Friday 11 July 2014

My 500th Post....Meningitis 1 year on.

Wow.

When I started this blog 500 posts seemed like something impossible that would take years, yet it's come up so quickly I nearly missed it. I actually can't begin to imagine the amount of drivel I've typed! I'm so blinking perfectionist too, that I dread to think of the hours that equates to.....

I can barely believe all the brands who take a chance and let me review for them over the past 500 posts, those who I am now a regular blogger for (including LEGO wahey!), and Drumond Park, who sponsored me to attend my first really big conference at Britmums. I'm incredibly flattered.

I also had no idea of what would happen and how incredibly eventful the last 500 posts would be, what they would document. I started my blog as a place to keep reviews I was doing for Izziwizzi Kids and I didn't expect to see that end fairly soon afterwards. I knew I'd record birthdays and holidays, I didn't expect to document Meningitis and a broken leg. The blog hasn't just been my record of events and days out, it's been my memory and my timeline, my catharsis and my rock.

I've never needed blogging more than I did exactly 1 year ago tonight. Alone and terrified in a house full of young people relying on me, it was bloggers I turned to. They were the people who were awake, they were the ones ready to listen, give advice and support. They sat there with me all over the country while I told them my partner was in hospital seriously ill. They were there for me until I could sleep at 2am, and they were back online at 6.30am when I rang the hospital to be told my partner had a 'good night'.

He hadn't. He was incredibly ill with Meningitis and didn't really even understand why he was in hospital or what was happening. He couldn't give his full name or answer anything tricky like 'how are you feeling?'. He was shaking so badly that his bed was rocking and waking the other patients. He had a steady temperature of nearly 40 degrees. In the 48 hours after arriving at hospital they pumped him full of fluids and 3 courses of antibiotics, but he lost 2 stone in weight. You really could see him wasting away. Thankfully yet he hadn't started trying to leave.

Without my blog I would have a lot of trouble trying to remember how events continued. It really was my diary and I can't read my early Meningitis posts without remembering exactly how I felt. I can't really read them at all, I cry. Who am I kidding, I cry even thinking about reading them. Thankfully we had a good outcome, a great outcome. My partner is here beside me as I type - watching crap on telly and playing a daft game on his phone.

He has poor memory now, he can't really remember much he did today, but tomorrow he'll remember more. He can't remember appointments or details, and he can't recite a number over and over to remember it while he walks from one room to another, he has to write everything down. He's coping fine at work, and his tiredness has pretty much gone, although he still falls asleep when he's stressed (and I really wish I did because it's an excellent get-out).

He still has back pain, and leg pain and he walks with a limp, but we can be a family, we can carry on our lives and take our kids out for the day. We are the lucky ones.

Meningitis 1 year down the line afterwards

If you ever, EVER, feel like you have the worst hangover ever and you've not had a drink or been in the sun all day. If you have a temperature that won't drop with Paracetamol and Ibuprofen. If you're in so much pain you can't lie still.  If you get cramping pains in the front of your thighs. And most importantly if ever you can't touch your chin to your chest - go directly to hospital.

Thank you for all those who've helped me along the way,  and especially to those Izziwizzi Playfest people who've been there from day 1 - you guys are still here, even though Playfest isn't, and I couldn't have ever hoped to meet such a great bunch.

 
Thank YOU for reading. If you can stand it, here's to the next 500...x


34 comments:

  1. Ah, I can't believe it's been a year. That night is etched in my memory, I just wish I'd been able to do more. The year has passed quickly and you've got to 500 posts so fast. Well done, thanks for being a great friend. Love ya xxx

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    1. Aww, I love you too, I really do. Thank you so much for being there for me that night, and since. I really mean it when I say I couldn't have coped without you xxx

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  2. A beautiful 500th post. So pleased that you are writing it with him sitting next to you on the sofa. It's been lovely getting to know you and your family through your 500 blog posts and I look forward to the next 500. xx

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    1. Aww, thanks Jen. It's been great getting to know you too. You say such lovely things for starters :P xx

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  3. I can't believe that it had been a year and time passed so quickly. I am so glad to know you thru izziwizzi kids and we still madly chatting each night. Hope there are more great I opportunity coming your way.

