Part 2 of 3

The Weekend (Melissa)

As it was my graduation on Friday, we were unable to go and visit Dad. But luckily Les went to keep Dad company. He took with him Dad's newest gadget. An Amazon Kindle. An electronic reader. It can get the newspaper (and read it to you!) and books and magazines. It arrived on my doorstep so that I could set it up, but will be returned to Dad on Tuesday.

Mum went on Saturday. Dad was good, in much better spirits. The had equalized his medication, which was why he had been anxious. He had finished season one of 24 and was looking forward to the next season!

Mum returned through the wet and the fog in time for x-factor.

On Sunday, Louise and I flew down the M8 towards Glasgow. She was anxious to hear Dad's voice for the first time. We arrived, and I found him much improved from when I had seen him on Thursday. He was relaxed, chatty and smiling. He endured his way through my graduation photos and even through the video of me coming across the stage. It was great, and easier to spend lots of time with him this weekend. When you can have a 2 sided conversation, and there is no lip reading involved. Time flies when you are having fun.

The stitched bed sore is healing, his breathing is great. We just keep hoping for him to be up before Christmas.

I think the best part of today was that Dad cracked a joke! It was good to hear him laugh.

Season 2 of 24 started. Louise and I hit the road back to Edinburgh for a delicious meal at James' parents. Mum's first real meal in a long time! And it was goooood! (Thank you Jo and Rob!)

Part 1 of 3

Groundhog Day

Many of you will have seen the film, Groundhog Day. What day would you relive over and over again, so that you could change the ending?

7 minutes. The length of the last game of polo. 7 minutes. Not 7 minutes and 30 seconds. As all games are in polo. On the bell that is it over. Sunday 13th September at 6 minutes and 50 seconds. Wham. Colin's life changed. 10 seconds before the end of the game, 10 seconds before the end of the match, 10 seconds before the final bell of the season. 10 seconds. No ones fault. An accident. But what if? What id Colin had taken 11 seconds longer to tack up? Would it still have happened? What if we had taken 11 seconds longer at lunhc? 11 seconds longer driving to Dalmahoy? Would they have been in the same place at the same time.

You know what I mean, or maybe you don't? Is life pre-ordained. Would it have made any different? I don't know.

If he had worn the other hat, if he had polished his boots, if I had I said my prayers the night before. Just the thoughts that go through my head at 315 in the morning most days. What ifs.

Things you can't change. Was it written somewhere that 6 minutes and 50 seconds in that chukka, that this would happen. At 6 minutes and 49 seconds, life was good. Colin was doing something he loved. It had been the perfect Sunday. A delicious lunch with friends, laughter and much polo gossip. Stories, horses all sound, a miracle at the best of times. Wham, 6 minutes and 50 seconds.

Groundhog day.

But it is groundhog day for all at the southern general.

The young diver who had the benz, what if he had not decided to dive that day? The young driver that had rolled his car three times and wrapped himself around the tree. What if he had taken the other road. What if I hadn't gone to that party with christine 30 odd years ago, well I would not have met Colin, had three beautiful girls, a life a would not change for a 6 carat diamond.No really, I wouldn't. So no, not what ifs. Life is mapped out for us, but sometimes, just sometimes, I wish that time had just stood still at 6minutes and 49 seconds. For just a little while longer.

Thursday/ Friday

To all of you that check this daily for Colin's progress, he is doing well. Still 100% off the vent, he has had a slight infection, causing temperature, he has had his flu jabs (swine and ordinary), this may be causing him to feel lousy. But still breathing fine.

No new blog till Saturday, but just a quick update today. Melissa, Paul and I headed north to Aberdeen where Melissa was to graduate at 3pm.

Colin would have been there, bored of course, as graduations not the most riveting, but, for that 10 seconds that his wonderful daughter was on stage and crossed that hall to receive her degree, well his heart would have been bursting with pride.

I was there, but I know that he was too. I was his eyes today, but I know that he is always in my heart and so he was there with us.

Graduation

The sun shone, frosty but bright, so different from the rest of the week. Colin would have been so proud of his daughter. We all felt it was a perfect day. So now Colin has another graduate. Melissa Mitchell BEd Hons.

Life's moments

There are somethings in life you never forget. Your first kiss: David Cuthbertson, Heriots disco, well at least I think it was, maybe I should change names to protect the innocent. Your engagement day: Colin to this days swears that he can't remember asking me?! Your wedding day, and the birth of your children: how could I possibly forget (ouch!). Your eldest child's engagement and then wedding, for those of you who don't know (and why not, have I not shown you the pictures), two weeks in Barbados last Christmas. Your eldest and middle child's graduation. Oh how proud we were. All these mile stones come and go, the next bigger and better than the last..
Why, you ask is she telling us this? Well I want you all to share in my recent special moment.
Walking in Glasgow Southern, to be told that barring any problems, Colin is 100% off the vent.
YES 100%. And he will be using a speaking valve for 2 1/2 hour sessions.
So he has said to tell everyone Thank you. For their love, and wishes. He will speak to you soon.
I can't believe it. Colin hadn't read the memo, and obviously was reading the book "how to teach yourself to breath again in 11 weeks". Me, I'm still struggling with the "Atkins Diet". Never finished the first chapter. Oh well, now Colin had found his voice, maybe he will read it to me!

