Hospital day

May 24 2016

Yesterday was a huge exercise in logistics.  Josh had to get up at about 5am because he had a conference in Melbourne that started really early.  I met him at Melbourne airport when he arrived on Saturday and he spent the weekend helping Edd complete various jobs.  I got up with Josh and started doing the animals at first light, which turned out to be about 7 am.  Edd got his stuff organised and then we drove down to the hospital in Melbourne and arrived miraculously at the exact right time of 10.30am!

I spent the first hour in hospital with Edd as the process of his treatment began. Then I left him and drove back to the farm for a late lunch.  Edd was not due to go into surgery until late afternoon and I had promised him I would be there when he came out of theatre if possible.  Bo came at teatime and helped me do the evening rounds with the animals.  Indi was scheduled to help but she was taken ill and Bo had already had to take her to the Dr in Lilydale, so she was out of action.

Bo and I drove back to her house and Al and Pip picked me up from there and we all drove back into Melbourne and met Josh who was sleeping in Edd’s hospital room, Edd having been taken down for his knee surgery.  He was not due back for nearly 2 hours so we left Josh to sleep and went out for some food.  Pip’s favourite Japanese restaurant was very close so we went there.  I am not a fan of sushi but even I had to admit the food was really excellent and not expensive.

The hospital doors were locked when we got back there but we had thought to enquire about this before we left so we got in easily.  Edd was still not back so we waited until he arrived. He was remarkably lively and we all talked and laughed for a while before coming home.  Al dropped Josh and I off at Lilydale station where Josh had left Edd’s ute and we drove to Yarra Glen where I had left my car.  Al could go from Lilydale to Yarra Junction where Pip had left her car so if that went to plan all the people and cars should be back in the right places again today.  It is 6.30 am now and Josh has already left again for his audiology conference.  I will drive back to see Edd when I have done the farm work.  It is still too dark to start.

Edd says that he has had an epidural to prevent any pain so he could not feel his knee at all last night. His main worry was that he was starving and he was not allowed food until the epidural wore off.  The nurse said he would be in hospital 4 to five days according to how well he does.  Bo says she will do the evening run of animals so that I can visit him every day. I am doing the milking by hand and giving much of the milk straight to the calf so work is now at a winter minimum. It even rained yesterday so no watering was needed.  It is all a good start and it has been wonderful having all, the family rally round to help. We are so lucky having such wonderful kids and kids’ partners.