Written by: paul

Don’t half feel better.
I had to give up the thought of going to work last Friday as I was feeling right horrid. My tongue was starting to swell up a bit as well. It was painful to move it too much, so it was very difficult to eat – to the point where I judged it better not to. I managed to get an early doctor’s appointment & as suspected, it was a salivary gland infection of some form. I said that I thought it was rather like what Louise had, & he agreed, & gave me the same treatment – a course of antibiotics. Homeward bound was hard work – cold & wearing. Got in – took tablets, fall onto the bed determined to get more sleep. Louise woke me later returning with Jude. Chatted, Jude fell asleep & I was left to fall asleep with him while Louise went to get Eve from playgroup. Ah whatever – with Eve in the house that was my last snooze for the day. I’m sure I must have been starting to improve as by Saturday I was OK enough to go on a much needed expedition to the shops (Xmas is coming after all).

Sunday, & I was basically feeling fine – feeling better than I have in a long while in fact. I wake with one heck of a (hangover style) headache, but that fades soon enough.

We went swimming (Jack & I). He can do the backstroke (at quite a pace) but not swim unaided on his front as yet. There is one more ‘duckling’ class & then he’s onto a Thursday evening class next year; something a bit more difficult. It would be pointless he repeating what he’s done so far in this class again.

Jude is better – well- he was last week as I was in decline. He’s giggling & smiling more & is the happy soul he usually is. Mind you – he basically was when he was at his spottiest. The spots & blotches are fading well. You’d hardly know that they were there. The doctor I saw asked after him as he was due to see him on the… I think it would have been the Tuesday evening when we thought that he was getting better & called to cancel – then regretted it later when more spots came again.

Not a lot of typing this week as not very well.
Going to work today against common logic.
I believe I have what Louise probably had the other week.
It’s kinda odd to have aches & pains & a fever without the snot of flu, which is a relief in a way though.

Jude gave us a bad scare on Monday night as well. Louise was undressing him for the bath when an alarming rash was revealed. Lots of raised areas with red centres. On the phone to NHS direct. Then on the phone to a local GP service. Many calls later, it was decided that as Jude was not seeming to suffer any ill effect he was probably all right. Keep an eye on him & take him to the doctors the next day. In general he was much more his usual self unlike last week with the rubella like rash; quite chirpy & playful.
I’m not quite sure how the Dr.’s visit went on Tuesday, but the rash was calming down then. The red spots had developed into little purple areas that looked a bit like bruises. The swelling had died down. There were no new ‘welts’. They were explained as an allergic reaction to a virus… Which kinda makes sense… Hives.
Unfortunately by evening he had a fresh crop again. Oh & by this time I was feeling shite as well…
We took him to ‘health clinic’ yesterday (I took the day off work as I had little sleep & a raging temperature). Jude’s ‘hives’ looked most alarming. They are confined on the whole to his legs, bum & elbows… He was happy enough & scurrying off with delight down the corridor of the health centre at every opportunity.
Further explanation is that it’s a way of fighting the virus rather than a fever. They do not itch & they do not seem to disturb him that much… but as said; it all looks rather alarming.

Right – I’m still not ‘good’ but travelling – so I’ll stop this typing & rest – as that’s what I really most want to do.

hmm – ok – I was going to write this morning, but I don’t feel much in the way of what I’m supposed to write. I managed to sleep in all beds last night… sigh.
Eve did well at one point – she got out of bed to go to the toilet. She’d decided she needed to go & was off. No protest about the situation – no fuss no bother… that was nice. Back to bed & asleep… wow.
I scampered back to our own bed – only to go downstairs for some medicine for Jude who was running a temperature. Next thing I know Jack’s crying out – so It’s down to him. He’s had a ‘sad dream’ – which he actually tells me about – that Eve had broken her forearm – right hand side from the way he pointed at his. Drifting off to sleep & then he announces he needs a wee as well. Heck, for some reason does not like the cupboard in the bathroom, & thus does not like to go to the bathroom unaccompanied sometimes. He did go to sleep again with little bother & I retired to the futon in the back room as I noticed by my alarm clock that I only had as much sleep as I could grab in half an hour.
Hmmm – well – I’ve slept better.

Happy birthday to me!

