Archives: eve

No typing yesterday – stood in the rain for an age falling asleep waiting for the train to arrive & it was somewhat crowded when it did.

Eve’s birthday went rather well – she had lots of presents… We’d accumulated quite a few. Much excitement for her; when I got home on Wednesday she was a whirlwind of it, showing me this, showing me that. They’d sung “Happy Birthday” to her at playgroup & oh, a million other things. Happy, but already starting on the road to tired & delirious. Tea was early – pancakes & strawberries & raspberries. They scoffed all the fruit & I had a couple of pancakes. My mum briefly called & Eve shouted to her that it was her birthday to her down the phone. Eve had been anticipating the birthday since before Louise’s birthday – so it’s hardly surprising she was a bit excitable. It’s the 1st ‘occasion’ that she’s really ‘appreciated’.
That night she went to sleep straight off. Excitement being the only thing keeping her going by then, once calmed she was out.
Jack was in the bath when he complained of not feeling well. We got him out & got him dressed, then back to the bathroom to be sick. He’s not often that ill, but he has been ill on scoffing ‘too much fruit’. The raspberries were not as ripe as Louise would have liked for letting the kids have them …that’s probably what was to blame. Jack was awake again before 11:00 & I could not get him to settle again. In the end I got to bed at 12:30 …& then woke up a bit later to start a night of going up & down stairs to see how the kids were. Eve was probably suffering from the raspberries as well as they both had disjointed sleep. All were also awake when I was due to get up at 5:30… We’ve all had better nights …shame – tarnished a really good day.
Louise called me at work yesterday morning as Jude had torn Jack’s library book & she needed to know what I had done with the cellotape after present wrapping. The library book needed to be returned to school that day. I ended up with Jack on the phone, which evaporated my grumpiness by him saying, “Sorry for keeping you awake last night Paul”. Oh, my kids call me Paul & Louise Mum or Louise. I rarely get called daddy by Jack. Without Jack Eve calls me daddy.
They all did very well yesterday evening for the tiredness they must have felt. There was basically the one incident when I got home of Jack bashing Eve on the head for taking a sticker. This caused her to be sick. You can tell when upset will result in vomit from Eve by the way she cries. Louise’s mum was there & had a go at helping her; tried to calm her down, but that’s a little pointless sometimes when she’s ‘crying like that’. She took her to the kitchen & managed to hold her all wrong by the sink & ended up with sick on her jumper. Hey ho. Eve soon calms down & is onto other things.

Did a little shopping in Manchester on the way home – picked up my sunglasses (well pleased) & a few essentially for home. Popped into a record shop (as I just cannot resist) & had an impulse buy of the latest ‘best of’ from EBTG. Made the evening go well – all heads nodding to the music at tea time …well …except Jude.
Jack slept well last night; Eve a little less so. We all were in bed early as …well …it was needed.

EVE’S BIRTHDAY TODAY!
Kinda hard to believe she is only 3.

A good nights sleep last night as well – still feel a bit groggy, but that may be because the previous night was so grotty & I had no ill affects yesterday… It’s gotta give somewhere.

Only Jude awake when I left the house this morning, which in a way was a shame as it would have been nice to see Eve open a couple of presents. Am I mad? This is my daughter’s birthday! I should be at home!

Louise was telling a whole bunch of amusing anecdotes about the kids yesterday, but I can’t remember bugger all. This is certainly one of the deficiencies of writing this stuff when my head is a fog. I remember she said that Eve said that she did not want to be a baby now, as she was a BIG GIRL!
Jude is balancing – he’s been standing for a while & this past week he’s been walking around the furniture a lot. He’s now just started ‘letting go’. Only for a very short moment – but he’s doing it.

