Archives: jude

At home.

Another day off work.
Andy took me down to see the doctor on Monday – in the car – which was extraordinarily good of him. The dr’s waiting room was warm & the air must have been very dry as I felt the best I had for some time sitting in there. As it was an emergency booking as well, there was a while to wait. Andy stayed with me as well! Got to see the dr & had to do the take the Jacket & T-shirt off routine. He listened to my chest which was now hardy rattly & I felt a little like a fraud with flu. He then asked me to blow through a tube to see how my powerful breath was. I’m supposed to make 650 for someone my age etc on whatever the measurement for this is all based on, but I only managed 350. He then told me I have asthma (!!). Gave me steroids & antibiotics to take & an inhaler. Blimey!

As I started to write today I was just a little out of breath from descending 2 flights of stairs. At least I can feel I can do stairs at a reasonably normal pace. I’ve also not had to use the inhaler that much either. Only allowed 4 shots a day & I only needed 3 yesterday. Felt cruddy in the morning & threw up breakfast yesterday, (perhaps it’s the medication?) but started to feel less cruddy in the afternoon. By evening I even had a hunger pang. Satiated with a small bowl of cereal & a cup of tea.

Jack has not really liked me being at home. He does not understand that if I am off work, he still needs to go to school – it’s not fair. He made a fuss going off yesterday & today. On being collected from school yesterday he said to Louise that he did not feel well etc, but his teacher popped over to say that he’d been fine & enjoyed himself that day. Louise could see the ‘drat’ on his face when she did that.
I guess that’s the only upset to the daily routine I’ve really caused. I suspect as I was not eating yesterday tea time, Jack decided not to eat. He can be fickle at the best of times, so it’s kinda hard to be sure I can shoulder the blame for that one.

22:07

Jack was a bit ‘wild’ this evening. I think it’s down, basically to me being at home. A change of routine does not do him a lot of favours. We flared up at each other, & he got upset & angry. He calmed down with hugs & then some drawing/colouring & much sharpening of crayons.
Eve has had a haircut at last. A near bob – but at the 1st stage. She looks more impish than ever. She was also left at ‘school playgroup’ for an hour. Louise was able to get away. 1st time she’s let Louise do that since the end of the holidays & start of schools again. Her potty training is going well at the moment as well. She seems on form in general.
Jude is climbing up on anything he can. He wants to be standing up.
I am kinda keen to be back to work – to ‘normalise’ things. But Louise points out that I’m really not that much better. I still cough a lot (stomach weak from it) I still get out of breath quite easily & I am not eating anything approaching normally. So, I delay another day before returning. Try to ensure I’m on form tomorrow.
At least I am getting a good rest I don’t think I’ve managed to grasp as much sleep as I’ve had the past couple of days for ages. I sneak a sleep while Louise is off at playgroup. I am not constantly tired & that makes me feel quite good.

Indeed – typing was cut short yesterday.
My brain cannot think of a suitable point to start this morning… just sitting here with a big duuuhhh…
Got a new pair of jeans after work yesterday – that’s interesting isn’t it?
My computer at work has been downgraded – which is a bit of a drag.
ah – Louise snapped at me for doing something daft yesterday; I was holding Jude & pulled over my (now tepid) cup of tea – He got some on his foot – jerked him away & he cried – nasty shock… Louise took Jude off into the front room while I cleared up & suddenly Jack started crying. He was really upset. I stopped clearing up & went to see what was up & he could not tell me through sobs. It sounds bad, but he was not actually crying, & he was, after a while ‘forcing himself’ – that is to say, his crying seemed rather ‘labored’. Interesting. The reason he gave when he managed was that he thought that we were mad at each other (Louise & I). Well, yes, for a fleeting moment, but as always these things pass quickly. We do not generally bicker & we’re both poor at maintaining a grudge. The worst we tend to be is ‘snappy’. Jack’s reaction was interesting though… if a little melodramatic… I’ve been wondering why such a reaction came up? He has been very… pernickety at the moment. Louise had a trial of toast not being quite right yesterday – crusts toppings browness, I imagine – I cannot recall the details. He didn’t want his tea either, even though it was the same tea he ate with gusto last week. He has been loving & everything. Perhaps he’s not feeling very secure… I don’t know why though. He’s been getting a lot of ‘good behavior’ smiley stamps on his hands – but then again that could be insecurity & a desire to please. Sigh… Parents tend to worry when they think about things too much. He’s generally very happy sat the moment… Perhaps he’s been talking with someone at school whose parents have split. William’s back – his parents have split… Do kids of 5 talk about that sort of thing?

I allegedly slept well last night… funny that. Seems I beg to differ with the actuality.

Eve is “The biggest girl in the wide world”. I thought I’d share that with you. She’s bigger than Jack, she’s bigger than Grandma, she’s bigger that daddy (me). I’m not sure where this opinion originated, but she is very pleased with it, & has often mentioned it over the past weeks.

