Aaaahhh, the NHS ...

Let me preface this post by saying that we had a lovely Christmas here in England. It was a bit hard for me since Patrick wasn't here, but we were so blessed to have Caitlin, Artur and Lael here celebrating with us. What joy that was! Everyone had fun opening the plethora of gifts under the tree, and it was fun, as always, to watch the children's delight as they discovered new treats left for them by Santa ... and their mummies and daddies.

In the afternoon, the children spent some wonderful time playing outside with Uncle Artur - it was a chilly, crisp day, and they enjoyed playing with some of their new toys and running around getting rid of some of that pent-up energy.

Christmas night, Aidan complained that his "leg hurt," but I didn't think much of it as I gave him a hot bath and put him to bed.

Boxing Day morning, Aidan woke up screaming at 6 AM. Very unusual for him as he is a good sleeper and usually sleeps until around 7:30. I thought he'd had a nightmare. I brought him into bed with me where he fussed and cried and said that his leg still hurt. He kept bringing my hand to his leg saying, "Feel it, Mummy, feel how it hurts!"

I, however, couldn't feel his pain except in my heart, but still didn't think too much of it as he has suffered from growing pains in the past. During the later hours of the morning, Aidan didn't do much. He stayed on the couch and my bed watching some of his new movies. I gave him some Ibuprofen and let him relax.

Around lunch time he really started crying about his leg. Artur called Mama in Germany to see what she thought. I had put some heat on it (the lavender filled teddy bear), but I still hadn't really LOOKED at his leg. Mama asked if he was swollen at all, so I finally did take a look and found that Aidan's left knee was extremely swollen.

It being Boxing Day - a holiday here in England - the doctor's office (or surgery)was closed. So I called the number on our surgery brochure for the NHS to see what we should do. They were actually quite responsive - there was a paramedic on hand who said we should go to the hospital right away. And then a doctor-on-call called us and said not to go to the A & E (ER) but to go to Primary Care at the local hospital and they would be expecting us.

So off we went. I had to carry Aidan - he was screaming all this time. I couldn't even put his slipper on his left foot - I couldn't touch that leg. It was freezing and my baby had a bare foot.

We got to the hospital, and they actually got us in to see a doctor within half an hour. This doctor told me that she was going to send us to see the "cleverer doctors upstairs."

So upstairs we went. We were put in a children's ward where they had some lovely nurses working. There were also lots of toys for Aidan to play with on his bed. A doctor eventually came to see us. He looked at Aidan's leg then sent us for x-rays and blood tests. Aidan did great in the x-rays. Not so great getting his blood drawn. Funnily enough, it was a doctor who drew his blood.

We went to the hospital around 2. By this time it was about 6. By the time the x-rays came back and the on-call orthopedic doctor took a look at them it was nearly 8. Both the pediatrician and the orthopedist came to talk to me together. They told me that even though the x-ray was clear and the blood tests came back negative for infection, they weren't convinced it wasn't an infection and wanted to admit Aidan.

At which point I started to cry. I felt as if we had come to the hospital with a little snowball which very quickly turned into an avalanche.

The nurse said we had to go to a different hospital - she was going to give me directions ... because the hospital where we were, the one in our town, CLOSES AT TEN. I said, Are you serious? The hospital CLOSES? And apparently, it does.

So around 10 PM Aidan and I drove to Gloucester to the Royal Hospital there. It actually was an improvement as they have a Children's Center.

This story is getting rather long, so I'm going to sum up the main points and my observations.

1. We were admitted and given a bed (and a lounge chair for me) in a ward with eight beds and just curtains to block off our neighbors.

2. It seems people in England do not question doctors or ask questions about treatment - I'm making this statement based on the reactions I received from the orthopedic surgeon who is apparently never doubted or questioned.

3. A surgery room is called a "theater."

4. They do not have private rooms for people unless they have a highly contagious disease. I asked.

5. Nurses do not offer to help you unless you specifically ask. I don't think it's bad nursing, I think it's polite Englishness.

6. It is someone's job at the hospital to come to each bed with a tea/coffee cart after lunch, at tea time, and after dinner to offer free tea or coffee.

7. Bangers and mash is a common meal even in the hospital.

8. You have to pay for parking in the hospital parking lot.

9. There is a definite class system in England, but in the hospital, that all goes out the window. Everyone is treated the same.