Just made myself cringe and sink internally for a moment as I recall that I caught Eve’s fingers in the door frame yesterday. Jude is trying to climb the stairs (he can do now, but certainly not without supervision as he slips sometimes). Eve was trying to help move him from the bottom of the stairs & I then made to close the door – which wasn’t closing – because Eve had her fingers in the space where the frame closes in… & there was this little grinding noise of her fingers squashing…. eurg…
She cried a lot…nearly was not sick – but that was inevitable in the end. Two little crease lines on her fingers looking like it was very close to breaking the skin. I was worried I’d done some real damage, but she was able to bend them without any problems. Plasters were put on – she demanded them & I guess they act a little as a placebo. They’ll also help her to keep her fingers padded & straight.
Didn’t like that.

Jack’s tired at the moment – he’s playing up a bit – being a bit of a ‘wild boy’ sometimes at home. Still has some sleep to catch up on methinks? Having said that he & Eve played together very well last night before bed. Very much as a unit, no bickering & sniping. To bed a little later due to good behaviour.

All the kids were asleep when I left this morning. That hasn’t happened for… well – some considerable time. Peaceful & stress free.
You kinda miss them though.

Yesterday Eve was completely & utterly tired out. She was ready for dropping off to sleep before 7, but then the fireworks started & it was at least an our later before she could keep her eyes open no longer & flopped down from the bedroom window & was willing to be carried over to her bed. Just a few seconds before she fell asleep then. Jack stayed at the window watching the fireworks around the town for another half hour or so before he was wrenched from the window & dropped into the bath. It took him quite a bit of reading before he would calm down enough to slip into sleep.

I tried to get a haircut again yesterday & failed miserably – annoying that. Queue to big at the barbers in Manchester (I could well have missed the train I need to get – so off home to try the 2 others. Tuesdays one closes (I’m sure I managed to get a cut there on a Tuesday before…) & the other one has a notice declaring that it’s closed – just for today. Petty frustrations…. Ah, talking of which; my other petty frustration – my Apple CD of 9.2.2. still has not arrived. [Summary:] I got my OSX install CD the week before last & realised that I could not do a straight upgrade, because OS 9.0.4 on my machine would not be compatible for use in OSX’s ‘Classic’ environment (allowing usage of the current apps I have). No OS 9 upgrade CD is packaged with the latest version of OSX – thus I have to send off to apple with monies for P+P & ‘handling’. Done 25/26 of last month.. & I’m being very good… I’m being adult & not installing OSX & then sorting out the problems later -!
I’m just waiting – I’m BEING PATIENT! gah! Most unlike me & ‘new toys’. Excuse me while I just go & sulk in the corner for 5 minutes…

Heh… While Jack was on holiday the other week it was ‘photo’ time at playgroup. Someone comes around to take those ‘your child (nearly) smiling photos’ like the ones they take in schools. All the brood went to have their picture taken. Louise was a bit worried how the photo would turn out, as Eve was a bit nervous of it all. It has turned out very well! We have an adorable photo of the three of them sitting in a row – smiling (well – Jude is more quizzical & Eve’s smile is not carefree – but Jack is on full ‘charm offensive’).

Oh, my brother & Jess are hopefully dropping by this weekend – it will be good to see them – it would also be good if I could get in touch with him to figure out what his plans are… but those are just details.
We’ll then have Caroline coming to visit in a few weeks as well if things work out. We are a bit ‘socially booked’ at weekends at the moment… weird.

Jack came home happy from Thomas’ last night. Eve was already asleep – she was worn out after a happy day. Jude was still going strong. He’s still an early riser… He was awake (just) before I was due to rise this morning & did not settle down. Still actively torturing Louise when I went to rouse her half an hour or so later. Bad morning – confused – & the milk I had put on mine was off – which is bizarre. Took a couple of sour mouthfuls for me to realise. I then went to redo my breakfast but ended up putting milk on Louise’s cereal instead… She noticed it was soggy when she came to eat it… duh. At least Eve is sleeping better in the night – & the last 2 mornings, although she has woken too early – she has not howled about it; slightly confused upset, but not howling.
Louise is suffering from lack of sleep more than I am.
Party tonight – Hamish’s birthday – so we are off to ‘Pockets’ – where Jack had his do. Halloween themed & all that. Hamish, turned up on the doorstep last night ‘trick or treat’ing. Bit early, but I guess that they can hardly do it tonight. Amber the skeleton was dribbling through her mask. I guess it added to the effect…

Cut short typing yesterday as I had to surrender my adjacent seat to a fellow traveller & I do not want to type sat next to someone…. Not that I believe I could think of anything else to say.

