SIB, Advisory group, Carers meet and new babies too...

Hi guys, what a week - I've been busy again!

First up...
I was out with my Local Authority and NHS Health Trust - I'm the Carers rep on the shadow integration board (SIB) and try to make sure Carers voices are heard just about as often as I can!

Next up...

I went along to the latest Carers Advisory Group last Thursday. It's a good meeting, Carers from our area, meet with the Carer champion councillor Steel and other council representatives and Carer services providers to discuss, issues and concerns. It's only by working together we can successfully change things and get a better deal for Carers.

 

Fun times...

On Friday, some of our Three Towns Carers went over to Irvine for a master-class in, of all things, hanging baskets! lol Now I grow loads of veggies and fruits but I'd never arranged a hanging basket before and guess what? It was fun!
Eight of us had a ball, planting up the baskets and tea drinking! What a pleasant way to spend a wet Friday morning!

I kept the best news for last...

Our new wee grand-baby arrived this week so...
meet baby Islay Eve with her big sister Jessica!
We're just truly tickled pink with the both of them!

 All in all it's sure been a busy week and it's been a happy one too!

Next up, it's the Carers Parliament on October 8th!

I hope you've had a good week too where you are and if you're at the Parliament...shout out for Carers!
(((hugs)))
Maz x

A wee Swim a smile and a time-out...

Hi guys, I'm feeling more like my sunny self today!

Coo had a more settled night with six seizures and was up and around early too so...

we decided to take our grand-daughter Jessie swimming!
Well, I went swimming with Jessie and Coo had a wee cuppa and watched us splash about!
It was fun, a wee change and a pleasant wee hour out for Coo too and it has lifted my spirits back up again so....result!

All's well in our world for now!
Hope you're having a wee time-out where you are too!
(((hugs)))
Maz

Carers Roller coaster, Indyref, Carers Parliament...

Hi guys, what a roller-coaster few weeks!

I'm feeling wrung out and kinda like an old dish mop! lol

but where to start?
Ok, hard hat time...
Things have been difficult for Coo and I, his AED (Anti Epilepsy drugs), are too high in his blood stream so we've been tweaking the doses, battening down the hatches and just hoping things will settle a little! Multiple daily seizures are never easy but we're both hanging on in there!

#Indyref...
I've been wrapped up in Scotland's Independence referendum!
For me, it wasn't a huge desire to leave the UK.

More of a burning desire to do things differently, find a better way and in the process, hopefully improve peoples lives in general.
I've always voted - it's important to me and I previously always voted Labour too but in more recent years, I've felt a pull towards something different.
ATOS, austerity cuts and the continuing struggle for Carers and disabled people just to get by, have left me so sad and down-heartened at times, more of the same was unthinkable! I guess in the end, it was the announced further austerity cuts from Westminster that made my mind up.
I wanted something else, the chance to hope for a new start and hope for a better way too so I voted yes!

There's no other way to put it...We lost!

There were a lot of us (45% in fact), who wanted to try but, in the end, it was not to be. I can't believe how deeply I felt when the results came in, kinda flat and sad and I suppose so very unlike optimistic me!

I hope the promised powers do come to the Scottish Parliament or I and many others both 'Yes and No' voters will feel extremely cheated - I guess we will see!

In all this current political turmoil, the Carers Parliament on October 8th should be interesting!

One thing's for sure, I'm hoping for more settled times!
Keep strong friends,
(((hugs)))
Maz x

Respite, SDS and shop till you drop!

Hi guys I've had a wee time out this week!

I've been off on Respite for a few days and at my usual place...Blackpool!

I like Blackpool, it's fun and cheerful and if the weather is kind too, it's a brilliant holiday spot!
The Queen's is a lovely hotel. It's right on the prom too and the beds are comfy, the food is great and the Jacuzzi is toasty warm! lol
so...mum and I shopped till we dropped, had all number of cake eating and tea drinking sessions and generally had a...ball! Speaking of which, did you know Blackpool has the biggest glitter ball in the world? Well, they do and here it is... ta-da!

You sure need you're shades on when the sunshine catches a hold of it! lol
It's so cool though!
When we were there, the little ones were running around, chasing the reflected light - in fact everyone was having a ball! lol

Thanks to our SDS (Self Directed Support), while I was away, things at home, managed along just fine without me. Looby came to stay with Coo and keep him safe and this meant, I had a real break, with time to switch off and just go with the flow for a bit! I think that's what Carers miss the most, the spontaneity of life, being able to just get up and go and not need to plan all the contingencies and deal with the 'what if's' that come alongside disabilities and caring in general!

That's why I feel so strongly about the need for regular Respite breaks for all Carers!
It's oh so very important!

Unless you've lived this lifestyle you can only imagine the release of pressure that comes from proper Respite!
It's the difference between drowning in darkness and finding a safe harbour for a wee while!
I'm so very fortunate to have support and having been there myself, I know it's so very different for lots of other Carers still struggling on alone and it's just not good enough!

I hope the time comes where we all have the support we need!
Keep strong my friends,
(((hugs)))
Maz x

Appointments and time outs...

Hi guys, it's been another busy week, what with appointments, paperwork and just getting organised!

Ok appointment 1...

Coo's bloods are still problematic and he has an increase in seizures too so he's having more bloods done again this week. He just can't seem to catch a break at the moment. We're going to wait for the blood results and then... we'll regroup and decide just what to do. - we're coping and that's the main thing!

