Archives: jude

A pleasant weekend, all in all. Out & about on Saturday. We had money things to sort out & Louise managed to get an appointment with the opticians in Bradford. She also likes the glasses I’ve been thinking I want. We went to a toy shop as Jack had a party to go to on Sunday & we ended up getting presents for Jack & Eve as well (how can you escape such in a toy shop?). Eve got a small dolly which had a tiny bottle & dummy etc. She sat in the pushchair & played with it a lot. Kept her quite happy all afternoon. Jack got a bit of technics lego – a ‘drome racer’ which flies apart when it hits something. He was a little frustrated that he could not have it until he was home – but we had to be sensible with it really. Thinking about it he was a little easily frustrated this weekend. This could be an indication that he’s not really well. Retaliated at Eve a couple of times. Oh, & there was Hamish; he upset Jack. Jack wanted to show Hamish the neat technics/bioniclish car that he had & Hamish brushed him off. Seems Hamish was being busy being a ‘big boy’ & didn’t want to bother. Jack came back in tears. Amber came round a little later to play with Eve – but they didn’t really cotton on to this neat car & bionicles thing. He tried, but she just left in the end – which she (& Hamish for that matter) have a habit of doing.
Jack enjoyed his party over at Tom’s a lot. He was a little worried as I took him that I might not hang around, (I didn’t) but as soon as he was there he was happy & last seen dashing off with pals up the stairs. When I came to get him later he was full on giddy. He charged out of the door at me happy as anything. Crashed into me, as he likes to do. I bent down for a hug & got a real good slap on the head for my trouble. Diane, Tom’s mum was really good & gave us a party bag for all of our brood which included hair grips for Eve & a rattle for Jude – uncommonly generous! Jack had a couple of his party bag sweets on the way home & Louise said he was completely bug eyed when we arrived back. He danced through the door & announced to Louise – happy as anything – that he’s had, “too many sweets” – which was, by & large, patently obvious. He remained in a happy & convivial mood all afternoon/evening. Played well with Eve – ate his tea – gadded about – played with Junkbot on the lego site & did not worry when I was not there to assist. Actually – he played quite happily on his own – completing the puzzled to complete the levels quite well. OK then, all in all Jack has been abundantly loving this weekend. It’s true what Louise says – when he’s in a good mood everything goes smoothly.
I stayed up a little late last night watching most of ‘A Clockwork Orange’. I gave up in the end as I realised that I needed sleep more than I needed to know what happens in the end. I’ll watch it again sometime, & I’ll be able to play proper attention. Sleep will nag at me now this week – I must remember to get to bed on time to make up the deficit.

Type now read paper later for I will have some plonker come sit next to me in a station or two’s time. The only problem is, this induces the ‘pressure’ to actually write something – which in turn makes me wanna say, “Oh, sod it all!”.
Jude is not especially well at the moment. This is not to say he’s not really his usual chirpy self. He’s still happy but on occasion he cannot seem to keep his food down. There’s a bit of being sick. Now there are a few possibilities. The plain fact of the matter is that he’s super teething at the moment. I don’t think Jack nor Eve had such lumpy gums as he now has. It’s like he has a real crop of teeth all coming at once. He could also be at the stage where the oesophagus is changing. It moves down, apparently, in babies of a certain age – it’s just I can’t remember what age that’s supposed to be. This can cause a lot more spluttering etc as they adjust. Louise said just yesterday that she though his neck was getting longer. He could also be suffering a relapse from the illness that’s doing the rounds of our town at the moment (the one Louise had last week). Louise is worried that he’s swallowed something & he can’t eat anything. He does have that annoying of so many babies of picking up anything he finds & shoving it in his mouth (& he has a capacious buccal cavity – a trait from his dad). She feels guilty & sometimes thinks that he looks at her as if to say, “you let me swallow such & such”. Well, it’s only natural for a parent to feel guilty & worry that they are messing things up. I do point out that he can actually keep food down sometimes & if there was a ‘blockage’ this simply would not be the case.

