Before I start with what I’ve been up to I wanted to mention a few stoma wear companies.
Yes! I know! Me of all people. I am after all, the person who started to write a blog, mainly because the thought of Stoma suitable clothing scared me sh**less - if you’ll pardon the pun.
But things have changed in the last six years, and most definitely changed in the last thirteen years of my own personal stoma story.
A few companies have been brought to my attention. I do need to say that I haven’t actually bought anything from either one of these two brands. But I do know people who have and are delighted with them.
I’m in the thinking about it stage at the moment.
(*just to note; I haven’t received any kickback or payments for any of the mentioned brands. It’s just something I felt might be useful to others).
I’m more likely to buy from I AM DENIM, mainly because they are less medically than Unhidden Clothing clothing. But I really feel Unhidden fill a huge need in the market, as they are doing an amazing job highlighting and providing the need for more adaptive solutions for people with disabilities or undergoing medical cares
…And the final shop I’m going to mention today is The Stoma Babe store.
A clothing brand founded by Stoma Babe (aka Holly). I saw her advertising her new Etsy shop a few weeks ago. One particular jumper caught my eye and made me laugh. So I bought one.
Holly had posted a discount code for them, so I decided to treat myself.
The jumper came last week. It’s so so cosy. Really lovely quality and is just generally fun…and special (just for us stoma bagged…or those that really love drugs). (Apparently drugs are sold in little bags nowadays. I wouldn’t know, I’m borderline Mormon these days. No alcohol, no tobacco, no drugs (well, only HRT & antihistamines), and no caffeine).
;)
I tagged Holly in a photo of me in my new sweatshirt, and bless her she’s added it to the Stoma Babe Store Instagram account.
I’m really pleased with the jumper. I’m under no obligation to say so. if I thought it was rubbish I just wouldn’t have mentioned it at all. So I am free to say it’s comfy, it’s fun, it’s perfect.
I bought size Large, because I’m all boobs and bum. I’d say they run true to size. But if you want it baggy then size up.
Jumper from The Stoma Babe Store, Jeans from Holland Cooper, Shoes from Gucci.
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Friday night we headed to Hemel Hempstead, a sort of half way point between us and Sam, Milly and Zak.
We met up to celebrate Zak’s 4th birthday! Yes, that darling grandson of ours is now FOUR! No idea where the time has gone. But then again, I can’t quite believe that my boys are all grown up, fled the nest and having fulfilling wonderful lives of their own.
Only seems five minutes ago that they were Zak’s age…
We had a lovely visit with them. Zak is an absolute sweetheart, an utter delight. I know I’m biased, but he is so adorable. He looks like a little angel, with his blonde hair and blue eyes. And he’s so quick witted, clever and funny. He reminds me so much of Sam as boy. He is adored, and we are very very lucky to have him on the planet.
If you saw my blogs for the last couple of weeks you’ll know that Sam, Zak’s dad, had cancer at 13. Due to the chemotherapy and radiotherapy he was told he wouldn’t be able to have children…But doctors aren’t gods and they don’t always get everything right. Mine misdiagnosed cancer and it worked out very badly for me. But Sam’s doctor’s miscalculation worked out very well for all of us. :)
Like I have always said, we are an incredibly lucky family. :)
Saturday came along brimming with promise. I put on a special birthday lunch for my mum. She’s 75 in a few weeks time, such a grown up girl now! ;)
Obviously I put a table together for her. I decided on pink, blue and spring, as my palette and inspiration.
It turned out really very well. I never know what it’s going to look like before I start out.
I have a very chaotic and disordered brain. Possibly because of my dyslexia, or maybe something else, but whatever it is I used to view it has a hindrance (through school) but now, as an adult - it’s my superpower!
It’s a shame we don’t reassure children of that throughout their school years. School is about process and procedures to pass exams, and real life is about harnessing the power of our peculiarities and make it work for us.
If only we were taught to celebrate that.
Table scaping is my passion, my art and my relaxation therapy.
Dress from M&S collab with Ghost, Boots from Ralph Lauren
It took a while to set this scape up, anything with balloons is going to take that bit longer.
I spent most of Friday working on it.
I blew up, by mouth, about 40 pink and blue balloons to fill the dining room floor with. Why did I blow them myself when I have a balloon pump? Oh who knows! What I do know is, a short while after blowing them up I popped out to get a few more bits and bobs. While I was out I decided to try on a few things in TK Maxx (I may have gotten a little sidetracked, I have explained I have a very flibbertigibbety brain). It was while I was in the dressing room that an almighty pain flared from my abdomen to all over my torso and down my legs.
I could feel all of my internal nerves, my bladder, my bowel, it was excruciating, I felt faint and sick.
It took the wind out my sails, I sat in the dressing room trying to breathe my way out of whatever it was. Panicking that I’d be carted off to hospital - undressed - from a TK Maxx dressing room.
I finally managed to stand up, although bent over was the most comfortable of the uncomfortable I was feeling.
I ditched my bargains, and hobbled to my car (I must have felt rough hahahaha).
I sat there in shock at the pain. I couldn’t lift my leg up to drive. I was a mess.
I waited until I finally felt I could breathe and drive home again. When I got home I made myself a peppermint tea and put a heat pack on my belly. Both of which seemed to help.