What did I get? I dunno – I ain’t seed no post yet. I have bought myself various bits & bats – glasses OSX & all that – so I can hardly feel neglected. I got Louise a card as it is our anniversary as well.
I failed to get Ralphie’s present off to him. Going around in a daze these past few days has not been conducive to remembering to do anything past responding to what’s in front of me; will try to do that today.

Eve slept better last night – in that she did wake up & she did howl – but she stooped howling & went to sleep. Jack slept through again. Bed time was a little less stressful as although Jack was in a hyper mood again (had an enormous tea – completely into food at the moment – his body is up to something to demand this) he was also in a very sweet mood & he played very well with Eve. His play has changed a lot this year. He is much more into initiating ‘imaginative play’ whereas he used to want you to take the lead, he now takes it with Eve, & Eve is well into it (she’s always been good at pretend play).

Jude is still not well. He is better, but not well & apt to getting a little bit of a temperature still.

Jack was a little disappointed to have only the one chapter of Pinocchio read to him. He is very into this rendition of the story (which is good) as he was really rooting for Pinocchio to be a ‘good boy’ when the ass drawn coach drew up & tempted him to go to Boobyland. He voiced his disappointment at Pinocchio’s decision to jump aboard.

Eve cried & cried again last night – twixt 02:45 & 03:15.

I forgot Louise’s hot chocolate before bed.

I am starting to amble along in a wakeful state – but not an especially efficient wakeful state.

Jack was hyper at bedtime & took a long time to coax to sleep. Choice of book not that good at the moment – it being Pinocchio (it’s a bit exciting) but then he was rapt by the telling & was difficult before bed – not in bed.

Jude saw a ‘health visitor’ yesterday & it seems it’s most likely he has rubella at the moment. He can get quite a temperature – so we try to control that. The rash is fading somewhat & he’s never especially been ‘off’ with it. He’s eating better now – whereas last week he was having trouble keeping anything down (to the extent he was once sick at the introduction of food into the mouth). It seems that may have been ‘another virus’ that has been doing the rounds, but he’s over that one. Hopefully over this one soon.

Louise is slowly getting better – is very bunged up still.

Right – after that somewhat perfunctory typing I shall cease & sleep a bit, i think.

A quick type as it’s likely I will surrender the space of a seat next to me in a stop or 2.

Eve woke up yesterday morning with no bleat of tears; quiet & accepting. Granted, she could probably hear me cleaning my teeth in the bathroom or something, so she just came to me.

Last night before I went to bed she woke up. I knew this, not from her banshee howl, but from a sigh; a deep exhale. I popped upstairs to find her sitting on her bed, & she smiled as I came to her to settle her to sleep again.

In the night a storm of screams rose again. She got & & screamed up the stairs. I got her to bed & she screamed…. fell asleep, screamed, fell asleep… screamed… and again, and again.
sigh
I plonked her on the toilet for a wee & she screamed. I put her back in bed & she screamed… & fell asleep… & protested…. & slept.
She’s been ‘dry’ at nights for a long time & as we’ve used up all the pull ups & nappies she now has neither through the night. She’s quite pleased about this.

Oh, & she screamed when she woke up this morning as well.

Louise conceded that it might be a good idea to go to the doctors on Saturday morning – what with her near inability to get up & all that – so she did. I thought I was bad at going – but it seems Louise is even worse. She tried to back out a couple of times, but was reminded how rubbish she felt. It being an ‘open surgery’ on Sat morning you didn’t have to book – but you did have to wait. Fortunately it did not seem any more busy than usual really. Louise forged on ahead while I pottered on with the kids… Jude on the Wilkinet, Eve in the pushchair & Jack on the Buggy Board. Jude was good enough not to pull at Jack’s hair as he was within easy reach.
Louise was asked if she has been in contact with anyone who has Mumps? It seems the glands on her neck are swollen – they being the ones that Mumps has a go at. Not that we are aware of… None of the kids have been that well of recent though. Jude is badly off. He has a rash at the moment that looks a lot like ‘Rosa Bella’ as (I think) similar was called for Eve when Louise took her to see a doctor. Nasty little rash – temperature & generally delicate & unhappy.

We went into Manchester yesterday to get some shopping. Not too bad – more hectic than we thought it would be. I carried Jude most of the day & most of the time he huddled into me, not especially keen on viewing the outside word. ‘Busy’ seemed a bit too much for him. We suspect the kids all have ‘something’ as they are all ‘a bit piquey’; their skin seems delicate & they mark even more easily.