The train has been more crowded of recent. I have been told why now – the ‘turn around’ from Tod to Southport has been removed from service. This does not bode well as that was my ‘stand by’ train in case there were any problems with this one. This means I have a much higher chance of being late for work. Bah. Not happy about this. Especially not happy about the ‘little things’ like having to start typing as soon as the train starts, rather than wallow in the paper for a while my by brain solidifies from the liquid state induced by sleep & waking. Again, BAH!
<Tries to tune brain in to thinking> ummmmmmm
Duh yeah – went to school last night. One of those ‘parents meet the teachers to discuss schooling’ things. Just 10 minutes. It seems Jack is happy, confident & social at school. Such things are happily reassuring. He is also willing to answer questions & be involved. He did have & still does to a lesser extent, it seems, have a tendency to be a perfectionist. He wants to get things right. He is less worried about this now though. Whereas last year this impeded him – slowing him up to the extent that he was not getting things done; he now completes tasks in the given time. I think he’s less afraid of mistakes – which is a good thing. Having said that…. Louise & I have noticed a tendency to be worried more about making a ‘social’ mistake. He seems to be worried more at the moment about doing something wrong. It’s a little odd, as he can get himself quite upset if you reprimand him for some minor misdemeanour. It’s like suddenly we have this aura of ‘they must be obeyed of you suffer the consequences’ – which can be quite disconcerting.
Jude still has no teeth. He has very very lumpy gums at the moment though. He was throwing himself about as I was holding him the other day – jumping up & down in my arms to the extent that I thought he was going to hurt himself on my shoulder. He didn’t seem to – but still – you think – that surely can’t be good for him.

Back to work (albeit later than usual today – I saw Jack off to school with Louise).
I had to stay at home yesterday, as Louise was rather ill. There’s this rather unpleasant bug around, you see. It all came on rather suddenly. After tea on Monday, Louise was not feeling that good… When we were getting the kids off to bed she took Jude up to our bed & went off to sleep with him, as she was rather tired. Then when all were asleep & I’d just popped downstairs to prat about on the computer I heard her shout form me. Dashed upstairs & she’d made it to the bathroom to be sick. She was in a bad way though. This continued for most of the night. We had a bowl by the bed & all that.
She was plainly incapacitated so I took the next day off to get the household things done. The kids up & fed & Jack off to school, & washing etc. I only really had Eve to keep amused, which was quite good. Jude stayed with Louise & slept for most of the day with her. This was rather good for me, as I would not have been able to cope so well with he straying as he does. Eve also acts different when he’s about. She either wants your attention in rival to him, or will play with him – but play with him wrong – she’s too rough & boisterous & want to pick him up & all that. All in all it went quite well.
Louise was able to stand up & move about again by yesterday evening, so was confident enough that I should return to work. Her mum’s also coming over today so that Eve can have someone to distract her. Eve wanted to come on the train to work with me, but we all had to wave bye-bye.

Cough cough.
Oh great – I now cough. Dry tickling little so & so that keeps nagging. Mind you that’s better than the asthmatic guttural phlegmmy ones :)
I would, it has to be said, appreciate feeling healthy – if nothing else so that I would stop whittering on like some flagrant hypochondriac.

I left work early on Friday. Feeling abysmal. Whole body hurting & head spinning. It’s quite probable that I should not have bothered going in at all. I was in a filthy mood & that’s probably what propelled me in – the adrenaline from anger. Once I sat down & started work I fell to pieces a bit. It seems when I am truly ill I get mad at everything.

