Woot Woot!

I trotted down to see the doctor this afternoon. Again.

He checked on his handiwork from Friday evening's surgery and declared the problem to be fixed. HOORAY!!

I have to take things a little bit easy for the next few days, but that's just to make sure I ease back into top gear rather than trying to jump straight back to levels of crazy activity. I'm allowed back to work tomorrow and my boss has very kindly told me to only do as much as I can and to go home when I need to if I can't cope with a full day. I'd already arranged to work short days most of this week because school goes back on Wednesday so I'm thinking that'll let me get back to speed rather nicely.

And after a week and a bit of drama, drama, drama... I'm pretty darn happy to be easing back into things.

Home Again, Home Again...

Jiggety Jig!

Well the bleed started again yesterday afternoon and a quick call through to the doctor resulted in me being told to meet him at the hospital and then scheduled for a spot of surgery at 6pm. This time it was all done in theatre and under a general anaesthetic, rather than with the use of local anaesthetic in his rooms, which meant he could dig around a bit more without me having a sooky-la-la cry.

I have to see him again Monday to be sure the bleeding has really, truly, properly stopped and then he's sending me off to have some blood tests to check my haemoglobin levels as well as something to do with clotting agents in my blood. In my usual sick and twisted way it struck me as funny that, after a week of minor arterial bleeding that has the doctor all worried, he's going to order more blood be taken in order to check how it's doing LOL.

The best news is that I'm no longer on bed rest. I'm not allowed to lift heavy things or do anything even mildly strenuous but I am allowed to get up, walk around and do some normal stuff. Yay! Unfortunately I'm feeling kinda wiped out so have actually spent most of the afternoon in/on my bed. But tomorrow I'll be tackling a few chores I'd had earmarked for the past week, like labelling all the school stuff for the kids.

And Here's One I Prepared Earlier...

I made this last week before all the drama that has kept me in (or at least on) my bed but hadn't got to posting it yet. Well that and I didn't want to shock you all with two recipes in one week. I thought I'd better ease back into the cooking posts so as not make you all die of shock or set myself up for something I couldn't keep up with...

This is my first ever attempt at making a proper carbonara - normally I make more of an alfredo sauce with butter, garlic and cream. Lots of cream. Yum. But in the interests of being a bit healthier, and using up some of the egg supply, I decided to have a go at this. I love carbonara when I'm eating out but the idea of 'raw' eggs in a sauce that I'm making was always enough to stop me trying it myself. Well fear no more! The eggs do cook very nicely with the heat of the rest of the dish and there was nothing oozy or raw about it. (Though I suspect/know I overcooked it a little but heck it made me feel happier, I'll be that bit braver next time!) The kids wolfed this down AND went back for seconds. Yes, even the fussy one. Hubby wasn't as big a fan - he loves the creamy sauce and was a little disappointed to discover that dinner wasn't what he thought it was going to be but did admit that it was good. And I thought it was great as it ticked all the boxes for me - quick, easy and clean plates at the end of the meal. We'll be adding this to the Fast Food Filthy Friday rotation for sure.

Penne Carbonara

adapted slightly from The Thrifty Kitchen by Suzanne Gibbs and Kate Gibbs

Serves 4

400g penne

1/3 cup olive oil

150g bacon, finely chopped

5 eggs, beaten (the original recipe uses 3 but I found that wasn't enough, and I had a couple of quite small eggs, so I added two more and it was perfect)

3/4 cup grated fresh parmesan

freshly ground pepper

1. Cook the penne in a large pan of boiling water until al dente.

2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the bacon for 5 or so minutes over medium until browned and crisp.

3. Drain the pasta and add it to the fry pan with the bacon, tossing it through to thoroughly coat it. Remove from the heat and add the beaten egg, stirring constantly so that it quickly cooks into a smooth creamy sauce. Stir through half the cheese and  the ground pepper.

4. Pile into serving bowls and top with the remaining cheese and extra pepper if desired. 

Bugger!

The bed rest and finger crossing doesn't seem to have done the trick. So after a not brilliant night I've spoken to the hospital and have to meet the doctor in an hour and a half.

If you could keep up with the finger crossing? Thanks.

Update at 10.30am:

Back from seeing the doctor. It seems that a minor arterial bleed caused all the trouble - it would stop for a bit and then go again and decided to go a bit crazy at 1am and again at 2am but then settled until 5am. The doctor has 'sealed' it with silver nitrate and I'm back on bedrest for an extra few days. All being well this should be the end of the drama. But he has given me his mobile number "just in case". That finger crossing I asked you for? Please keep at it. Pretty please?

And any more suggestions for websites, blogs or Pinterest requests would be most welcome.

Still Here

I've spent most of the day following the doctors orders.

I did overdo it slightly this morning, gave myself a wee fright and spent the rest of the day trying to make up for it. So, all from the comfort of my bed I've played board games, been adorned with jewellery and joined in with some crazy made up game that involved tiny little toy puppies and the girl-child being their mum who had to go to work, shopping and out with friends. A lot. I totally took that as the guilt trip it was intended to be. I also watched tv, read and played on my laptop. Oh and I fitted in a nap too.  Hubby has been wonderful, sorting the kids, organising meals and hanging up load after load of washing.

I 've got tomorrow to get through in the same way so while I have you here... got any suggestions for blogs or websites that I should check out? Are you on Pinterest? What's your name over there - I'll check out your boards and follow you. Or if you're not on and want an invite leave me a message in the comments and I'll take care of it.

 I did launch into a big whinge here then came back and deleted it because I sounded like a total brat with first world problems. I am ridiculously lucky to live in a country with great health care, to earn enough to be able to pay for private health insurance and see the doctors of my choice in the hospital of my choice and to be able to afford to have a few days off work while I get better. So whinge over. If being bored is the worst of my problems then I'm doing just fine.