Her playgroup has moved from the college to a room at Jack’s school. She went for the 1st time again yesterday & loved it immensely. She did not want Louise to go though… So Louise stayed & Jude enjoyed himself as well. Louise says that Eve really enjoyed herself. She was running with her head held high as she left.

Jack has settled into school again well. Louise was a bit worried on the 1st day back when the seating arrangements cast him as the only boy on a ‘girl table’, but this has not effected him. I think there was more concern he might get ribbed by more ‘boy centric’ boys for being on ‘the girl table’. Not so, & he does not really seem to have that distinction enforced as much as others. William, his old pal who moved to Spain has returned again – which has made him happy. I think he’s off to William’s after school this Friday. All in all, i think he’s enjoying school (as much as one does).
He’s a social animal.

We had another leak in a pipe above the back room – the one where we had a leak before & the insurance paid to have the room repapered. I all looked so nice, not quite so anymore. It’s not bad – it’s just not quite right anymore. Bother. Hattie (our plumber) came to fix it yesterday – which was really very good indeed as we thought she was already on holiday! It seems to be all fixed now. She came round yesterday afternoon & we left her to it while we went to pick up Jack from school – dilly-dally in the park & then we went shopping & had tea at the supermarket cafe (meeting other parents we knew there). All very convivial. All, quite importantly, out of the way – letting Hattie get on with work without having the kids (or me) peeking & poking their nose in. Still not quite sure of what she did from the description given on the invoice. Looks like a problem with the copper to lead connectors again. Yes, yes – lead – we still have some lead piping. I wish we didn’t, but it’s not like we can actually afford to have them removed. Bah.
Jude was up early this morning. Crawling round & happy. His word/noise of the moment seems to be, “Bwah”. He cawls round the floor investigating things with an accompanying “Bwah… Bwah…. Bwah”.

Missed typing yesterday for lack of brains. I had none – I was a somnambulist for most of the morning. Cough woke me too early & I did not manage to sleep again, thus I just was. Too stupid to realise that sleeping on the train would be a good idea as well… duh.
Jack is back to school today. He is not overtly keen; he’s been enjoying the holidays a lot & in ‘class 1’, “They don’t have so many toys” (he protested through tears when getting out of the bath the other night).
Still – he knows he’s going… so that bridge is crossed. Louise is worried that they won’t be able to get into the ‘morning routine’ that’s required to get him there.
He & Hamish have been playing very well over the last week – playing together for very long periods of time.. They seem to have come to a better understanding of each other & there are very few ‘fall outs’ as they want to go in different directions. I consider this a good thing – the art of compromise is working well for now. Hamish’s mum pointed out something which I hadn’t thought of with Jack having problems playing with his other near pal Jessie. Jessie has a close brother (age wise) & their playing could have a lot of non-verbal communication that Jessie might be expecting Jack to pick up on (as Jessie’s brother can) – & Jack plainly does not. Thus Jessie gets more annoyed & just sulks off to Jack’s incomprehension. I’ve seen this happen a couple of times.
Eve is very fragile at the moment. Not really sure why, but it could be likely to with the last tooth (upper right molar) which has yet to fully break through. It seems to be sapping her confidence as well at the moment. Louise & the kids went to another mother’s house yesterday & Eve was jumping about (as she does). The other mother was impressed by Eve’s agility & daring as her boy of similar age is not that daring (or foolhardy?). Eve managed a jump that bashed her chin somehow or other & she was hurt & she could not calm down. Louise had to take her out of the house for fear of her puking (as she does when really upset) She kept it in, but could not calm down. They had to leave, with Eve crying outside until Jude was put in the pushchair etc. She was still hot & bothered by the time we got home. She pointed to her chin – throwing her head back for me to inspect the gruesome damage… of which there was none. Still – it doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt. She bugged me into playing football & she threw it to me & I kicked it back – not that accurately because (lets face it) I’m not that good, & I was holding Jude as well. He was enjoying it – giggling at Eve & the ball. She did manage to impress me though. She kicked a very good volley back at me. A volley from a not quite 3 year old is impressive. She’s not really interested in the concepts of sport & kick about, (she’d rather sit on the ball a lot of the time) but she can kick the ball rather well if she wants to.
Jude is happy. He’s crawling with ease now, so is more interested in climbing up to a standing position on anything he can – sofa etc. He’s keen! He’s also a jolly baby. He finds many things amusing. We were down the kids bike track in the park the other day. It was a bit busy & he was in his pushchair while Jack & Eve (& Hamish & Amber) gadded about. He was happy just watching the kids pass by on their bikes – smiling & occasionally chuckling. His contentment is really amazing sometimes. He is quite strong though – he’s difficult to control in the bath. I sometimes give up & have to get him out before he’s really had enough play. Changing nappies can be very difficult as well, if he’s in no mood to cooperate. Louise uses the art of distractions to great effect.
I’m aware I’m just meandering in my writing, but sometimes it’s good to do that.