I have no idea what caused it. The only things I can think of are the effort involved in balloon blowing caused trapped wind or something, or maybe because I’ve been wearing a lot of trousers lately rather than my usual dress/trousers rotation?
The worst part is, I own an electric balloon pump, I just couldn’t be bothered going to the shed to get it.
I would say lesson learned, but we both know that would be an exaggeration/borderline lie. ;)
My advice to others would be use a pump, just in case the episode was connected to balloon blowing and delicate bowels.
And while we’re at it, don’t blow up latex helium balloons too early. I got back from our meal out on Friday night with Zak to find all the helium balloons walking around the living room floor, like weird little aliens.
Scaping from;
Lambs and white bunnies and pink candles from Mrs Alice shop
Blue bunnies and eggs from TKmaxx
Clear glass candle sticks, cutlery and rattan table mats from Neptune Colchester
Table cloth made by Chris
Table runner and table mats from Ralph Lauren Home
Pink dinner plates from Amazon
Rose serve ware was my mum and dad’s (a wedding present to them 53 years ago)
Jug from Klimchi Studio
Cake stand from Sophie Conran at Portmeirion
Chocolates from Charbonnel et Walker
Ben felt this scape was too ‘Eastery’, but having a March birthday is perfect for spring scaping. And although Ben is a snappy dresser, and has an amazing eye for interior design, I’m not sure I will be taking scaping advice from him. ;)
We had a lovely day. Hopefully my mum enjoyed it too. :)
She won’t thank me for sharing this photo, she’s more than a little camera shy. But the birthday girl deserves a birthday bash, and that includes photos to celebrate 75 glorious years!! :)
She definitely deserves some fuss and spoiling though. She has to edit my blog every week and correct the grammar and spelling mistakes…that’s almost a full time job in itself. And she is currently renovating the dolls house my grandad made for me when I was 5 years old.
Unlike me, my mum can literally turn her hand to anything. Some women marry men like their father, but I married one who can equally match my mum for all round ability to do absolutely everything. I do recommend this strategy for people like me who are incapable of even the most basic tasks. :)
Sunday was an early start and very very special. Chris and I picked up my mum and dad and we all went up to Stratford (East London) to watch Ben run in a half marathon.
Jumper from Holland Cooper, Trousers from Next.
I thought it was wonderful that my parents came to watch him too, especially as it was bitterly cold and my mum is imminently waiting for two new knees.
It was really special for Ben that they could be part of it with him.
He did really well on the run too. I can’t run 13 and a half minutes, let alone 13 and a half miles, or probably even 3 and a half minutes. But he sailed through it.
His friend Alice was running too, as was Alice’s friend Francesca. So we cheered them all on. It was a great course lay out, which meant we saw them quite a few times throughout the race.
At one point Ben came running past us with a young lady we didn’t recognise, they were chatting away merrily as they went. We thought it was odd, it’s not the most obvious place you’d expect someone to pull hahahah. Anyway, turns out he’d bumped into a girl he went to infant and junior school with there.
They all did amazingly well.
Making memories with your grandparents isn’t just something you do as a child, if you’re lucky enough to still have some as an adult make all the memories you can.
We headed to a pub in Stratford for drinks and lunch after. It felt so nice to have us all together.
Ben felt better than expected after a bit of food, so he came into London with us, while my mum and dad headed off home, don’t worry, we didn’t abandon them, they only needed a lift there as it was such an early start. :)
That’s the face of a man that’s been through some things hahaha.
He was actually surprisingly perky for having run a half marathon in the freezing cold.
I didn’t think we had a focus for being in the shops, I was just along for the ride, but Chris very kindly surprised me and bought me a new bag and shoes…and if you are wondering if I actually need new shoes and a bag the simple answer is - always!
It came as a bit of a shock to me actually too. But I’ve got a few bits coming up soon that I’m not looking forward to ~ mole removals this week and a dreaded colonoscopy in a couple of weeks time.
Yes colonoscopies are vital, they save lives, that doesn’t make it any easier or any less daunting. So book yours in, get it over and done with. We can fret about it prior together. ;)
Whilst I waited for the shop assistant to find me the shoes I wanted in my size I had a little play with the clothes.
A girl (even an old one) can dream…
Reasons why I can’t get a Christian Dior outfit;
This skirt is about 4K (GB pounds)
I’m the wrong shape (too many lumps & bumps)
The wrong height (not enough of it)
I’m a spiller of foods, drinks & bleach
…and then back to point one, and probably most important, which is that skirt is the price of a small to medium car!
But it was dreamy, I was perfectly happy with just playing with it. It was my ‘Mrs Harris Goes To Paris’ moment. :)
This week I’m mainly getting ready to have a big black mole cut off my foot. I don’t think it could be in a more awkward position if it actually went out if it’s way to try.
It’s in between two toes, and although the surgeon thinks it’s okay at the moment (it will be tested to make sure), it is something that has the potential to go tits up, so cut it out now, and head off danger.
As ever I wish you well, but also remember to be vigilant;
Check moles, bowels, bladders, boobs (yes, you too boys, surprisingly enough it’s one for you to watch out for as well) and balls. Basically, do regular stock takes of your body.
Cancer is an absolute c***. Don’t give it a chance to win.
Check, check, check again.
Much love. Keep well. See you next week. Xx