Soop's kitchen refuge for the sharing of...

That’s really lovely galen. Clever girl ?
susan no wonder you’re upset. Hope little Henry is ok. Perhaps your daughter could phone her GP for help.
Glad to hear news of cherry. Hope she will be back with us soon.
Glad you’re home safely soop. Take care
TOYA?

Oh Susan I'm so sorry. That is upsetting and worrying news. My prayers are with you and your family

susan I was most concerned and disappointed at your news. I can only describe what happened to your D today as ridiculous! I'm not surprised that she is so distressed. How can things appear to be improving and she finally gets to have a positive discussion, for this then to be turned completely on its head, stop the medication, can't have the tests, liaise with a Dietician (who has gone AWOL?).etc., i.e. back to square 1.

I wonder if the Power of Grans could just possibly help to throw a bit of light on the problem. Would it be helpful to set out some more details regarding your dear little chap's current problems so that we could perhaps come up with an idea to try or some advice we have had through similar experiences or a half sensible suggestion which might just help in some way? Only a suggestion, obviously. You might not want to spend any time setting this out, but I - for one - would be really interested to hear how his current intolerances or allergies affect him and when it started and what his diet comprises etc., especially if I thought it might help you and Henry's Mum to rationalise some of the ideas you might have had recently.

We have had a number of allergies in our family. We also have Doctors, but I'm not one of them. Allergies tend to run in families, of course, and we also have some intolerances. Allergies can be very obvious but when they are not, you end up almost tearing your hair out going backwards and forwards over a diet in efforts to eradicate the culprit causing the problem. Many years ago I sought the help of an allergy specialist in London to solve a digestive problem I had; and more recently I consulted a specialist in France for help with my hay fever - now eradicated almost 100%. I have also had friends whose children have had food intolerances and allergies....one toddler at nursery who used to throw himself downstairs or off high places (as if he was high himself!) simply because, it was found, the dye in the highly coloured Ice Poles that he loved eating that summer was affecting his behaviour in that way.

When Henry is ill, I have no idea what symptoms he has - particularly if they are sufficiently severe to send him to hospital, or what medication he was given recently which improved his situation. But, it seems (probably because it was badly handled today) that your Daughter has just been left wondering.... whatever next. Hardly helpful or supportive when dealing with a baby. Do you want to share any details or would you prefer just to feel that we are all rooting for Henry but anything else would be a waste of time. Do say. Hope you're not offended by this post : I think everyone here is genuinely concerned at the problems you have. PM me if you want - or tell me to shut up. Hugs to you all and I hope that tomorrow you will feel less shaken by all of this.

I'm seriously not trying to fill up these pages, but at the rate that everything moves on this thread, by the time I log in tomorrow everyone will be talking about so many different things, I will have lost the plot completely !!

Just to say Smileless Night scented stocks are nondescript tiny flowers which go mad and quickly fill a space or flowerpot, but are quite hard to see until their pretty little flowers open after sunset with a perfume which is quite unbelievable in the garden.
dragonfly Dexter has amazing nurses in both yourself and Mr D. So hoping that some good will have come from today and he will not be in pain for much longer.
soop and the vase, so funny. Think you dealt with that with much dignity, but please don't ever ask any of us lot for a reference should you apply to work in a florists.

Warm wishes for a good night's rest to you all. x

I`m glad that you made it back home safe and sound Soop. Love the tale of the vase!
Sorry to hear that Cherry has been ill, but relieved that she is on the up and up now.
Poor little Henry, also his poor mum, being pulled every which way with advice and non- advice, I hope the disappearing dietician shows up to do her stuff.
Galen, that`s beautiful, especially for an 8 year old. You have a budding artist in the family!
My son is feeling very down today. He had some swabs done at the hospital the other day, to see if he could go back onto his cancer treatment. Sadly, no, he is still testing positive for Covid 19, so has to have the swabs done again next week.
I wish that the pain killers they sent me home from the hospital with would start to work, I could cry with the pain.
TOYA xx

Grandmafrench,thank you for your post and thank you everyone else for your kind comments.
Henry was exclusively breastfed for six months and was absolutely fine,no problems at all.He started weaning at six months and overnight things changed.He has horrific skin reactions to most foods.The only things he can vaguely tolerate are broccoli,carrots and potato.He has even had reactions to breast milk,The dietician recommended probiotic drops which caused such a reaction The gp called an emergency ambulance.
As well as the food allergies,he has had reactions when going outside some days and my daughter sat him on DGD’s trampoline and he had a reaction to that as well.
The medicine the gp prescribed really helped but the dr today said to discontinue as he is too young for it even though it can be prescribed for under 1’s and used under medical supervision.
My daughter has gone dairy free and that combined with the medicine was really helping.
He claws at his neck and throat when he has a reaction which is really worrying.The dietician advised keeping his neck moisturised but the problem isn’t with his skin.
We really feel we have hit a brick wall.
Any advice anyone can give us would be very gratefully received.