Monday

Weekend over. Daily visit resumed, girls all working or at uni. So I'm afraid Colin had to put up with my chat. I arrived to find Colin on good form. 22 out of 24 hours off vent. The consultant has decided to stitch Colin's pressure sore. It has decreased in size immensely in the last few weeks, but as always it is the last piece in the jigsaw, and as such, the greatest stumbling block.
So the plan is to stitch this week. The recovery time is approx. 3 or 4 week, and then hope upon hope, we will get him up. (Braehead shopping centre, here we come).
Message for Gaelle and all the others in the ICU Western General. You are a very important role in the story, and your parts are guaranteed, so start looking for your Oscars frock!

Friday, the fairies and Sunday.

"Toto has survived. I know the outcome had looked bleak, the witches tried their best, but in the magical land, away from the darkest worlds, the rest of the fairies worked their magic. Coco's wings were still not working, his injuries were different, but Toto could be saved. With every kind of word and gesture, with every show of love and friendship, slowly but surely her wings returned.
The Witches power was not able to conquer in the enclaves of the fairy world, no matter what tricks they used.
They had their spies, fairies that were slowly being cloned, non fairy- non witch. Their wings grew smaller every day, as they scuttled up and down to the top of the hill with tales of the fairy world. Tales meant to hurt their fairy colleagues. Tales meant to earn them respect from the chuckling coven. Oh how the witches lauged at them, they would never let them jon them, they would use them and laugh.
The fairies giggles, as those that scuttled up the hill were so shallow that they did not know that their trips were being monitored. They did not understand Toto, but she did not care. Toto's tales are only understood by real fairies. Non-fairies hearts are unable to comprehend this and question and tutter over the escapades of Coco and Toto. But Toto just smiles, because her world is full of love."

Friday
Shelley, no3 child, drove through from Aberdeen in the rain to home on Thursday night. I am worried about her, pale and having lost weight. Nothing that a few good meals and a dose of St Tropez will not cure. She is stressed. You forget that by trying to protect them by bundling them back to university life and nights out with their friends, these things will not take away the feeling and worries that go through their heads about their Daddy.
Friday shifts out the way, all three of us, Melissa, Shelley and I headed west. Consultants me. Great News. 16 hours off the vent, 20 tomorrow and bar any bad luck, Colin should be off the vent by the end of next week. Result! All fingers and toes crossed. This could be a reality but we need all the good luck that we can muster.
Colin was delighted to see no3 child, he worries about all his girls. He knows they are strong,a dn the Mitchells are a strong unit. Even when we bicker and argue (not too often though!) Always there for each other, and Colin and myself. We have done our job well, we have created a family. It grows bigger every year. With the inclusion of James this year, and at the end of the day that was Colin and my dream. A happy life, with family and laughter.
Job done.

Sunday
(Melissa)
Louise and I drove Mum through to Glasgow, sharing the driving in the terrible weather. Dad was looking very well today. 24 hours off the vent, soon all the machines and tubes will be gone. He was chatty to start with, but after the paper was read and the week rounded up he was tired.
He enjoyed listening to Louise's strories of the nursery. The children who had had their peg moved from the sun to the black rain cloud for bad behaviour and the the update on the nativity. There were lots of giggles. The business pages were read, and Dad was mad he missed the Rugby yesterday, but was read the sports round up. Will have to take him a laptop next time so he can watch the sports round-up!
Terrible weather, we hit the M8 again to return to the east and the x-factor. Dad returned to watching 24 season 1. 10 hours down, 14 to go.

Thursday

When is this rain going to stop? My son-in-law James, is contemplating building an ark. Papa drove me to Glasgow, 2 earlies and one more to go, certainly take their toll. Arrives to find Colin in good fettle. But tired. He was at hour 12 of a 14 hours off the vent. This is amazing. The consultant is pleased. Colin as usual counting every breath. Things are moving forward.
Good day at work. Julie G and I chatted, we had a giggle and a Heart to heart. She has been through the mill with her beautiful little girl, but she has come through, she is fighter. Then came Scott. He popped in off his flight, and within minutes had me smiling and laughing. Well, only certain people have that magic and Scott is one of them. Faye was another, but she saw sense and escaped. his love life was dissected, our lives put in order. I told him that that this blog will be picked up by a Hollywood producer and he would have to get in fast for the person (obviously a superstar) that would play him.
I will obviously be the lead, played by the amazing actress, Megan Mullally, who plays Karen in Will and Grace.
George Clooney is waiting by the phone for the part of Colin. Our Paul will be played by Brad Pitt, Melissa by Reece Witherspoon.
Wilma and Dora, the housekeepers, are hoping for "Mary Doll" and Bette Middler, the list goes on. For those wishing to be part of the movie, I suggest you step in now, before all the superstars have been taken.