This morning the limbs don’t feel so bad. Yesterday was a bit awful – & I just started to perk up at bedtime… great.
The whole family is a bit off at the moment. Jude was being sick lot yesterday – which is a little unusual for him – he’s not got a predilection for barfing like Jack did & does not often ‘loose it’ when really upset, as Eve can still do. However – he was sick on my leg at the start of the day. Later at midday Louise gave him some lunch (a jar of baby food – not that common a meal for him). He tucked in happily & was doing well… that is until Louise had him sat on her knee & was getting him ready to go out &, well, I’d like to say, “VlAAArp!”, but he’s very quite with his being sick. Just opens his mouth & away he goes – yellow gunk all down him & all over Louise’s dress… Louise was… not impressed. Jude didn’t flinch – he was only mildly upset by having to have his clothes changed. So I get to carry the time bomb for a bit… But he’s fine. I play with him, carry him around, let him jump up & down at the window, banging the window (he enjoys that) while Louise gets a change of clothes. She comes downstairs & starts putting some washing out again, & I follow her. Jude stretches out, so I go to Louise, & we just get to where she’s taking him off me, – he’s on her shoulder &, “Vlaarp!” again. More yellow dappling! Louise does not quite see the comedy of it all, somehow. That was, thankfully, the last of it though.

Again with the feeling shite.
This time I have heavyweight limbs. I ache all over. It would be very nice to not have a cough & to feel sprightly. Suspect Jack has been suffering something similar – a reluctance to walk & the glands on his neck being up. Louise is similar. Eve & Jude… I dunno. Eve has been wingey, but Jude is too happy to notice such things.

Can’t be arsed typing any more today.

Gripe: shite train – no tables – typing on lap (oh, & it’s running late, but that never bothers me as I leave plenty of time for getting to work).
Jack was… well I’m feeling conscious that I seem to put every run in we have down here & it’s not really fair on him. He was difficult at bedtime yesterday & I upset him because of this. We managed to calm down eventually & we were left with the situation that Jack & Eve were in his bed as I read to them. Eve was just dropping of to sleep & Jack started knocking her. I said not to & he just about started hitting her. Granted, it’s his bed & he does not share it when I read to him, but it was a situation that his behavior had created. So – Louise had just managed to get Jude asleep & took Eve into her bed to get her to drift off. I was mad at Jack for being insolent & unhelpful again after we had just been through all that, & he had moved on. Grumpy as I was I was not willing to read anymore to him, but Louise told me off & told me to read. I was rather pleased about this as it gave me the room to be grumpy & voice said displeasure at the situation, but still carry on reading so that things progressed ‘normally’ & Jack drifted off to sleep instead of getting annoyed with me & staying up later than he should.
This morning did not go to plan either. Eve awoke crying just as I was getting out of the shower. Hurriedly scooped her up & got her back into bed, but she was settling to sleep again, but… not quite – which was frustrating. She eventually won when things were starting to get too late to be practical – I needed to be getting going to actually have some breakfast. In the end all the kids are awake before I leave the house in a dash (but determined not to be too much of a dash, as I’m not confident I’m fully better). I dislike hurry in the mornings, but sometimes it seems difficult to avoid.
Eve is very ‘clingy’ with me at the moment – I carried her all the way to pick Jack up from school & on hunt for an open barber for a haircut for him (which he desperately needs at the moment). She also clung to me. We did not find an open barber.

Louise’s mum comes today & I get to linger in Manchester a little after work. A couple of little jobs to do & I’m going to have a look at glasses. Both Louise & I are going to get new glasses. I want to do a little window shopping today

Back to the routine after last week’s disruption. Sigh.
The moon was high & bright at 5:30 when I woke up. Jude again seems to have taken this as the arrival of the day, but unlike yesterday I was up, & Louise didn’t really manage to get him off to sleep again. We had reports from other parents that the full moon aglow has fooled other kiddies as well. I guess it depends which was their windows point. Fortunately Jack & Eve’s room looks the other way.

We got the re-mortgage sorted now – all the bits & bobs came through on Saturday morning. It makes little difference in terms of outgoings excepting that I am now covered on life insurance & all that stuff; that’s a novelty. We can plan a trip to Ikea & start getting the rest of the things organised that we need to do with this money. It ain’t a vast amount & I’m sure it’ll be gobbled up quick – but shelves & a back door & replacement windows & a new bath might come to pass.

