~ In Pain ~

Have been neglecting the children lately and so Hubby and I took a day's off on Thursday to take them out. Went to visit dad and collect my passport in the morning. Manage to have a nice lunch at Sakae Sushi and then went Expo to Robinson Fair and Food Fair.. After that, I was so tired that I slept throughout the afternoon... Don't know if the kids enjoyed it but at least Denver gets to watch movie with Hubby yesterday. I hope he don't feel too left out this March holidays.

Dad started from having mild pain to severe pain on his legs by now. We tried giving him all the strong painkillers that were prescribed by the doctor. From Panadol, Arcoxia to Tramadol.. But none of them helps.. Brother and I had to call the amublance and take Dad back to TTSH.

Dad was injected with Morphine to substain the pain... he was again being admitted.. :( There wasn't enough bed and Dad has to wait at the temporary ward till late evening. This is really sad... just at the moment we thought he is improving, regaining his strength back, his pain has to come back at this time after a week being discharged.. :(

I can only pray that all is well and he can go back home soon...

~ Sick ~

Once again, I have succumb to the flu bug. Wasn't feeling too well on Sunday night already.. I couldn't sleep well the whole night and when I was in office on Monday, I felt my nose itchy and stuffy. My body also started to ache. :( Luckily Nicole was able to ferry me from office to Owen's house at Potong Pasir.

We were suppose to take Dad to the clinic to clean his wound.. It was challenging to help dad down the stairs even though it's only 1 level down. The first attempt scare the hell out of us... Dad seems to lost his balance while trying to put on his slippers and landed on his buttocks. I hope he didn't injure or strain his back.. :( We started to ponder maybe it's not a good idea to make him walk down afterall and wanted to do a housecall instead. But Dad seems abit depress and Owen decided to let him try again after a rest.

Lucky hubby was around to help him... we finally made it. At least Dad seems happier and felt more confident. The useless me perspire so much and I finally raise my white flag the next day falling sick.. I went to get a stronger flu meds and slept the whole afternoon... Praying hard that I get my strength back soon.

~ Discharged ~

Dad finally got the green light to be discharged from the hospital last Friday! :) Yeah!! He is definitely Happy and I am Relief!! I was feeling really stress and tired lately.. My flu came on and off. I was feeling really cold a few nights ago and end up popping panadols and flu meds. Luckily I didn't fall too sick. I couldn't sleep well too.. my mind is always active thinking and worrying about stuff. Then I felt guilty about neglecting the kids, hubby and home... Hubby was also more tired than usual as he was helping me with my dad... I didn't have energy and time to keep the kids company and read them books.. I was also sooo tired that I didn't do the house chores for 2 weeks! Since Dad's admission to the hosptial, I have not been productive at work too. Will need to buck up especially since we heard about the big news where my company buys Scherling Plough. I wonder if my rice bowl will be broken..

As there are many things still not being sorted out, I took the afternoon off to pick Dad back to Owen's place from TTSH. Was feeling a bit frastrated earlier over some minor tiff... anyway, Hubby and I had lunch at Bendemeer market before reaching the hospital. I went to settle the billings, packed Dad's stuff, arranged an ambulance to send Dad to Owen's house, checked the meds and also look at the medical kits that he needs. The ambulance which was suppose to reach at 2pm was late by half an hour.. luckily they still came on time at 2.30pm and we can wave goodbye to the kind staff there.. They were so warm and Dad also happily waving back to them.

Hubby and I went to the Salavation army and manage to get a walking frame and pee pot and a cheaper rate. We headed back to Owen's place to help settle Dad down.. I can't help worrying but don't know whats the better option for now.. All I can do is try my best, do what I can and hope for the best for everyone.

~ Dad's Operation ~

The past few days have been extremely tiring.. the kids are down with fever on Friday and Dad's condition did not really improve... He has persistent pain and had to be on a lot of painkillers and do physiotherapy to relief some of the pain. He has to be assisted when he wants to go to the toilet. Many times, he cannot sit up and we have to help feed him with his food. Really heartache to see him fallen ill.... :(

All of us tries to do our bit to cheer him up. Big brother visits him almost every night and buys him newspaper. I chit chat with Dad, feeds him and on hot days, helps him to wipe his body... Owen will buy nice food, access his condition and he also brought his portable DVD player so that Dad can watch movies and won't feels so bored. Denver drew a picture for 公公 and Dad was very happy when he sees it.

It has been a week since Dad was admitted. He has undergone MRI scan, CT scan, blood and urine tests... Doctor says my dad's bones have detoriate and there are significant changes... white blood cells count was high indicating there is an inflammation somewhere which the scans and tests did not show what was causing it. He has UTI and a compression fracture too.

We were being adviced today that it is recommended that Dad go through a surgery to remove one of the bone (L4-5) at his back which was pressing on the nerve controlling the right calf/foot. While we were still hesitating on a go or no go... (because the surgery will not be relieving his back spine pain). Dr Tan says he has a free slot tonight and it's the best time since Dad's white blood cells count and UTI has gone down. If we decided not to go ahead now, the next available time for the surgery will only be in June and the bone pressing on his nerve may hinder his leg's movement especially when he is doing physiotherapy. Dad is also feeling numbness....

Luckily Owen is around.. and weighing the situation and explaining to Dad, we decided to go ahead.....

It's considered a medium-major operation with a small percentage that will cause a stroke or paralyse. After the operation, Dad will have to stay in bed for at least 2 weeks... I went to visit Dad at 4pm and he was already getting ready for the operation... at 430pm, he was being pushed to the operation theater.

