[Lightning McStitch]

Justsewit, can I suggest only ever consulting Dr Google once you have a confirmed diagnosis. There are a great variety of potential liver tumours. Primary vs secondary, benign vs malignant… Save the worrying and do something pleasant instead. Congratulations by the way on your pregnancy.

[Robin]

Tamara, I know that with my mom, the diagnosis seemed to change every time she saw a specialist. It was frustrating and we spent a lot of time trying to figure out what the new information meant. Try not to get too caught up in it. No one knows what the results will be. Hang in there.

[Tamara]

No I wanted to see if the symptoms matched. They all blend into each other and with this thing blocking the bile duct it might not be primary liver but bile duct. But then I wanted to find out the general “what happens when” scenario. Because fil won’t be telling us every step of the way so I like to have a fair idea of what the procedure is. I know each case is very different and they mucked us completely around with mil. All I know is he is very very sick they had a scan and saw a tumour, thought it was pancreatic had more tests realised it was more liver. These organs are close together. They are going to drain the bile duct then give him an MRI and then go from there. we are basically kept in the dark until the final outcome.

We will see but quite frankly I need to focus more on having a good pregnancy than worrying incessantly about the many diagnosis given to fil.

Thanks Lightning – that’s my focus.

[Nicole]

That is very good news Tamara.

Lets hope it is a benign growth.

I agree with Shelley 100% though, resist Googling symptoms. It will upset or confuse you.

[Tamara]

No more for me. I read a little and that enough to know what I needed to know. I sat on google last time and so did alot of other people. No one will tell us otherwise and I felt it was better to prepare myself than to not know at all.

It is better than hearing he has a month or something. But it isn’t over yet. The diagnosis could change after surgery so we are just getting on with it until someone feeds us with information.

I spoke with sil this morning and she had a chat with Murray who told her our good news. I tell you this news is going to make us keep positive through the whole fil being unwell thing. It will be an absolute saving grace to know we have something to look forward to if things go belly up with fil. It is what we need right now so I am more than happy to focus on this bean growing more than anything else and it will help to keep the stress levels at bay.

So as a result I am hunting through my entire collections of Sew Beautiful magazines for inspiration and having a dream moment tucked up in bed with water and a tissue box. Perfect way to convalesce on a Sunday.

[with love Heidi]

Having worked today, come home and babysat 3 kids, made a second dinner for 7 because the first was inedible due to a power failure during the all day slow cooking in the crackpot, ran a bath, got the kids to pack away the toys and games, got 3 kids through the bath, dressed and had dinner on the table and fed said 3 kids.

I just wanted to come here and tell all you Mums and other carers what a great job you are doing!!!

[Tamara]

Oh Heidi! It feels like that for only some of the time. My dearest wish for you is to experience the full time joy that parenthood brings. That is only just a taste of potentially exhausting parts.

Parenting takes dedication that is for sure. You are well on your way and I say what a great job YOU are doing to be doing this with children who are only visiting.

I had a moment of funnies today. I was helping out in my daughter’s class as I do every week in Design and Technology. Towards the end of the class, a couple of girls called my attention. One wanted my help and the other piped up and exclaimed “Miss, Imogen says you were pregnant?” I replied with “Yes that’s right I am up the duff!”. Then she bounced back after a little snigger with “Im says you have a raspberry in your belly?” And my reply was “actually its about the size of an olive now!” I thought it quite hilarious as of course the children have told their classmates but this girl seemed to not believe it. Imogen told me afterwards “you put her straight mum. She should believe it now.”

I have my first scan on Friday after realising I have gone a whole week without making an appointment. Life keeps carrying me away!

[cybele727]

I am just getting back from a long weekend in NYC. My sewjo is totally juiced up, but the machine needs to be cleaned and tuned up! I absolutely refuse to sew on the bit of Liberty I picked up at Purl Soho with a machine that is wonky. REFUSE! I have a half yard of Liberty that isn’t earmarked for anything special, so the wheels are spinning on how to use that bit.

[Nicole]

I LOVE sewing with Liberty.

Cutting it makes me slightly nervous, but sewing and pressing it is lovely!

[cybele727]

Nicole, I want bed sheets in Liberty. Oh imagine sinking into that at night!

[Nicole]

Liberty sheets, swoon!

I still have not made ME anything from it.

[mcholley1]

Liberty sheets would be a dream come true!!

School’s out here tomorrow for the kids and then a quick trip to the beach this weekend. I’m looking forward to a new summer schedule. I always like a bit of change.

[Tamara]

Murray got a phone call last night. Fil’s prognosis is not good! Liver cancer, inoperable and they can only shrink the tumour with chemo. They have to stabilise the jaundice before he can come home and he can have chemo in Geraldton. We knew it wouldn’t be good but we were hoping it would at least be able to be removed. I am glad he can come home to have treatment. At least then he can be a little more comfortable.

Of course I wouldn’t be able to venture near him while he is receiving treatment but at least Murray can and also the kids. I am in two minds about exposing the children to it, considering of course that they do need to know what is happening but it is all a matter of how much.

So there you are. Still the big “c”. Its still really sinking in.

[Nicole]

Tamara, double check with your doctor before any of you go near him. Your baby is in developmental stage. If there is any residual radiation if could be very dangerous.

I am sorry for your family.

[Tamara]

I don’t think I will go near him anyway. During my pregnancy with Noah fil’s sister was terminal with breast cancer (she did not have the common variety) and I was advised to stay away and I was rather late along. I just pray that he actually get to meet this baby before the end. And if we can be very lucky to have him for his 80th it will be such a milestone of celebration. He doesn’t think like this though. This generation only look at the bad and not what can be done to keep living – that’s why we clash, he thinks I live in fairy land but someone around here has to have some optimism.

It will also give me a chance to stay clear of the new wife of whom is very fork tongued. But I am hoping like I said above there will be chances to spend a few moments of time with him when he is not radioactive.

Thanks Nicole. It is still sinking in. I will probably let loose with tears later and feel a little better.