Oh – Happy Birthday to my brother. I got him a present I hope he’ll enjoy – as this text is unlikely to reach public view before … well… a long time… I can say that it’s the collected 1st Volume of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (a comic that is undergoing filming at this very moment). More ‘mainstream’ than anything I’ve bought him, comic wise, in the past few years… so I think he’ll like it. He better not have it already!
Jack got a drawing from a girl in his class yesterday & an invite from another lad to come to tea. So, the picture is on the wall & we are having tea without him tonight. Good for him.
Jack & Eve … well – I’m not sure quite what happened as neither of us were in the room when the incident occurred, but I think they came to blows (He hit me/she pulled my hair). They were both suddenly crying fiercely. I went into the room & thought, “uh-oh” with Eve & asked her to go into the kitchen, & tried to see what was wrong with Jack. He can at least speak when he’s in this state. Eve duly threw up on the kitchen floor – so that was a good tea lost. Louise got mad as this happens all too often. I cleared up & Jack was offended that Louise thought that it was all his fault. Egads! All calmed down soon enough though. Eve right as rain after puking, as usual… which is annoying of her, as it all seems a bit of ‘a demonstration’ – like she feels it’s something she should do. Hey ho – family life. At least she did as I asked rather than puking on the carpet. That’s… sort of an improvement.
Gave Louise her birthday present early last night – new EBTG dvd. Put it on again this morning as I left the house.

Heh – took yesterday off work. Jack does not go back to school until today & Louise thought that it would be a very pleasant idea & so it was; a very nice day. We went off to Huddersfield & pottered about shopping. Quite good booty – like some Halloween themed attire for Eve & Jack who are off to Hamish’s Halloween themed party on Thursday. Glow in the dark ink on the decals. They enjoyed those at bedtime – both going off into their bedroom with the lights of & the door closed – Jack with a ghosty & Eve with a half dozen of so bats eyes all aglow; excitement!
Jack & Eve played very well together all throughout the day, really. It was a pleasure to behold. Not fractious, but cooperative.

Beautiful clear light this morning. It pissed it down last night – water thrashing on the roof & velux windows. I have to say, this is one aspect of sleeping in the attic room I really like. I smile to hear the rain beating down & the wind thrashing about.
I forgot to mention earlier in the week – probably Monday, as I didn’t type on Tuesday, that Jude has cut his 1st tooth (at last). Louise ways that he cut it’s neighbour yesterday – so there are 2 bottom teeth. I could not feel it, & have yet to actually see the 1st one – he likes to keep them covered with his tongue when he concedes to open his mouth…
Looked like Louise had to endure a day of mayhem yesterday. Hamish & Amber have returned from a trip to London, & were round to play a lot. The upstairs rooms seem to have been rearranged a little – chairs moved bedclothes everywhere. hmph. I tidied up their front bedroom when I got home as Louise was out with Jude getting shopping (delayed) & her mum was playing with Jack & Eve downstairs. Apparently Jack & Hamish had done a good job of tidying it already as they had scattered lego & bionicles everywhere – which was gone by the time I got to it. Ah – the world of small advances.

