Busy, busy, busy

Yesterday was a pretty hectic day.

Jack was going into respite so I was up at 7am packing his bag. I don't normally pack it at that time of day but as I had a course to go on at 9.30am, I wouldn't have time to do it later that morning.

After I finished packing his bag, I then got him washed, dressed and ready for school. This takes me about an hour as it is very physical. I am flat out trying to get him ready in time for the bus arriving while the cool dude himself, carries on sleeping!

After I'd put him on the bus at 8.45am I rushed upstairs and literally threw myself into the shower. I was back downstairs 15 mins later, seeing to the dogs, dragging Jack's suitcase and meds into the car, then running around switching things off and throwing things into my bag. I arrived windswept and interesting at the course which was packed full and I struggled to find a seat cos I was 5 mins late....eek!

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The course was about protecting vulnerable adults from harm who are being cared for in homes, respite units, residential units etc. This is all part of the course I told you about a while back whereby the local council are trying out a pilot scheme to give unpaid carers a qualification for the work they do. We (myself and the other Lynn) are nearly finished the course and hope to be given our certificates at a graduation ceremony in October.

I really enjoyed the course but it was quite scary how easily abused these people are and it does strike fear in my heart at the thought of Jack being subjected to that but sadly most vulnerable people are actually abused by family members according to statistics. Quite shocking really.

I left the course and went straight up to Jack's respite unit to drop of his stuff and get his medicine checked in.  Everything has to be properly labelled, all pills have to be counted out and just enough given with a few spares, all doses of meds have to match the medication sheet which you fill in.  Unfortunately mine didn't because Jack's medication has been upped and the respite unit can't just take my word for it, they have to get written confirmation from Jack's consultant.

I thought I was covered because this particular medication was reduced just last year but alas no. It was only covered for reducing the medication not upping it. So I spent the next hour phoning doctors and waiting for them to call back til finally an hour and a half later the secretary called to say that she would fax a copy to the unit. YIPEE!!! If I hadn't managed to get anyone, I would have had to come up and administer the meds myself.

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The first thing the secretary said to me was "I called your home number first and couldn't stop laughing.  It is your answer machine that answers and says "Thank you for calling Dial-a-Shrink"?" I laughed too and confirmed that "yes, since we are all a bit mad in our house, it was only right that we should have a hilarious answer machine message".  Apparently she was so taken with it that she hung up, called her colleagues over and rung it again just so they could listen and she thanked me for giving them such a good laugh!

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This then got the girls in the respite unit calling my home number for a good giggle!  I finally arrived home at 3pm only for my Dad to appear asking me to book another part of his holiday for him. So far, I've booked the Eurostar, the Caledonian Sleeper and his hotel in Paris. My sister has had the pleasure of booking the travel insurance!  Dial-a-Shrink and Travel Agent, who knew I was this talented!

Today is slightly less hectic. Holly and I are off to a concert in Glasgow. We are going to see a group called Take That so we are heading off at 1.30pm. It takes about 4 hours to get there and we are driving back straight after. My friend Emma is driving and her boyfriend is going to drive on the way back so I can get a wee sleep in the back of the car as we won't be home til about 3am.

I can't wait. Tell you all about it later, I promise. Have a great day my little gigglers.