Oh Susan just read your post. How worrying for you all. How strange the doctor would leave you high and dry like that. I do hope your DD gets some reassurance tomorrow.

Thank you dragonfly.x

Goodness so many difficulties. I’ve not been able to absorb all the posts properly, a busy Kitchen but I’m definitely TOYA with special hugs for cherry, callgirl and her son, Dragonfly and Dexter, Susan, little Henry and his family. Sleep as well as you can everyone, take care of yourselves.

Galen I would have that framed and hung in pride of place.

dragonfly What is the latest regarding your health and that of dear Dexter?

callgirl1 Your dear son certainly has had a traumatic time of late. I feel for you. A mother never ceases from worrying about her nearest and dearest. Yet, there is very little that you can do in the circumstances. A virtual gentle arm around your shoulder from we two in Kintyre.

Susan I was horrified to learn the extent of little Henry's ongoing trauma. He's just a wee baby. Surely someone with the appropriate medical know-how has a duty to deal with this matter urgently.

Grandmafrench Wise words.

callgirl1, if the pain killers aren't man enough to ease your pain, please phone your GP. Please do not suffer in silence. It's not necessary.

Good morning Kitcheners - I am so very sorry to hear of all the worries and traumas you are going through. Forgive me if I don’t mention you all by name - I am just afraid I might miss somebody out, but I do send love, sympathy and every possible vibe I can muster to you all (could Grandmafrench please pass these on to Cherry too)
When I think of what you are all going through I take my hat off to you all and send armfuls of xxx

susan I do not understand why the surgery is taking such a draconian attitude towards that handsome young man. The dietician cannot prescribe drugs herself, somebody would have signed the prescription form and the pharmacist with his/her years of training would not have dispensed it if he/she thought it would be harmful. He is not the only baby on planet earth with severe allergies and he needs to eat.

dragonfly pleased to hear on another thread that Dexter's eye is marginally better. You will be pleased when this lockdown is over and that gorgeous hound can go back to his mother so that you will no longer have responsibility for his welfare.

callgirl life is stressful enough without your poor son adding to your problems.
TOYA

Please accept my apologise as I have no chance of catching up with this new kitchen.

Things have not been good in Gravy Grange this week, both myself and our 4 month old GS have been very poorly (we are on the same medication, just different dosage). I think we all had a wobble and panic on Tuesday when GP said if I felt any worse ring 999 immediately!!! It was compounded as it was our DDs birthday, and she was dealing with a poorly baby and Mum,,whilst Mr.Gravy amused the 5 year old GC. Things are on the mend with us both, and I really hope that's it illness wise in lockdown.

Virtual hugs to all the poorly kitcheners, their families and loved ones, I will endeavour to read previous posts this afternoon.

TOYA ??

GrannyGravy I'm sorry to hear that life at the Grange has been so difficult for you and members of your family. Healing vibes coming your way. Take things easy and we all trust that you will feel more like your tip-top self very soon.
Good afternoon, Maw and CharleyG Is the sun shining? It is in Kintyre.

Last night's end of April sky, was beautiful. Hope that it cheers you all.

Thank you again for the kind messages re Henry.
Soop,we feel the same that surely someone needs to take responsibility for his treatment.
Charley,I said the same to my daughter.I worked as a pharmacy technician for many years and the prescription will have been checked by three people.I dug out my old BNF and the medication can be prescribed for under ones so long as it is under continuing medical supervision.
Thank you all for your kind messages,the support we have received is really keeping us going at the moment.
We are taking the weekend to take stock and then will call the gp on Monday.
Grannygravy,I am so sorry that you and the little one have been ill.I really hope you will both be feeling better soon.x
Like grannygravy,I will attempt to catch up on previous posts later today.
Callgirl,I hope you can get some different painkillers and that your son’s treatment will resume soon.x
Thinking of you all.x

I had a long chat with Ann today. She's taking a bit of a break at the moment but she will be back. Meanwhile, she is following events in the kitchen and is TOYA.

The highlight of my year I think was today- I actually walked around Waitrose, our local. I have not been in the store since lockdown began.

My friend and neighbour queued for 45 minutes this am. I applied the brains and queued for 5 minutes when it was dark and dull outside with the odd spot of rain. That worked.

I thought they were having a laugh re some prices but no- they have rocketed.

It must be the pregnancy- I really fancied a lamb steak and actually found one. I spent far too much money but I doubt if I will see the store again before October.