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    1. Aww, thanks Eileen. I've been incredibly grateful for your medical advice and common sense over the past year - hopefully I won't need it again too many times! :)

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  4. Wow, well done on 500 posts and more so getting through the last year. You've appeared incredibly strong and coped better than I would of. How you kept up your blog I don't know but I guess it's a great outlet. Hopefully the next year will be less stressful and bring lots of wonderful things for you and your family.

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    1. It's all a facade Fiona :P
      Thank you so much, I still remember the first time I really spoke to you was when you did the Leappad and Innotab comparison :D

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  5. I had no idea. What an emotional post. I can't read your posts from last year as I feel so emotional for you just thinking about them. What a tough time your family had but I am so, so glad your partner is still here with you x

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    1. Thank you Donna - it's weird because in some ways it was the longest year, but then in some ways it's all right there still as if it was yesterday. It was very cathartic writing it all down, it helped me to understand what was happening. :) x

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  6. So glad it all worked out okay in the end. It doesn't seem like a year ago, I remember all of this like it was so recently! And congrats on your 500 posts!! <3

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    1. I know! I remember some of it so vividly, but some is a complete blur - my partner hardly remembers any of last year at all - he's the lucky one! :D x

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  7. Blogging is amazing and such a great way to record the good and the bad. Congratulations on reaching 500 posts! You have a great blog!

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    1. Awww thanks Laura - you do too. I was always in awe of you because your blog has such a fantastic name! :D

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  8. Wow, how time flys. I will never forget being knocked for six when I read about Sir E, It putting having chicken pox onto the back burner. The smiles at him trying to recreate The Great Escape and the fab work you (and the kids) put in to keep him in one place long enough to get better.
    Congrats on the 500 and keep em coming.
    Luv ya all.

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    1. Thank you so much. I had completely forgotten about your chicken pox until just now. I'm sure I didn't give you anything like as much sympathy as you deserved at the time! It's great to have you here - love you too xx

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  9. What a scary time this must have been for you. Well done on 500+ posts - keep going! xxx

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    1. Cheers Kerrie - it's been lovely getting to know you recently - you're probably lucky you didn't know me this time last year! :D xx

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  10. What a post! X x
    You're ace x

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    1. Awww Colette, you say the nicest things, you're totally welcome to visit any time :D xxx

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  11. What a wonderful way to celebrate your 500th post. I am so pleased your blog helped you through the worst of times and I hope there will be lots of good times to blog about in the coming months and years. x

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    1. You guys were ace, you really were - and I would have been lost without you. Thank you for the lovely words - I wish the same to you too. It's great knowing you Tami xx

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  12. Wow, what a beautifully written 500th post! I can not believe it has been a year, I am in awe how graciously you got through it as a family!

    So glad to know you, blogging is amazing and blogger friends are even more so! xxx

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    1. Awwww, cheers Kel! You are amazing - you kept me going, made sure I didn't mess up, and looked out for me when I needed it. I'm far richer for knowing you :) xx

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  13. Wow I can't believe it's been a year already. Truly great words written there Jenny. The blogging community is a wonderful one.

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    1. Aww, thank you Angela - it really is a great thing. Who'd have known it? :D

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  14. Here's to the next 500 and beyond. So glad for you about the meningitis recovery and so important to raise awareness of it. I know that when a friend needed advice, there was a meningitis helpline that was open 24/7 and that in itself was so useful to know and be able to call with questions and get advice straight away. xxx

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    1. Meningitis UK has a helpline and they are lovely. At the time I really didn't have any time to think of anything like that tbh, it was only afterwards during recovery when we needed to know if what he was experiencing was normal. It took a good couple of weeks before he could regulate his temperature for example :)
      Thanks Rebecca xx

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  15. A great year in your 500 wonderful posts, the meningitis is too scary for words, thank you for the little symptom reminder here.

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    1. You're welcome Fiona. It's been lovely getting to know you too - mainly in the wee small hours! If I could get a t-shirt with 'can you touch your chin to your chest?' I'd totally do it :) x

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  16. Replies
    1. Thank you Susan - virtual hugs are just as good as real ones most of the time :) x

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  17. awww honey this gave me goosebumps reading! i was one of the tweeters that night and i remember how painful that was ... i am so very glad that he is so much better and that you can now be a family again .. i am sending you all the love in the world and health and happiness!

    thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments xxxxxx

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  18. Thanks a lot Jaime, and thank you for hosting! :)

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