I went back home to wait for news.... 930pm.. no updates yet. I called the ward and they told me he was just back. The operation seems to be successful. Heard that Dad is complaining about giddiness.. it should be related to his GA... Will be meeting Owen tomorrow and visit Dad again.

~ Visiting ~

I have been visiting dad everyday at TTSH since he was admitted... He is still having severe lower back spine pain... suspected slip disc.. but was able to sit up today and looked much better. Being in a better mood, he talked a lot more and smiled.. I hope he gets well soon..

Owen treat me to eat lunch at Old Hongkong.. I'm still worried about his right arm though. Hopefully he will recover soon too.. Sighz..sooo many things have happened.. Praying hard better things will come.

~ Emergency ~

Quite a fair bit of things happened lately.... Last month hubby and I just got into a car accident. Dad had a surgery 2 weeks ago... and on Monday evening, Mom called me in panick saying that Dad could not get out of bed! Hubby and I rushed down and took Dad to TTSH.. He was having a fever and his back was in pain.. :(

We went straight to the A&E and registered him at the counter.. Only 1 person is allowed to enter with the patient.. I kept Dad company while hubby waited outside.. It was a long wait.... I can see that Dad was in pain and he was enduring it... Owen arrived shortly.. he was in bad shape too. Brother says he fell in the toilet at home and fractured his right arm. :( His arm is in cast and could not lift up at all.. Sighz...I do hope its not serious and he gets well soon..

9.20pm

Dad finally gets to see the doctor. He was being examined and I took him to do an x-ray. It was bad.. he could not turn and he was in pain. The nurse advice me that I can request to put him on a trolley bed instead of the wheelchair if there are similiar situation next time. Dad will not be inconvenience and he'll feel more comfortable. The nurse was very kind and helped me to get a trolley bed, put dad on the bed and also help me to find another nurse to push him back to see the doctor.

9.45pm

The Doctor draw some blood for testing and injected painkiller so that Dad would be relieve of some of the pain. By now his fever has rised to 38.5 degrees. I went out to inform brother and hubby of the situation. Initially we thought of leaving Dad in Owen's care but his arm is in bad shape and he wouldn't be able to manage alone if Dad was able to go home. So we decided to wait for the blood test results which will be another 1-2 hours time.

10.10pm

Dad was pushed to the observation ward 25 to rest.. The painkiller seems to have taken effect and dad is not in severe pain.. but he is still feverish and started to shiver. I can only enter when the doctors have left.. There were no chairs as visitors were not allowed to enter in the first place. I sat by the bed, hold on to Dad's hand as he rest... Dad didn't feel the urge to urine yet.. so we were not able to take his urine sample for testing..

10.45pm

I had to wait outside the ward as the doctors came.. He examined Dad and shortly the nurses pushed him to the toilet to take his urine sample. Big brother arrived shortly and waiting outside with Owen and hubby.

11 plus

I was still waiting outside the ward checking out on the situation.. couldn't really see if Dad has return to the ward.. Finally, I saw the doctor talking to Dad and asked if I can enter.. The nurse let me in (Thank goodness) and the doctor advice that at his age, his bones are detoriating.. he has a minor lung infection and possible slip disc condition..Oh dear :( Dad would need to be admitted for further observation. I went out to prepare for his admission registration.

Met up with hubby and my brothers and told them on the findings.. at least Dad is currently being monitored and care for by in the hospital. I just hope he would not be in such pain..sigh..I also called mum and updated her so that she can go and rest... We waited for quite awhile before settling the admission procedures...

12am

Dad was pushed out and heading towards the ward. Brothers and hubby finally get to see him and we were allowed to follow. He was temporary being put in the observation ward 11A till tomorrow. It was a Class B ward and it's so cooold! Only my dad and another patient is in the 4 bedded room.. We asked for another blanket, left our contact numbers and leaves Dad to rest.

Big brother left and Hubby sent Owen back home... I was sooo hungry and bought a $2 McChicken burger... Munching along on our way back home.

1am

We finally reached home... The kids were asleep with my inlaws tonight.. Hubby said the bed looks so big and empty and he felt something is missing.. I had a quick bath and rest... Hubby was fast asleep... I am busted too but I find myself tossing and turning on the bed thinking and wondering if Dad is sleeping well.. if his fever has subsided.. or if he is shivering cold... :( Reminds me of the time when I gave birth to Denver and I was pushed to my ward in the middle of the night.. managing the pain after delivery, groaning and shivering cold for the whole night not able to sleep.. I pray and hope Dad would be sleeping well and recovering soon...

~ Ice cream cake + Pandan cheesecake ~

Hubby bought 2 tubs of ice-cream and I tried to be funny and made an ice-cream cake out of it.. First, I set the base with biscuit crumbs and freeze it.. then, a layer of chocolate ice-cream. Set to freeze again before setting another layer of biscuit crumbs and finally the top layer of vanilla ice-cream filled with biscuit crumbs toppings.

Taste: Urmmm.. I can only say its weird.. :( Lucky I only made a small one.

I made another cheesecake with the kids last friday.. Denver has been asking me to make one with him.. so they did the easiest part.. Squash the biscuit to tiny tiny little crumbs.. :) Denver and Gladys watched as I did the rest. This time I made it to go with Pandang flavour.. The final outcome didn't come out to be what I wanted.. Hubby also didn't seems to like the combination.. But I had a similar version made by my ex-colleague and it really tasted soooo nice! Hmm.. I wonder where did I go wrong.