Yesterday was a day of crap ‘no table’ trains. Hey ho.
Also Mac OSX arrived at home with a confirmation of suspicions that it does not have an OS9 upgrade with it… & there’s me in OS 9.0.4 limbo (it won’t work in conjunction with X – bah).
Never mind – I’ll just have to be grown up & patient while I await the redemption of the apple fulfilment thing (You have to PAY a little more – which seems somewhat sharp).
Jack has adapted to the holidays very well. The 1st day he was directionless & was causing a bit of a headache for Louise. He settled down though & is now been constructive & helpful (not ‘over helpful’ either – not, “I want to clean the house from top to bottom”). Eve is not quite over throwing up – but she is less delicate in this matter. She lost her tea last night though – but this was because Jack upset her because she was messing with his sums (sticker) book. He’s been very fond of his sums book. It was something that my brother sent for his birthday, but he was not really ready for it at the time (not much in the way of sums at school). He’s now rather keen on sums & the holiday seemed a perfect time for him to have a go with it. It’s also a sticker book – you don’t write the answer – you use stickers – another very big good point in Jack’s eyes.
Oh – I got into an old password protected diary the other day – from when Jack was born & we 1st got a computer. I’m not really sure why I put a password on it, but I cracked it the other day. It was a little odd reading words from Louise & I from that time. Slightly different world. I’m not really sure if I would put any of it up to accompany this stuff as it’s got Louise in it as well, for one thing – & I know she would not appreciate me doing that.

Well – I had my eyes tested. They are not as sharp with these glasses – so I’ve ordered another pair. I feel as if I’ve been suckered a little – as the price was more than I was anticipating… I can’t shake that. Never mind, it’s done now. I will try not to dwell on it all.

…Still dwelling… damn!

It was a shame I did not get home 5 minutes earlier yesterday. Eve had just gone upstairs before I came home & somehow banged her head. This set her off on an unfortunate chain reaction she often falls prey to. Too upset – hysterical – gulping – puking. All over the upstairs landing…. bah. Louise was annoyed with her, as she had plenty of time to get to the bathroom… but then, she is not yet 3 (almost, but not quite) & such sensible thought is beyond her – especially when hysterical. We now have a smelly landing. It’s going to take a couple more cleans, I think.
Returning home starting off so bad made an even more pleasant contrast at teatime, when the kids sat down reasonably well & certainly ate well. Almost civilised.
OK – tired has got me this morning – I’m going to resort to a snooze.

Louise survived the 1st day of the half term break with sanity intact.
I did not go for my eye test yesterday as they have booked me in on the wrong day, & I didn’t notice. Asked for Monday, got Tuesday. Please check your change before leaving as refunds cannot be made. I go today.
Hmmm – tired this morning. I made more of an attempt to get back to my own bed last night – & thus was going either up or downstairs every hour or so… bluh.
Eve is in fact not that well. It’s odd as when she is ill she usually makes a lot more fuss – following you to protest the fact that she’s not feeling good & wanting to be comforted. This time, she’s more passive – more apt to sit & watch… She fell asleep on me when I got home yesterday, so I popped her on the sofa. The noise from Jack & Jude would ensure that she did not sleep too long, but all the same, she must have got an hour out of it. At tea time she was happy again, until the point where she wanted to sit on my knee, & then wanted a cuddle & then puked everywhere. Fortunately I had eaten most of my tea & graciously, she did point away from me as the vomit leapt forth. Most went under the table, which is fortunate as we put a mat down at teatime so that mess doesn’t get ground into the carpet. Not too difficult a task to clear it all up. It’s funny, but puking really used to make me wanna join in. It still can on occasion (when Louise was ill the other week I had a couple of sympathetic moments) but on the whole I am a lot more hardy where the kids are concerned. I guess you have to be. Change of jeans & shoes though. She was a lot more her usual self after that – a weight lifted (probably literally). She had a little more difficulty that usual getting off to sleep, but that can be put down to late snoozing. Hopefully today she will be feeling better. She was the last to wake this morning, just before I was about to leave, but that means little, as in theory, they should all remain asleep before I go; it’s early dammit!
Noted yesterday morning walking to work from the station that all was orange, but from the streetlights rather than the sunrise of the past few weeks… bah! Still – the clocks change soon & I can chase the sun for a few more morning hours before it slips back under the horizon again.