something around the house. Tonight it was a door handle. He wanted to know what it was like inside so I said, come on lets find out. He unscrews the four screws and we take off the cover, once he's got his fix of information we put it back on and thats that. However, before bedtime he went off to put his toys/tools away while I was finishing off preparing dinner for tomorrow. We went through the bedtime routine, said our goodnights and I came back downstairs. Going into the living room I ended up walkin in the door, the little meister had taken the screws off and strategically positioned the handle back on to look normal! For a second I was confused and annoyed that i'd walked into a door, why didn't I open it first?!! Then it dawned on me, THAT is Charley's humour all over. He must have heard me cos I heard him giggling upstairs.

Anyway, I digress!

Crafts, we made a really pretty tree for the bunnies and other animals, which now has pride of price on our dresser in the hallway....

Then came a table display for when we have our special Easter Sunday dinner....all made from cut outs from a book he had or a tag banner I broke down, along with pipe cleaners, shredded tissue paper and the craft tin....

Charley is a boy who loves to show you how he feels. After our crafting time Kirsten took Charley out to the park for a while, giving me the chance to prepare for this evenings lesson about the final hours of Christs life and the meaning of His resurrection. On their return this is how I was greeted by my lil man...

For the purpose of the tape, yes he is almost always wearing his fireman outfit, no matter what the weather, he is fireman mad. The house is called the firestation, my car is no longer the Mini Merc it is Jupiter and I am fireman mum! He wont let me cut his hair cos he wants it 'long like Scotts' and will often be seen flattening it down with or without water! However, back to the flowers, he couldn't get up the stairs fast enough to give me these little erm...pretties!!

Ok, back on track! I put together some Easter themed bunting, placemats and napkins....but I haven't photo'd them yet....so I'll show them off later. Sorry this is a long post, it is for the purpose of two luverly friends of mine who wanted me to do this post as they live in the states. **waves** to Lin and Jen :)

There's more....

Over dinner we always read something from the scripture and/or the Friend, New Era or the Ensign. Tonight we listened to the talk from Elder Jeffrey R Holland, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles which I shall be posting here tomorrow morning before I go to church. We listened in total silence, by the end of it both Kirsten and I could feel the spirit abundantly. Then for the purpose of Charley who had been fantastic and patient throughout so far and who knows what he actually understood, we then switched over to watch a Book of Mormon Stories in movie form, THIS got his attention with a million questions, he told me what was happening and what came next! This kid is limitless!

Once the viewing was over, we talked about what we had watched, discussed how it made us feel, our gratitude and love for Jesus Christ and resolved to set more goals to work towards putting the Lord first in our lives as much as we can. This is a family thing that i'm not going to share on here but its all good stuff!

Bedtime this evening was so much more relaxed and meaningful than other nights. I really saw how much my children know and love the Lord this last few hours. I just have to remember that they can only go as far as I lead them, so I too have to stay on track!

Ok, thats it for now. Tomorrow i'm going to share the talk that Elder Holland gave in General Conference last week, later in the evening I shall be  posting about what we got out of the day, cos when all is said and done, we are all brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, we are all children of a very loving Heavenly Father and we all have Easter somewhere in our lives!

Happy Easter :)

~*~Debs~*~