GrannyGravy so sorry to hear that you and the baby were so ill. Hopefully, you are now both on the mend.

soop I love your sunsets- we have had some sunshine here but also a fair amount of rain.

I am fit and well- I think most of you do too much and should begin learning to lead the slothful indolent life that I live.
TOYA

anno Ann has been in my thoughts. I was beginning to wonder why she hasn't visited us lately. Our love to you, ann. Please join us again when you wish to. We do miss you.

CharleyG I'm about to do as you say. I'm feeling all indolent. MacSporran is making a . I am going to take to my chair, feet up, rug over my knees...and read the newspaper.

Tomorrow I shall be back with you all. Thank you yet again for your company. Continue to take the best possible care of yourselves. You lot matter.

Life is just a bowl of cherries
Don't take it serious,
Life's too mysterious
You work,
You save,
You worry so
But you can't take your dough
When you go, go, go

So keep repeating "it's the berries",
The strongest oak must fall
The sweetest things in life
To you were just loaned
So how can you lose
What you've never owned

Life is just a bowl of cherries
So live and laugh, aha!
Laugh and love
Live and laugh
Laugh and love
Live and laugh at it all

Lyrics to Life is just a bowl of cherries by Lew Brown

Good to hear from you again Cherry I hope you are feeling better.

Sorry to hear you are not so well in the Gravy household and that your son Callgirl cannot resume his treatment. I hope you all start to feel better soon.

Dexter had an operation to stop his eyelashes rubbing on the ulcer yesterday. We got him home at around 3 and he was extremely stressed, not helped by the collar he has to wear. Fortunately I was told to give him half a paracetamol and so he slept through the night. He woke at 7 thrashing around and needed lots of calming cuddles. The ulcer is slightly smaller but we are still struggling with the eye drops.
We go back in a couple of weeks.

I got a second food parcel from the government today. I tried to ring to say I didn't want it but it seems you only get recorded messages these days.
I rang a local food bank and donated last weeks and this weeks so at least they were happy.

Afternoon everyone. Once again it's taken me a while to get to the kitchen and the day's past very quickly.

A more relaxing Aldi shopping experience this morning so much so that I took a little longer and happened upon some rather delicious looking danish pastries, the really gooey kind you'll be pleased to know soop, and have bought them to the kitchen.

Admittedly I felt unusually on edge last week and the general atmosphere in the store was tense but this morning it seemed more relaxed, with a bit of chit chat going on, at the required social distance of course.

Maybe we're just getting used to it.

What's happening with Henry's treatment beggars belief Susan, it's going to be a long weekend for you all before you contact the GP on Monday. Love and best wishes being sent to you and your family.

GrannyGravy sorry both you and your little GS have been so unwell but good to hear you are both feeling a little better.

They sound lovely Grandmafrench so as well as taking a picture at just the right time so we can see the pretty little flowers, do you think you could find away of capturing the scent of their perfume so we can experience that too?

Sounds as if you had a successful trip to Waitrose today Charleygirl. I hope you enjoy your lamb steak.

Our house this afternoon has had the feel of a pets pampering salon. I went on line to look at a video for trimming the fur off a cockapoo's face, as bless our little girl's vision was definitely becoming impaired and the result is rather pleasing.

Having encouraged Mr. S. to use his hair clippers for the first time last week, as I thought we may have to do something with our dogs coats, and decided Mr. S. would make a useful guinea pig, we were emboldened with the little trim we gave our cockapoo using scissors so gave our little poodle an all over light trim with the clippers.

Once again we have been blessed with successso much so that we'll do our cockapoo tomorrow. Bless her she watched from under the table and has no idea it will be her turn tomorrow once the clippers have been re charged.

Dylan has also has had his weekly bath this afternoon so we've definitely been animal orientated today.

TOYA

Cherry - thank you for the lovely poem.
I'm so sorry to hear of all of the sad and terrible stories from my lovely friends in this kitchen. Sending love and hugs to all.

A small treat for you all in the shape of malteser Tiffin.

I'll bring wine and hot toddies later.

Stay safe and sane. Xxx

I've been reading from outside the kitchen and have been overwhelmed by the kindness and well wishes from so many of you. Grandmafrench and Susan special thank you to you both for your PM's and letting all the lovely GNs that, although I have had a rough time, I am on the mend ??.
soop ??, thank you for creating this kitchen. My mother always used to say "bless her cotton socks" so that was a very sweet blast from the past. I'm not sure I'm a five star trooper but thank you for saying that. You are a ?
I wish I could pay individual thank yous to each and every one of you that have wished me well, there have been so many of you who have done so, I am grateful to you all from the bottom of my heart ❤️.