Red Alert

Well early this morning Amber Alert became Red Alert. My son-in-law phoned to say that Grandson No 1 had not had a good night and would I please fly down to help. During the night his sats were well down, his oxygen needed to be increased and he was moved into the High Dependency Ward with Acute Pneumonia. I have never got up so quickly and my packing was more a case of throw in the suitcase what you think you might need! By the time I was showered, packed and ready for breakfast the time was OK for me to phone my friends to let them know what was happening and to organise a handover with the dogs. They were great and offered straight away to drive me to the airport so all I had to do was to book my flight - that took absolutely ages, or so it seemed. The dogs were very confused with all my manic rushing about but all I could do was give them a couple of shapes as I left and tell them they would be OK.

My flight was delayed and when I tried to take a photo of an aircraft, in case this was my only quiet moment for a blip, I discovered that I didn't have my battery in the camera - it was being charged and I wasn't sure if I had packed it with the charger or not. So I went to Dixons and bought a new one, explaining why I needed it - at £57! - and took my photo. The kind young man there told me that if I discovered I had my battery in my case then I could return the new one to Dixons and get a refund...I told him that he had considerably improved my day.

The flight was good and I got the airport bus to Reading to be met by my tired daughter and the two younger boys. After a brief spell we all went into the hospital where my son-in-law had been all afternoon with Grandson No 1. I was unquestionably upset that he had worsened but glad that I was able to be of help - being north at home and worrying, feeling helpless, had been difficult. He was still on oxygen and weak but delighted to see me. I had bought both the two elder boys a couple of sticker type books and this blip shows them in the hospital playing with them. He is being so brave and fighting back the tears when the nurses tried to find a vein to take blood from him - and failed - but I too had to fight the tears back. So I showed him my veins and explained how they worked and what the nurses were trying to do and he is going to be brave and let the doctor try later. We are all feeling very helpless at the moment and are relying totally on the medics. They say he is a star!

I am now at home with the two younger boys while Dad has gone back to join my daughter in the hospital for the evening. I'm glad they can now have time together to be with their son. Hopefully tonight will see an improvement.

Thank you so much for your thoughts and comments yesterday - I cannot express how much that has all helped me. I obviously don't know how free I will be to either blip or comment in the next few days but will certainly try and do the former, especially when things improve. Thank you all.