Guts wrap up

I don’t have coeliac disease, gastric ulcers, Helicobacter Pylori, or intestinal parasites. Nor do I have bowel or esophageal cancer.

I did have a polyp in the bowel, which would probably eventually grow into a cancer, which as been removed. But considering my age, that is a bit of a worry, and a good thing we found it sooner rather than later. It also means that I will have to go through this whole process again every three years. Joy.

So, the summary. Gastritis is pretty normal. Polyps happen to people with a family history of bowel cancer (which I do, but it’s not a strong one), and I have a “mild” case of reflux (doesn’t seem mild to me, but who’s to argue with the expert?). The current theory is that as a vegetarian I had good iron in my bloodstream, but relatively low iron stores, and giving 2 litres of blood in a year probably made my iron levels critical. And that last donation was enough to tip me over the edge into anemia.

And I have fatty liver disease, so I have to reduce my body weight by 10%, and give up the turps. I wonder which will be harder?

Dear ING Direct

My name is Lara. On my birth certificate, it’s Larissa. Lara/Larissa. Matt/Matthew. Rob/Robert. Ed/Edward/Ted.

It’s not fucking brain surgery.

So why does it take 2 years, a marriage certificate, endless phone calls, and various paperwork, only to be told that I now need a birth certificate, certified by god, and a Statutory Declaration saying that I am who I say I am, and always have been?

And why, why, why, why, do I have to speak to a supervisor, and practically beg to be sent this information in writing. I don’t think it’s unreasonable, if you make a process unnecessarily impossible, for a customer to ask for specific instructions in writing.

And lastly. Why does it take 3-4 weeks for a letter to be put in the post? Are the typing monkeys on sabbatical in Switzerland? Do the legal people need to check it for possible litigation? Does the office junior only go to the post office every fifth Tuesday?

What the fuck people?

I am taking my $3.50, and putting it with a bank I can actually visit, and shout at in person.

Awake

The Guts Man found a polyp and gastritis, and took a few biopsies, the results of which I will get on Saturday.

In the meantime, I get to go back on the iron tabs, and stop eating wheat – one of which was making me feel heaps better, but I had to revert so that the tests wouldn’t be a waste of time.

Oh, and I have gastric reflux, which I have known for about 4 years, but now I can see a picture of it.

And the worst part? A toss up between the foul liquids you have to drink before hand (and the fasting for nearly 2 days), and the horrible, violent liquid diarrhoea, which I still have, despite being allowed to eat this afternoon.

The best bit? Apparently I’ve lost 6 kilos since I’ve been ill. No idea where I left them, but having no appetite might have something to do with it!

So. Now to play happy and nice until Saturday without freaking out.

The Birthday Party

IMG_9118.jpg

Inigo’s little party went really well. It was just grandparents, godparents, and aunts, uncles and cousins – 17 people, but it still seemed like a lovely intimate gathering.

IMG_9115.jpg

We met at Putney Park (Inigo’s favourite park), and silly me forgot to factor in all the other people who would be having parties at the same time, so we couldn’t get a picnic table. Thanks to Bev amp; Ted, and Mum and Dad, who brought tables, we were able to set up in a lovely shady spot, and Inigo had the time of his life.

IMG_9102.jpg

As well as being surrounded by his favourite people and being allowed to eat cake (and icing for the first time ever!), he got presents!

IMG_9096.jpg

Bev and Ted got him some lovely clothes, and Ted made the best play kitchen! Inigo has been loving helping me in the kitchen, so the play kitchen is going to get a lot of use in the next few years – and it’s so much nicer than the horrible plastic ones that you pay hundreds of dollars for.

IMG_9104.jpg

IMG_9111.jpg

He also got a treasury of Winnie the Pooh stories from Aunty Jane, a book that he will be able to treasure for a lifetime, and a couple of fabulous shirts. And accessories for his new kitchen – a proper Italian pasta cooking set, and a beautiful tea set. A very lucky boy indeed.

IMG_9124.jpg

IMG_9129.jpg

IMG_9138.jpg

IMG_9146.jpg

IMG_9147.jpg

And a lovely time was had by all.

The cake is in the oven

The Rainbow Cake. I got off the plane last night at 9pm, came home and passed out. Then this morning we went to Lara’s Graden for the first working bee. Inigo was a bit out of sorts, so we didn’t make it to the CAAH rally for relationship equality. We came home and Inigo was ratty for a few hours, then started projectile vomiting for nearly an hour, not keeping anything down.

An hour later, he had a breastfeed, and is now sleeping peacefully. Maybe he’ll be ok for his little party tomorrow, maybe not.

But the cake will be gorgeous 🙂

Happy Birthday Oscar!

We were privileged to be invited to Miriam’s parents farm on Sunday to celebrate Oscar’s birthday. Miriam’s lovely mother, Malle, also made a cake for Inigo, just like his mother he got to celebrate his birthday a week early, and I think the celebrations will go on for a while 🙂

Pictures here. Sorry, I am too lazy to link them properly, might get around to it later.