When the kids were asleep last night, we moved bedrooms. Thankfully it was not a noisy affair. We’ve now got a relaxingly large room to sleep in instead of a room that is only just bigger than the bed (well – it is a king size). It’s funny – the bed seemed bigger…
We went to Louise’s sister’s yesterday. Adventurously setting off to Leeds to meet them. It all worked rather well getting there (what with being able to set off early as the kids were up early). They took us to their house once we met up & the kids enjoyed themselves. Jude fell asleep on me (for about the 3rd time that day) & I managed to absorb more & more sleepiness to the point where I also sat down with him resting on me & fell asleep… That was a bit weird, & I suspect a bit rude… or at least bad etiquette. No one seemed to mind though. Amazingly the kids did not try to wake us. Back home & the day seems over far too quickly.
Bah
Louise said this morning, as I left how pleased she was with the house again. Actually moving upstairs has made the house seem bigger.

The health visitor came to give Jude a check up etc the other day. He’s fine. She was impressed with his crawling. He’s on the 50th centile for weight – which is dead centre average, & the 75th centile for length (height). Hmmm…. neither Jack nor Eve were that big. How that continues in life is yet to be seen. He’s a strong little thing as well – this crawling business seems to have given him even more get up & go. Last night bath was hard work – constantly moving, wriggling, standing up & generally giving me quite a hard time keeping him safe & in control. I did give up eventually & just got him out. At least he didn’t pooh in the bath – which is something he seems to quite a bit. He’s only a baby – he’s not aware. Speaking of scatological things… Eve’s potty training is on/off. She finds it difficult at the moment not to get lost in the moment. We are getting through a lot of pairs of knickers a day… & socks for that matter – all wet. She is a bit off colour at the moment – a cough – teething – so she’s much less likely to be able to take notice of these things than when she’s on form – at least one hopes that’s the case.

My nose is still not better, & I also have an abrasion on my elbow & lower back that seem to be infected as well. I keep thinking things are getting better (at least my nose does not hurt as much) but all I can honestly say is that things are stable. As this has gone on more than a week now I’m going to make a conscious effort to try to see a doctor about it. I would rather be better than stable.

Carpets are coming today! We were moving things around last night to clear room for them to work. There are a few items which have no space t go elsewhere but the fitters should be used to such things… Hopefully…
Quite looking forward to getting home to see the transformation…

Oh they’re my favourite trains, are those ones – the old ones than don’t even have a drop down table on the back of the seat in front for you to use & swing around on suspension springs better suited to slinkeys. Thankfully today, we have a better train.
Now, I can’t remember a jot of what’s been doing. My brain is empty this morning. I will try to tease some glimmer of though like a tortoise being tempted out of a shell with a nice bit of crisp lettuce.
The carpets are due this Friday – they are coming to fit them! Ah, that just reminds me of something else I forgot – to get call the people we want to clean the stair carpet.
Must … try…. to…. remember….
um
This will be good though as we will be able to move into the attic space even though I have not completed lots & lots of things. This is immaterial – we will be up there! Woo! I will paint strip, paint & scowl at the damp plaster that still seems to refuse to dry out. Perhaps the presence of people up there will help… I dunno. Scare it away with our contempt of it or something?

How did the weekend go? Hmmm – well at some point Jack was in angry defiance mood. I suspect this was Friday. That evening he was very mad with me for stopping his shower & we were in a stand off situation. He angry with me & me, as usual, not backing down. He’s still in the bath – sitting down & reusing to get out. This could have continued a while, but fortunately Jude was still awake & Louise needed to get something. She handed him to me & Jude smiles at Jack & Jack just melts. He loves his brother. Jack plays up for Jude & I melt. I love my kids.

We went to Bradford on Saturday. Another ‘out of the blue’ “lets go to…” from Louise. I like these – unplanned & haphazard. Can’t really recall what we did. No real impact on memory. I wonder if we did anything that might impress itself on Jack & Eve’s memories? Ah – we met one of the teaching assistants that were attending to Jack’s class on the way home. She’s nice – she has a family of her own, but she stopped for a chat with Jack. Jack likes to engage people.
Sunday – we -um- what was it?
We did a little tidying & sorting – moving a cluttered shelf of toys from the front room to the back. The front room carpet is also due a ‘replace’.
Oh – & what else we’ve gorn & done? Louise, I suspect, would not like me reporting this, as it’s our private lives – but this journal thing documents our lives (kinda). We have moved our mortgage to the (hateful*) Halifax. In doing so we keep our outgoings about the same & my personal cover is better, & we have a little money for home improvements!
(* I say this out of knee jerk on long dissipated chagrin at being manoeuvred out of a job I quite enjoyed)