Archives: paul

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.

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.

At home feeling v rough.
managed to book myself into the doctors yesterday – i was starting to worry about my breathing. I was winding me up at work as it was such hard work.
Getting home went from uncomfortable to desperately uncomfortable. I was finding coming up the road home a real task. Louise came out of the house to see how I was.
Even our neighbour Andy came out to see what was up. I guess I must have looked a state.

wheeze – wheeze – wheeze – wheeze – wheeze – wheeze – wheeze – wheeze – wheeze – wheeze.
I ain’t well again. Unlike the last 2 Mondays I did manage to get some sleep, (cough medicine to calm me down) but I am immensely clogged up. Walking even makes me mildly out of breath. Bunged up, chesty cough, wheezing, aching limbs… my, you must have a spot of influenza Mr Schroeder…. duuuuuh.
What we been doing? If I could think straight, it would be a start, but I’m boringly narrowed in of feeling shite.
Eve has been a daredevil at playgroup – jumping off the slide (slide down halfway, and then leap). Louise had to tell her to stop it as others were failing to copy her, & were in danger of hurting themselves. Playgroups, from what Louise says, seems to be like a sitcom. The playgroup leaders are both dry & droll & some of the kids sound plain odd. There’s the boy. who. speaks. slowly. & deliberately. He was up to something the other day (playing with some anthropomorphic toy?) & Louise asked him what he was doing, “I’m. stabbing. him.” … Riiiiiight…. There’s also a couple of boys who roll around with monkey masks & monkey tails… OK… I’m sure it’s the same in playgroups up & down the country (ahem).

Oh – Friday 13th – how amusing.
Jude didn’t sleep too well last night – he has a similar sort of cough to me – a bit in the chest. Louise is going to take him at least to the pharmacist today to see if there’s anything that might assist alleviation of symptoms.
For a disturbed night, I don’t feel too bad, but my neck is rather stiff & I feel distinctly uncomfortable looking down to type.
I whitter a lot about sleep at the moment – probably because I’m greedy for more. To irk me Fortean Times also has an article on hypnagogic, or half sleep – one of the periods of sleep I really like best – that time between sleep & wake in the morning where you can really freewheel – but I never have the time to indulge any more – sigh… I can let my imagination play then without my conscious mind impeding it. Hey ho.
Right – I’m off to play (try a little light sleep) & rest my neck.

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?

Again I missed a Monday typing. I was far too jiggered again. An uneasy sleep Sunday night to Monday morning due to coughing again. At least I remembered to sleep on the train yesterday, although it didn’t really feel like it did any good. I believe that typing will be restricted this morning as well as there’s a train strike & I am likely to get someone wanting to sit next to me, & I cannot type with company. At least I have the new Fortean Times to read… That should give them something other than my typing for them to give quizzical looks at.
Slightly fractious weekend. Not really sure why, but both Louise & I were in snappy moods at times. Not usual, & not pleasant. I guess we are both rather run down at the moment. I am consciously trying to make an effort to get to sleep earlier. I was not at the weekend, as we got “the Lord of the Rings” out on DVD from the bibliotec. First time we have done such a thing. It was… OK. I remember the book was all about the journey & the film seems to be all about the battles…but I guess that’s just the cinematic experience & the difference between the 2 media.

Been falling behind on putting this journal thing up on the Internet… Oh well. There are only so many hrs. I’ve been working on getting ZUM! more up to date & all that… Nothing spectacular, just documenting what I should already have done, but not managed to.
Been prattling about on Ebay as well… Got me some Bionicle bits for Jack. He seems to like them, but have to confess that I also rather like them. Sad little me, but then, being a dad gives you a chance to play with your children’s toys (ahem).

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”.