I'm so very sorry that I haven't updated you much during this past week but I've not had much time to let you all know what's been going on, as I've been more than a tad over worked and just that little bit more than over tired!

For those who've sent me private messages, please forgive me not answering you yet but I truly have been worn out. I will reply... I promise. Please forgive my tardiness, but I will get to them all.

DH is doing OK since his double knee relacement. Not wonderful, but OK. Unfortunately we've had more than a few rather large spanners thrown in the works, or set backs or whatever.... but things have not all gone to plan!

Mostly when anything happens in my life, I tend to rely on Murphy's Law, and this one seems to be the one I use the most..... "Anything that can go wrong..... will go wrong!"

I was hoping that my DH would escape all that, but it doesn't seem to be the case!

Since the operation he hasn't been able to see. He's almost blind!

DH had poor vision in one eye since he was young, but his vision out of the other eye was always excellent.... until now.

He's almost blind is his good eye now, and we're both starting to wonder if he might have had a stroke during this operation, as he just cannot see out of this one good eye since the surgery.

He did have a mini stroke around 2 years ago, but he recovered really well after that.

His dad had surgery for a shoulder replacement a few years back, and he had a major stroke under the anesthetic... and died the next day. I daresay you can see why I'm a bit concerned on my hubby's behalf, about this loss of vision and the possibility of another stroke!

I've made an appointment to see our local GP tomorrow about his lack of vision, and also the terrible dizziness that just won't go away. Maybe we should have gone back to see the surgeon, but for the life of me, I can't see that an orthopedic surgeon would know anything about headaches, dizziness or blurriness or loss of vision.

I am feeling rather tired and washed out with me having suddenly having to take over the carer's position at home, when DH did that for me for the past umpteen years! Most things that DH did for me until now, I'm having to do for him!

We do have a house keeper coming in to vacuum, clean the bathroom and do the washing etc, and a personal carer to give him a shower and that sort of thing, but when it comes to cooking the meals, I've been doing things like that. I've even been washing the dishes even though we have a dishwasher, I just haven't worked out how to use it yet!

DH is trying to do too much too soon and getting over tired, and I'm trying to keep up with him and wearing myself out. I know darn well that I'm over stretching my own boundaries, and I know that he is too.

We're both so very tired by around midday, that we're both collapsing in a heap and sleeping for an hour or two every afternoon.

I hope that nobody thinks I was ignoring them because I assure you all that was not happening.

Maybe now you can see why I've been very slow at getting back to peoples messages. Megs hugs to all, and I promise to reply to all my messages, but those replies just may be a bit slow in coming.

I don't know if any of you ever saw the thread I started in the Pet Forum some months ago about a cockatiel I wanted to get for my hubby for his 60th birthday? It didn't happen even though I bought the cage, toys and other accessories......(the fledglings died).

Here's that thread incase anyone was checking that one out at the time. : http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread46480.html

Today we finally bought a young male cockatiel.

We're hoping it's a male because the advice I got here was that males are easier to teach to talk. DH has named him Reggie, and I'm really hoping this little fellow will lift his spirits. He really is a cutie, and when he starts to feel more relaxed in our home, I'll take a photo and put it in my profile.

I'll continue to pray for you folks...

I've often thought there should be a button we could click that would display a generic message, kind of like the "out of office reply" in email.

The message would be something like "Please pray - will update later". Or even "I'm okay - leave me alone!" Sometimes we only have enough resources left to click on a button, if we have that.

I'll be specifically praying that God will send someone to take up the slack, so that neither of you overdo it to the point of being in the hospital!!

I'm so sorry to hear about your DH's lack of vision, Koala . I really hope that whatever it is can be treated real soon and that he will be back to normal. Please know that I am keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers.

Please don't worry about not being on the forum that much or answering your PM's. We have all missed you but you need to put yourself and DH first ... we will always be here when you need someone to support you as you are for us.

I hope your DH's appointment with the GP will go well tomorrow and please keep us updated when you feel up to it.

Much love to the both of you. You don't deserve to go through all of this

Anne First off, you owe no apologies. Second, you and DH are in my daily prayers. I hope the vision problems are temporary and he will regain full use of his eye. Things like that are so scary and make everything else doubly hard to deal with.

I'm wondering if the MS Society would be able to send more help if they knew that you're struggling even with the help they've already provided? Have you contacted them again to let them know you're having these problems? I know you probably hate to ask for more but it sounds like you could really use a hand.

I so wish I lived closer to you...or you lived closer to me....I'd be over with supper for you two every night! Hopefully you'd like my cooking...or it would give you an incentive to speed up recovery!

Hopefully in a couple of months all this will be a distant bad memory and you'll both be feeling much better. And congratulations on getting Reggie...it's amazing how much a pet can lift your spirits.

for the both of you.

Anne - I am still praying and thinking of you and DH daily! you will get through this remember my motto "Tough Times don't last Tough people do! and I know both you and your DH are both tough people.

Annie no apolgies needed, you take care of you and DH, hope he is feeling better each day and yourself too

I hope you can find quick answers about the vision and other problems soon. And I hope it is only a tiny little bump in his recovery.

So what part of the dishwasher are you having troubles with ??
Can't you find the start button??

no apologies needed Anne...just lots of hugs and understanding from here!

((((Koala))))

((((((((Anne and Hubby)))))))))