Appointment 2...Good news!

Remember my post about my Shonky eyeball from last year? - here's a reminder!  Well, I've been visiting hospital for the last year and now the results are in! No treatment required - woo hoo!  Turns out I have a tilted optic disc, it's been checked and it's nothing to worry about so...result!

I've one more appointment to go...and it's a good one! lol
I'm off tomorrow for a wee time-out and with other Carers too!
We're going on a visit to  'The Ayr Flower Show'

I've never been there before and it looks great and best of all? I'll be able to have a laugh and a fun time out with other Carers at a wee change of pace!
Thank you SDS (Self Directed Support) - Regardless of how things are, tomorrow, Looby will come keep Coo company and I'll get to poke around the flower show and most probably indulge in some plant buying! lol

I'm hoping for some sunshine and if not, well, there's always the wellie boots! lol

I'm faring ok here and I hope you're doing ok too!
(((hugs)))
Maz x

Carer Roller-Coaster ride & Harping on...

Hi guys, it's been an up and down kinda week. You could say, we're back on that roller-coaster ride again!

Coo's blood/drug levels are yet again problematic...
The safe range is between 10 and 20 and Coo's latest results? 24! - Ok, choices, do we reduce the doses again or do we stick, sit it out and see what happens?
We're not quite sure yet, Coo's seizures are no worse, he's stuck at around 10 a day but then again, it's been A lot worse and we coped. Only thing is, he's really sleepy but he's coping and usually any changes just set it all off again!
I think we'll see how things are overnight and regroup in the morning!
I've been keeping busy, while stuck in at home so I've had plenty of time to...harp! lol

I love it, it's just so very soothing to lose yourself in the music for a wee while, I guess, it takes me somewhere else and on a difficult day, that can be a real good thing!
Don't worry I don't really dress like this while harping - well not often anyways! lol  but this photo just goes to show that harping has been around for the longest time!


Whatever your passion is, be it music, crafts or cooking, give it a bash! I say, anything that helps you cope and stay healthy, hale and hearty and doesn't hurt anyone...is ok in my book!
Keep strong
(((hugs)))
Maz x

Busy, baton, travel and fun times...

Hi guys, where has the time gone! I just turned around and July was all gone!

Coo's seizures have been so problematic over the last month. We've been adjusting the meds, and just hanging on in there so it's been a bit difficult at times this month but....we've had some great moments too!
Where to start... ok!
The Baton...

The Queens Baton Relay finally made it to Ayrshire and a good time was had by all! How exciting the whole day was! All the expectation and excitement was worth it - I had a wonderful time! The town was so busy and everyone was cheering me on, I guess there was a real feel-good factor all around and it was just so brilliant to be part of it all!
Next...
A lovely celebration for all our baton bearers and their guests. We had four Carers from our group who were carrying the Baton so we decided to take another four of our Three Towns Carers as our guests. This meant eight Carers got a wee night out and dinner with Provost Joan and I'm glad we did it this way as Carers seldom get the chance for a fancy night out with free dinner thrown in too! Everyone enjoyed it so...Result! lol

Germany...
Our nephew Craig, lives in Germany and we made it all the way to his wedding - woo hoo!
Bearing in mind Coo's current erratic seizure activity and the stresses with changes in routine, it was no easy feat, it took a lot of planning and a great deal of organising but we made it! Previously we would have had to regretfully declined his invitation and stay home but the flexibility of our SDS (Self Directed Support) Care package, gave me belief that maybe, just maybe, with careful planning and support, we could do this - and we did! Oh I'm so glad we did, it was so wonderful!

So, just how did we manage it all?
Ok, Lobby was always coming with us - we would never have coped on such a trip without support so with her along it all seemed manageable!
A hotel was out of the question - Coo's seizure activity is so noisy and aggressive at the moment, it would just not have worked being in a small hotel room with other guests disturbed either side so we opted for an apartment with a lovely German family on the doorstep to lend a hand with language, directions and local information etc. - sorted!
The wedding was over two hours from the nearest airport and if we wanted to do some sight-seeing too, we'd need a driver - we asked our son in law Stevie to come along and drive for us - sorted!
We struck gold with our choices the apartment was very large and secure and just what we needed for a base for both the wedding and to allow a little touring too! woo hoo

Flights...
We found the most cost effective and easiest route for flights and just hoped for the best, everything would work out - best laid plans and all...we got delayed...for hours and hours but at least with all the support around we managed to take turns keeping Coo occupied and calm...mostly! There were some hairy moments but we coped! lol
The wedding was the main reason we went to Germany and it was a wonderful day and here we all are - check out the guys in their kilts! I'm so glad we got to go!

We even managed a boat-trip on the Rhine and a ride in a cable-car high up to a Castle too!
What a wonderful time we had!
I'm so grateful for the SDS package that made such a wonderful trip possible - we would not have managed alone, we just could not and would not have gone at all and that's such a shame! The flexibility and positivity that SDS has brought us is beyond price, it's given us a can-do attitude and opened up so many wonderful possibilities. Previously, so many doors were closed for Coo and I and SDS has changed that, in fact it's changed us too!

When SDS comes your way, please don't be afraid of the change - reach out with both hands and grab it!
(((hugs)))
Maz x