We had a few details to tie up with the bank on the Saturday morning, so we trooped off there before we set off to Hebden Bridge for a scout about. Louise brought back reports that Bionicles were on sale there – so this had to be checked. Sure enough they were & we bought one for Jack. I have some in standby that I’ve managed to get off ebay – so there were limits to what we could buy. I told Andy of these reports as well as their lad Hamish likes them too. Shot myself in the foot rather though as the ebay bionicles were also for Hamish’s forthcoming birthday present. Regroup – rethink. Silly me.

We had 2 birthday parties for Jack to attend this weekend. One was more for Eve, but we were all invited. I wonder when, demographically, most birthdays occur?

Travelling into work on the train as usual… Sigh.
My mind is not the usual fog of grasping at remembering through the fog of a fuzzy brain that would much rather have not arisen at 5:30. I was actually physically dithering this morning – a little of the shakes. At least I got to have the last of the steroids. The antibiotics look like they’ll last me into the weekend & the inhaler will have to live with me for a good while yet. I only used it the once yesterday & I haven’t really needed it today. Hopefully I can get away with minimal usage. Still I was hoping that I’d be feeling stronger & more confident that I do at this moment. Still – it’s only early yet. Still…
Louise has to face the kids at home alone this morning. Jude’s been an imp in the night – not settling down very well. As usual he’s happy – but Louise is going to be more tired than she needs to be from that. He’s due his hearing test afternoon. He may not cooperate. They had to give up with Eve in the end as she was too canny by the time they managed it, & Jude could be the same. Louise is supposed to sit there & distract him into looking forward while someone behind them makes a noise. Jude is likely to be as interested as Eve was at whet those people behind Louise think they’re doing. He’s a social animal – he likes to interact.
Is Jack going to be upset that I’ve changed routines yet again? Both Jack & Eve have enjoyed me being there in the morning, but it’s made things more difficult as well as easier as morning routines go. Apparently there are often tears in the morning when it’s realised that I’m not there, but when I have been & I’m not… Ah well. Depends who wakes 1st I suppose. Eve woke just before 6:00 this morning, but I tucked her into bed with Louise (& the already awake Jude) & she dropped off to sleep again. A too uncommon thing is for Eve to wake 1st in the mornings & come crying downstairs & cry as I’m not there etc. Then she has some breakfast & gets in her usual chirpy mood. Jack then wakes up & is upset & is even more upset with Eve gleefully announcing “Daddy’s gone to work!”

Still at home!

Things went a little better this morning despite me being woken by Jude at my usual rise & shine time of 5:30. Eve had managed to get upstairs into our bed at some point & Louise had gone downstairs at Jack’s behest earlier… so I kept Jude pacified for awhile (quarter of an hour or so – which was not bad) before he made enough noise to wake Louise & I had to surrender to getting up. Eve managed to sleep through Jude’s noises.
Louise managed to get Jude asleep – so I sat about a bit downstairs until Eve realised she was alone & woke in tears. I went up 2 flight of stars to get her & then as I was coming down again realised that was perhaps rushing was not such a wise thing to do (this being out of breath is getting silly). Louise carried her down the rest of the way & then went off to have her shower while Eve sat on me & told me about all sorts of things that were running through her head, but which have evaporated from memory now.
Such is the morning routine. Jack woke, Jude woke, Eve got dressed, acted like a wild thing. Jack actually ate some breakfast. I read his school book with him & he did rather well. I haven’t managed to read with him for a while (bad dad!) but he’s definitely recognising more words & is more willing to think about word structure & letter sounds.
Confusion, & then they are away.
I’ve pottered for a bit & retired upstairs to write this and perhaps get some kip, but now I realise that there are a few little jobs to be on with downstairs – so a kip will have to wait… bah.