Me? I’m fine. I have a cold – but that’s not exactly news… I tend to have one most of the time… Gosh even had a suck on me inhaler this morning as I had to dash to the station – being late setting off

Train Home

Not that I could not have typed on the train in – I had a seat at which I could type, I had no one sitting next to me & I had a good nights sleep. For the 1st time in… um.. rather a long time, both Jack & Eve slept all through the night without shouting for attention. Wow!
Jude cried a fair bit as we were going to sleep. Not really sure what the matter was – he didn’t especially seem to want to be comforted, & we kinda concluded he was hungry – but would not really settle well for a feed. Still – he did settle in the end… with a feed…

Putting things on the web falls behind again – but it’s been a hectic week. Maybe plough out some time next week.

Present OS annoyance is that my digital camera will not work with OSX. It seems that it should & there seem to be drivers – but it won’t have it. Bah. More the problem is my lack of time to investigate at the moment.

There are more amusing anecdotes to impart. Again – they have evaporated since Louise told me & I come to type. Actually I know my memory holds them, but I cannot grasp them from the fog of here & now.

Train Home

Ha ha – what fun it was this morning – with the train cancelled & the next one no longer running while North Western Trains are in industrial dispute (overtime ban?) the train to work arrived some 40 mins after the one I usually get. No tying – it’s crowded by the time it reaches us.
That may all sound bitter – but I take it all with a pinch of salt really – why should I worry if I’m a little late for work? I still get to sit & I get to read & no one bothers me. I kinda enjoy the farcical nature of it all.

Jack slept a bit better last night – in that he slept…
He went to sleep relatively easy in the evening as well. Counter to expectations Jack & Eve were not really that fractious. Eve was a bit on the hysterical side, but then she does get a mess of tears & shrieks when she gets over tired. Jack did wake up in the night again. I don’t recall what he complained about. I seem to think that he asked whether today was a ‘school day’ – to which it could not be denied – yes. He then was in need of a cuddle & then got one. He then also got a few pokes <jab-jab-jab> on the eyelid as I noticed that he had his eyes open a crack – so, naturally I poked them closed. He complained that it hurt… OK! – OK! – I’m a bad dad. Mitigation: I was sleepy yer honour – stupid things make much more sense when you your brain is not engaged. He does have a sensitive eyelid at the moment. It sometimes gets a little swollen… I wonder what that’s about?
Louise’s nephew called to say ‘tara’ yesterday evening – he’s off to New Zealand for… well – I dunno how long for. He’s got a job & accommodation lined up & everything. I don’t think he’s yet 19 (I may be wrong) but that is such a good example of landing on your feet. I’m well impressed. Louise had a chat with her sister as well – it seems that we get their mum’s good side at the moment in comparison. She is getting her for Xmas as well, while we scuttle off to see my mum & dad (Hurah! – I’ve spoken to my dad &he can give us a lift!). It has been conceded that we should really have her to stay next year.

I can’t really think of much more to add in writing – so I should shut up. It all seems like one long round of sleep derived mutterings at the moment

Everyone awake as I left the house this morning… well… Eve was nearly asleep. Everyone was awake when I got up this morning.
Jack claimed a bad dream at @03:17 & did not settle. I’d be drifting off to sleep & he’d wake me with another plea of some form that I’d sleepily try to placate. Obviously I do a bad job or he’d sleep. At @04:20 I decided that I’m doing a bad job & go & get Louise to swap to see if that goes any better as I do need some more sleep & I can’t see the situation changing. I get some sleep until 05:30 when Jude stirs & my alarm goes off (in that order). Nyurg – time to get up. Unfortunately it seems that Louise has fared little better – if not worse as Eve woke up as well. All downstairs at 05:30 – sheesh!
I get my shower & all that as the usual routine with added baby hanging onto leg when doing the breakfast. Jack starts to falter & the telly goes on. He is going to remain awake now.
It could well be a grumpy evening.

I did not do well getting home yesterday. I was doing a little pottering (& dithering) in town; got an album & some groceries. Went to catch a train & found it cancelled. The next train was crowded & hot. I didn’t notice Todmorden go past until it was too late & had to get off at Hebden Bridge to go back the other way.
Silly.
At least I was able to use Louise’s mobile phone to call her to let her know how dim I was.

Right – well – as might be suspected I am tired… typing stop & I might try some passive reading – some vacant staring into space or some grateful sleeping. Such fun can be had sitting on a train to work.