The return post strikes again!

So there seems to be a recurring theme.

I seem to have a little while away from blogging and then come back with a return post.

Guess what?

I'm doing it again!

I know I know, but unfortunately that what happens when you have a disability such as Osteogenesis Imperfecta.

Bones break, which means lots of time at the hospital and time in plaster, resting.

However, all that been said, we are still here and are determined to keep going with the blog.

I do keep the Instagram and Facebook page updated regularly, so if we are ever missing, be sure to look there for an update.

In terms of what has been happening, you can read from my previous post that I had an operation in June and that the bone graph didn’t take. 

Unfortunately, things haven’t changed much since my last post, my femur and tibia fractures are still not healed, meaning I’m in a lot of pain and now my orthopaedic surgeon has broken his ankle so is off on long term sick, which leave me very much in limbo. 

When he returns I will be having further surgery but until then it’s just a waiting game. 

On a brighter note, Lottie is great and is now 7. 

She is still up to plenty of mischief and loves a good belly tickle. 

Before things went a little manic, I had some blog posts (including reviews from companies) half wrote, so you will see those coming soon. 

We look forward to re-joining with you all. 

Love Jessica and Lottie 

So we return.......

Well, Hello. 

It seems ages since I said that on here (probably because it is) and we sincerely apologese for that. Unfortunately having Osteogenesis Imperfecta can make life unpredictable due to fractures, operations etc, and that's what exactly happened here. 
So sit down, grab a cup of coffee (or iced water in this weather) as this will be a long one! 
As some of you may know, who follow us on our Facebook page, I had an operation last July 2017, to replace the metal rod that is in my femur. Just as things were getting back to normal, I rolled over in bed and had a spiral fracture of my femur, the same leg I had operated on. 
I spent four weeks in hospital and was discharged on Christmas Eve (yippeee) I was so glad to be home for Christmas. 
I had a quiet Christmas with Lottie and family and did plenty of resting in the hope that the fracture would heal. 
Unforutenyl after many hospital appointments between January and April, the fracture was not healing as expected and it was decided by my surgeon that he would need to carry out surgery to do a bone graph with synthetic bone, and replaced the broken screws. 
The surgeon wanted to do this in April, however, I'm currently doing my Master's at Universtiy and wanted to sit my exams before surgery, as I have such a good relationship with my surgeon who I've known since I was 2 he agreed, on some strict instructions!
I had the surgery on the 13th of June and despite it being a bigger operation than we all first thought, with IV morphine and other painkillers I was recovering well. The only complication I had was a rare reaction to the synthetic bone, which made my leg extremely swollen, I was assured this would go down. The only problem this caused is I was too wide for my electric wheelchair (which was on loan) so we had to contact the wheelchair services to get the next size up, this meant I was able to be discharged until this arrived. 
However, 12 days later I developed a UTI which turned into Sepsis. It was a very scary time for us all of us and I became poorly quite quickly. I was immediately put onto IV antibiotics, fluids, and paracetamol. 
I was quite poorly for a few days but the antibiotics showed slow signs that things were improving. I had 8 days IV antibiotics and it was then decided the IV version would be stopped and we would watch and wait. 
During the time on the antibiotics and even when I had finished them I felt awfully sick all the time and the thought of food was horrible. This was blamed on the antibiotics and the sepsis. 
I spent another week feeling sick and slowly trying to get myself better so I could go home. 
The day we meant to be coming home, I woke up been very sick and had diarrhea. This was later diagnosed as C Diff, which was caused by the antibiotics. C Diff is basically an extreme case of sickness and diarrhea as the IV antibiotics I had for the sepsis had killed all my good bacteria in my gut meaning the bad bacteria could thrive and grow. This meant I needed a further 10 days of oral antibiotics to cure the C Diff. However, once the symptoms had eased I could go home on the antibiotics, and carry on to recover home. 
I was discharged from hospital on the 8th of July, a long month after I was admitted.  
Since being home things, I am still in a lot of pain due to the fracture but at least I am in my own environment. 
I did go back to see my surgeon on the 13th of July, and it wasn't the best of news as the synthetic bone that was inserted hasn't mineralised yet as it should, but we are just waiting and seeing what happens when I go back to see my surgeon on the 4th of September. 
So as you can see, this is why I haven't been updating our page. Now I'm home and feeling slightly more human despite the pain, I'm hoping to get back to updating you guys regularly. Also, thank you if you got this far, I know its a long post but wanted to explain in full what had happened so it didn't look like I was abandoning you guys. 
Here are a few pictures of us over the last few months. 
Speak soon, 
Jessica (and Lottie of course) xxx

Update | Blogging, bones and beyond.

Lottie is quite the slave driver and when she kept trying to jump up to the computer chair, I knew it was time to pull my finger out a write another blog post. 

Although I have posted a few review posts (we have lots more coming up too). I haven't posted an personal life update in forever. 

Funny Bones 

If you follow us on Facebook, you will know I had another operation on my right tibia in July. I had a metal plate inserted to try and heal the fracture from 2014. The operation was a success and the surgeon was able to get the plate into place, but because my bones are so small the plate is a little large, so will need to be removed next summer. I also have to have the rod replaced in my right femur (thigh bone) as it has bent and moved over time. Both of these are quite big operations but we will cross that bridge when we comes to it. 

That's how I roll

In other news, I'm currently in the process of getting a new wheelchair. Now for those that aren't familiar with the current wheelchair service through the NHS in England. Due to very limited resources the NHS are only able to provide a basic manual/electric wheelchair. Unfortunately for many complex disabilities such as mine, these wheelchairs simply aren't fit for purpose, they neither provide the comfort or support that a disability like mine needs. After all I can fracture from jumping, so having a specialist wheelchair is important.. If you choose not to have one of their wheelchair they offer you a voucher for the amount that the wheelchair would of cost the NHS. 

Many local hospital are able to purchase these wheelchairs at the NHS rate, most specialists wheelchair cost around £20,000 and my NHS voucher will be for around £3,000. 

If you opt for this scheme, unfortunately you are very much on your own regarding raising the rest of the funds. I'm currently looking at different ways to raise the extra needed. Obviously the wonderful Brittle Bone Society will be able to help but as they are only small funds are limited. I'm hoping either Apple or Amazon are reading this post, as I'm sure they have a spare £17,000 lying around (one can wish!). Seriously though if anybody reading this has any ideas/or wants to help raise the extra money needed for my new wheelchair, please contact us by Facebook/Twitter or leave a comment. 

I know some of you may think this post is a little depressing, and not like many of my others. I started this blog to raise awareness of Osteogenesis Imperfecta and unfortunately at the moment I am having a rough time of it. I don't want to write a unrealistically as that is not raising awareness for anybody. I hope you guys understand.... 

Now on a brighter note, Lottie is doing great, she was diagnosed with dry eye but that is being managed really well with eye drops. 

She had a fab summer as you can see from the photos below, and made lots of new furry friends.

We both cant wait for Christmas as it my favourite time of year, and we have a Christmas Gift Guide coming soon so be sure to look out for that. 

I have being well and truly told off by Lottie, and blogging with now be much more regular.  Watch this space.... 

Love Jessica and Lottie xxx