An exhausting week, lack of sleep remaining the main issue and starting to cripple kp. Some fun times, some real low points.

Monday and the OT came with an assistant who is going to be taking kp into town and getting her out and about whilst a new support worker is recruited.

Tuesday was due to be physio, but Steve was ill, so it was cancelled. kp was disappointed, but please to have a day off at the same time.

Wednesday was kp’s official day off. She had planned a full day. The friendly local taximan picked her up and took her to the hairdressers to get her nails and hair done. She then got another taxi to take her to see Marie in Middlesbrough. Marie had a new dog called Strike (lurcher) and he went missing once but was found. Well, this time he jumped from a first floor window and has never been seen since. Marie has took in a new dog called Tye. He is a gorgeous (AND STRONG) cross between a German Shepherd and a rottweiler (I think).

He is VERY strong. Michelle also visited Marie’s to see the new dog. Apparently, he nearly pulled Michelle over when they were playing “Tug of War”. And at one point, Tye got a hold of Karen’s coat and both Marie and Michelle were up like the gun had gone off at the 100m sprint, to stop him pulling kp over. kp was very amused.

I went straight to Marie’s from work to pick kp up.

I think kp overdid it a bit on her day off as she was knackered.

Thursday consisted of some muscle stretching exercises with Steve’s assistant (Joanne) and then in the afternoon, she met me at work and we went to our counselling sessions. We then had an appointment at the doctors for a few things. Whilst there, I copped a glance at the computer screen which detailed the cost of Karen’s Fentanyl patches. I was gobsmacked. Each day, we put 2 x 100ug patches on so that’s £40. So, that’s £280 per week !!  Nearly £15,000 a year ! Thank God for the NHS.

Friday and kp had some more accupuncture from Steve and she beat her record on the treadmill at the local fitness centre. Well done kp. That night, Adele brought the kids over (Abby (11) & Louisa (5)) to stay the night.

They were so excited. It’s the first time for at least 3 years that Abby has stayed over, and Louisa never has. I met them from work at the local fun factory. Before, I had got there, kp had took them there (in a taxi) and later she recalled that she was a scared by the experience. Imagine 2 very excited kids entering somewhere with kp, constantly asking kp questions, and then entering this really bustly place with 50000 other kids in there all shouting. It was too much for kp. She couldn’t work it all out. Thankfully, Abby was great. At 11, she has a very caring nature and I get the impression she helped a great deal. Thankfully for kp, they wouldn’t let Abby (at 5ft 1in) into the fun factory, so she made sure kp was ok. Abby was a bit disappointed.

When we got home, Abby wanted to play on the Wii-Fit. She was mad on the Hula-Hoop one and when she got her good score, she wanted me to try and beat it. The Hula-Hoop one involves swivelling your hips and looks very funny. So the girls were amused at my hip-swivveling.

Before the accident, kp enjoyed having the kids over, but they were soooooo noisy, she was keen to get a bit of a break, especially after the fun factory saga, so she went for a bath. Using the bath buddy, she went down herself and I checked she was ok which she was. So then I went to swivel my hips with the kids.

About 15 minutes later (I got really engrossed with trying to beat Abby’s high score), I heard shouting from the bath (Abby heard it too, Louisa didn’t). I ran through to beat greeted with a kp in tears sitting in an emptied bath next to a half-inflated bath buddy.

kp:- I am stuck and noone heard me.

Lots of bawling ensued and I gave her a big hug in the bath and apologised for not paying more attention. I was really kicking myself.

It was absolutely heart-breaking.

It was so noisy with the kids I hadn’t heard her at all.

The bath buddy is working out to be absolute pants. She keeps sliding off when she is halfway out. And that’s what had happened. Without the water in (she had let the water out), she can’t work out how to get back on. So sad !

I got her out of the bath and made sure she was a bit calmed down before kp told me to “get back to the kids“.

kp:- I’ll be fine.

Abby was looking at me in a way that I knew she was aware what had happened….

Abby :- Is everything ok ?

I explained that kp was stuck in the bath and she had got a bit upset.

So, it was a really sad evening. Louisa was colouring in and totally unaware of what had happened.

The following day (Saturday), we were all due to go to “The Forbidden Corner”, but first we had to walk the dogs.

kp had had yet another awful night’s sleep, not coming to bed until about 7am. I got up about 7.30am to find the kids watching TV in the front room, so we went to walk the dogs, kp went to bed.

The kids absolutely loved it and the dogs absolutely loved the fact the kids (and I) went down to the stream with them, something we don’t normally do, ‘cos kp couldn’t get down the bank.

Here is a foto (crap I know) of the kids holding a dog each.

Once back, we got kp up so that we could go to “The Forbidden Corner”. “The Forbidden Corner” is a wonderful place to visit with kids. It’s hard to explain what it is, but it’s like a maze of weird things and lots of things kids and adults would enjoy.  Some scary bits, some hilarious bits. Well worth a visit. It’s near Leyburn so was a canny hike.

We went to pick Adele up first (in Middlesbrough) and kp slept (and snored) pretty much the whole way to Middlesbrough and then to “The Forbidden Corner”.

We had a great time there. kp and I had to stop halfway through as she was too tired. So, we went for a snooze in the car. kp slept the whole way back AS DID THE KIDS !!! Adele and I found it very funny to see both kp and Abby snore in exactly the same way. It was like “Stereo Snoring”.

Very funny.

And the best bit for me was when we got to Adele’s. kp stayed in the car as I helped Adele and the kids into the house with all the stuff in the boot. kp woke up to give them all the kiss.

And by the time we had got to the front-door, Abby looked back to see kp nodding off again.

Abby (shouting at the rest of us) :- Look at Karen, she is falling asleep again.

Well, kp woke up at hearing this and started laughing at herself, which had us all in stitches too.

kp (laughing) :- I can’t even stay awake until you get to your front door !

It was probably one of those things you have to be there for, but I am still smiling now, thinking about it !

We had a quiet Saturday night, turning in quite early, as kp just couldn’t stay awake.

She was up most of the night (as per usual).

Today, we did a short walk, ‘cos she was knackered (especially one of her knees)  after yesterday and she has been asleep on and off most of the day.

So, some real low points generally, but kp is doing her best to remain positive and latching on to the little funny’s that come along. We had planned to book a holiday today for when I leave work, but kp’s been too tired.

Pizza night with a film tonight, so we should have a good night.