10. Aidan had surgery first thing in the morning on the 27th. The surgeon decided it was imperative and couldn't wait for cultures to come back because if it was an infection it would affect his joints permanently if we didn't take care of it right away.

We were in the hospital a total of four days and three nights. Aidan was on IV the entire time and recovered well. The surgeon didn't want to let us come home, but I insisted. He started moving around the day after we got home, even though I still had to carry him to the bathroom and up and down the stairs.

We have gone back for two follow up appointments, and everything looks good. They never did grow any bacteria on the cultures, but the doctor is convinced it was an infection, technically called Septic Arthritis. I'm not convinced, but I'm thankful he is healed, and I know - in hindsight - I did the right thing.

I feel like Aidan got good care through the NHS. What I didn't like was how we had no choice, no second opinion, no voice. And I know that we were in a good hospital, and it being an emergency situation we got attentive care. Others are not so blessed. In social medicine, you do not choose your doctor. You get who is there. And we got a good surgeon, the best in the hospital from what I now know.

But I do know, that in Aidan's file, is probably marked, "Emotional American mother, extremely protective, asks too many questions, tread lightly and be wary."

I am Remiss

I am remiss in not keeping up with the blogging. I have a million excuses. And, truthfully, it's just not that exciting around here.

In my last post I promised to share why the Christmas posts were so slow in coming; in fact, they are practically non-existent. I'm still working on that post. So instead I'll share what our lives are like right now. And hope it doesn't bore you to tears.

Many of you know that we are now a home schooling family. We made this decision for many reasons, and so far things are going well.

It is not easy to be a home schooling family. I don't really remember what I thought about it before. I knew that it wasn't an EASY thing to do, but I guess I never thought of it being a HARD thing to do. After my first week, I was exhausted. Physically, mentally, emotionally. It is tough. If you are the teaching parent, you are "on" all the time. As if I wasn't "on" anyway.

Also, many of you know that Patrick is deployed until late April. This gives me double duty which is another one of my "million" excuses as to why I have not blogged much lately.

But let me share what a normal day is like around here - keep in mind this is while Patrick is away. I think it would be different if he were here, but since he isn't, this is my experience.

Night time is my MEEEEEE time. I covet it, I look forward to it, and I stay up way too late.

Morning time sees me getting up to the alarm, hopping in the shower only to have Aidan pop in, usually, to say good morning.

I get the bigger kids up by 8 at the latest. We have breakfast and devotions. They have to be ready to go by 9. We hang out in the school/dining/music room. They each have their own desk. We start with Math because it seems to take the most concentration. Then we usually follow up with history or Bible. Gillian also has spelling, penmanship, grammar, and phonics. We do art and French on alternate days.

Joshua has Grammar, Etymology (words), Latin, Science, and literature plus French and art.

We do most of our work before lunch. At least we try to. We save the "fun" stuff for afternoon times. In between times we have guitar, piano, violin, dance, and swimming lessons.

And lots of play time outside if the weather is permitting.

I'm still figuring out the scheduling. And still trying to figure out how not to push too much. I see my kids learning and realize what sponges they are. Gillian has already memorized the first book of the Psalms. Joshua is working on the first book of Proverbs. He has also already memorized a multitude of grammar rules. I am amazed at how much they retain from day to day.

Friday will see us at Cardiff Castle. We have to have a break. Let's really make the most of this home schooling.

And since Joshua is studying ancient Rome, I do believe we will be taking a holiday to Italy when Patrick returns. Can't wait for that.

I have to end this post giving the credit where credit is due. In a million years I never would have imagined that I would be a home schooling parent. I think I never thought I could be with my children 24/7. And now, not only am I with my children 24/7, but I love them more than I ever have.

I thank the Lord for continuing to work in my heart and life as I struggle along here. And giving me the rest that I so desperately need and crave. And I thank God for continuing to give me the desire to teach my children myself - every day.

The Cutest Lamb in the World

I am terribly behind in blogging, and soon I will share why - in a future post. But I am aiming to catch up now that it's 2009!
Aidan's school put on a Christmas nativity which was performed for all the parents and students at St. Edward's. He was a lamb, and a very, very, cutie lamb at that. See for yourself: