Archives: asthma

Jude didn’t have his inhaler at school yesterday… Not that he actually needs it… He doesn’t have asthma bad at the moment or anything… Actually, when Louise took him to the asthma clinic the other day the nurse said that as he was seemingly a lot better at that point & the fact that he as on Piriton at the time indicated that it might not so much be asthma, but an allergy, so he’s had a note passed to the doctor, so that a referral be made for allergy tests,

Progress of sorts, perhaps?

So, Jude didn’t have his inhaler. He didn’t need it medically, but psychologically he seems to need crutches. He had got into the habit of having some ventolin at… some point & this was denied him. He became worried & a call was put into Louise who advised that at the moment he doesn’t seem to need it… And therefore Jude had a bad day. I can’t say what his day was like third hand & he’s not really forthcoming on this sort of level, so… All the same Louise got a remark of the likes of, “He’s had a difficult day” fro his teacher when picking him up at school. Louise’s mum was there so they went of to Seventy Two (cafe) & Jude got cheesy toast. & all was happy when I got home.

Not a bad evening.. Esme was vociferous & tired & getting them to bed was a bit of a task in the end (bed times seem to be especially difficult at the moment – someone disagrees all the time). Jude wanted his hair checking for head lice because .. well – the teacher asked then to do so, so presumable there some about… Jude has none, but was out of the bath by 7:15. Not bad.. But then Esme & Eve would not … I had to pick Esme up & plonk her in the bath red faced tear filled eyes calling me stupid, idiotic & declaring that she wasn’t listening (Jude’s 3 touchstone phrases of disagreement). And the some of the usual post bath procrastination & some reading & by the time Louise finished reading to Jude & I finished reading to Eve (these are synchronised as best possible) it was ten to nine. How did that happen? Jack finalised what he was dong for RE & was proof read by Louise & Esme had eventually slipped into slumber by then, but all the same – that was later than ever.

And then…

Jude starts whimpering & worrying – he has a tummy ache half a centimetre above his belly button. The pain in his upper right chest area (between ribs) has died down thankfully, but this new ‘disomfort’ is shaping up nicely as a big worry to present settling. So.. He’s definitely not going to go to sleep before Louise goes downstairs… Louise needs a rest, but reluctantly bids him good night after 5 minutes & later has to admonish Jack for not wring up what he’s finalised for RE (it’s supposed to be a rough to bring to class for something in lesson). But it would be better if it were legible, didn’t have Louise’s ‘marking’ on it…

Many mutterings & sighs later Jude finally drops off to sleep – sneak off out of the room at 9:30 (past). I’ve to still to draw an Uakia monkey for him for tomorrow (animal alphabet) & so on… I mess about a bit & am later to bed than I should be.

Jude arrives in our bedroom at 03:45 – which means he may have been awake a bit before this. I’m not as responsive as I could be (dragged reluctantly from sleep) & Louise tells Jude he needs to settle down & go back to bed, to which he responds with a sulky collapse to the floor & then curling into ‘grump position’. I pick him up & put him to bed & try to mutter something soothing & bland & stagger back to bed. Jude’s back later after I’ve fallen solidly enough & Esme seems to have wrapped herself around me (she’s a fidgety sleeper).

So Louise goes off to settle him, but stays down there on the futon. When I get up at 5:45 they’re both still awake.

Might be an interesting evening…

Tired this morning – that fog brain thing I get whin I don’t get enough sleep. Esme didn’t sleep well & spent a deal of time kicking about – which is not comfortable when she’s lying next to you.

One day we’ll have the bed to ourselves.

Jude started term with a bit of a bang… They’re starting their history thing & the class learned about the Black Death… It seems a vivid picture projected onto the whiteboard seems to have lodged firmly into his imagination & it sounds a s though he’s nearly had a panic attack about getting ‘black hands’. (There was someone with black hands in the picture). He had his inhalers with him (because of the cold – it is very cold at the moment) & was in need of them. He also needed to sit with Eve at lunch & Louise needed to sit with him for 15 mins in the library (?) after dropping Esme off at playgroup. As I say – his imagination was somewhat transfigured. After some chat & reassurance at bedtime he seems to have slept OK last night. Was not needful of further night time reassurance.

Tuesday – was too jiggered yesterday too type.

Long weekend though – that was good. I met Louise & the kids in Halifax on the Thursday; stayed on he train & went to Sainsburys to pick them all up & then homeward bound. Not greatly interesting for me, but the kids were happy (well – maybe Jack was a little sanguine because he hasn’t so keen on being out as the rest. I think the reason for it all was that Jude wanted a pencil case, but that was probably the prerequisite that Louise required to be heading out with them.

So – why was I off on the Friday? There was a Halloween do on the backstreet that we were supposed to e preparing for Now, the real preparation here wasn’t settling decorations or anything of that nature. Because there was a possibility of adults roaming into our house we needed to have a general tidy. Not really reason enough for to be taking a day off… no… Well – OK – the real reason for taking a day off was that it was half term & the kids were home & Louise asked me to take the day off: that’s all I need as a reason. Fact is though; I mainly did tidying up.

I found that the vacuum cleaner (DC08) I got from the market had no filters at all which set off my asthma a little as it bumped up the stairs & shook some dusk out into it’s ‘air out’. That was not so clever & I ordered a new filter off ebay. It’s not only me though – it’s Jude as well – it caused him a few wheezy days as well which was a shame. He had been all geared up for Halloween wanting face paint etc, but when it came to dressing up he decided it better to play & then get in the bath & into his pyjamas… It was only Debra (neighbour) popping in to try to extricate her twins (Gabe & Jules – a little older than Esme) from the wooden train track set out in the back room & commenting to Jude that he was missing the fun & encouraging him out that made him change back out of his pyjamas & into civvies (not halloweenies) & join in with everyone.

As a whole the party went well. Eve was first to be dressed up as she had Evie’s Halloween birthday party to attend before the ‘street’ party.

While she was away we brought down the enormous box that had arrived the other day from Hazel – what could it be? There were 4 smaller ‘Cadbury’s’ labelled boxes for the kids. This was handed out & they were ripped open & contained a Halloween bucket filled with backs of Halloween themed animal biscuits & a pack of Halloweeny marshmallows. Jude & Esme started tucking into the biscuits straight away & were keen to be going out to to trick or treat, but it was too early.

This was only stalled until Jack joined in, getting his Skeleton costume on & wanting to head out with his bucket, egged on by a desperate Esme. So as it was starting to get dark we let them out to some of the neighbours.

Hah – this machine would hardly work this morning (the eMate on which I type) as I’d filled it so with all my waffling. I deleted a stack (to free up the memory stack). I’ll concede I need to look at deleting some apps I don’t really need either.

On Friday last week they came to fit the new windows in our house. They took just the one day to do it. They did rather a good job. It’s all rather gratifying. I was sceptical about moving to PVC double glazing, but it has made quite a difference to the aspect of the rooms – they seem much more light & airy without the heavy coloured wood of the previous windows. The Kitchen door is rather pleasant as well. We have not done the windows in there as we are looking to change the room round before we do that – but the door is such an improvement. We decided to have a big window on the door to let in more light & it works a treat.

Been quite a good weekend. Jack’s was a bit cocky on Saturday, but we put that down to the fact that he refused to have any breakfast. By the time we were going out he’d got himself cranky (& was demanding food – but we were going out!). Got present for Leila’s birthday party – forgot most things – back home & off to the party in the pouring rain. We arrived half an hour late, but it was the best we could manage & it was to little ill effect. Jack was not keen to join in musical bumps & other party games. Whether this was because we were late or because… it’s not what he likes (not a great one for competition sometimes – he comes over shy all of a sudden) I don’t know. He was happy enough to join in hide & seek & run around like a mad thing though. I wheezed about the place a bit as i had forgotten to bring my inhaler. I’ve been more reliant on it the last week after hardly using it for ages. I have a cough. Got soaked on the way home as the rain was even worse. Paced quite well as not to get too out of breath though.

Took Jack swimming on Sunday morning. He’s starting to have lessons – this being the second now. He really, really likes going swimming. He enjoys himself to the extent where he doesn’t really listen to the instructor sometimes. I have to strain my ears to listen to what she is saying. Did backstroke & practiced getting legs straight & kicking well – which Jack managed fine. I seem to recall that I was happier swimming on my back to start with. I never was that coordinated & it’s nice & simple on yer back. That breast stroke… eesh – all those odd arm & leg movements.

Off to Leeds for the afternoon – & pottered about very easily. Pleasant bit of consumerism & then home. Yeah – that went well.

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).

Wall work – I still have not finished the wall. It occurs to me it would have been quicker to learn the art of plastering, & skim the whole lot over rather than sitting patching & smoothing & farting about. Still – tiz getting there now. Quite a bit of time put in has left me with the last bit of alcove & the wall to the door. If time is put in & if things go well… I might actually get the bugger done – papered this week.

Got a pot of matt acrylic varnish to go on top – so we should be able to start doing that as well, & then it’s done & I can move to sorting the attic out… Oh joy.

Cooo Just looked at the Manchester skyline as I’m on the train leaving for home & there’s the Manchester Arena getting ready for the games next year.

Trying to think of some anecdotes of what the kids are up to at the moment, but that part of the brain seems closed off at the moment due to me being too tired. Nothing unusual there, then… Alarm had to struggle to wake me up this morning. I put it down to the cough medicine I glugged in the night to allow me to breathe unencumbered. Coughing & wheezing again. Seems like the sort of thing I get from dust, but not been moving stuff about. I guess it could be polyfiller dust… or possibly yer actual cough (as the rest of the family has something at the moment). Kids with dribbling noses & Louise with a ‘razor’ throat.

Louise was saying how the ‘lump’ reacts when Jack & Eve are singing (especially). I think it also reacts when they make a lot of noise. Eve used to react when we were reading Jack to sleep or singing to him. Both of them love singing. Eve has songs that she sings at playgroup, like, “Wind the bobbin up” that comes with actions & wants you to sing & join in with them.

That last bit of typing reminds me how much I enjoy playing with the kids, but make me worry also that I might be treating Eve with more ‘favour’ than Jack. I would love to be completely even handed – treating both equally, but I don’t – as they are not equal really. It’s difficult to expect too much from Eve. She’s too young to respect a single word you say to her, whereas Jack understands fully. Actually, I suspect Eve knows darn well when she is doing wrong, but as with both of them it’s difficult to get them to listen to a word you say. I am starting to expect more from Jack & he does not really like being told not to do something when he has his mind set on doing it. He either gets sad or angry when told not to do something depending on the situation. Sad is OK, & you feel for him or if it seems especially ridiculous you cannot help bug hug & chuckle. Mad is not good, as there seems no obvious way to calm him down. He has kicked me a good few times, & I cannot ignore that, so the situation can escalate. My usual solution if things get fraught is to pick him up & put him down sometimes. If that does not work I take him to his room to calm down. The best way out of that sort of situation really is to distract him onto something else, but I cannot really do that, as I do not like being attacked. I really hope that this does not continue as a trait between us as I hate making him mad. It’s the disciplinarian in me, I guess.

Bleh

not a great night sleep. Had metaphorical dreams of clearing my chest – wiping data from a computer that I did not want – appropriate enough for my foolish computer addled brain. Tidied up our/to be the kids bedroom yesterday. Took all to hyuge boxes of books & records upstairs again. Was surprised that I could actually lift a couple of them! We weeded through a couple of boxes as well – disposing of books that we will never be reading, & do not really want gracing any shelves that we may have in the future. Three bags & a small box full to go to the ‘book bin’ at the recycling point in town (for Oxfam).

Anyway – all the shifting & opening of books generated the sort of dust that really gets to me, & thus I have ‘tight lungs’; just a bit of a phlegmy cough – the sort of thing that does not help sleep. Still, I don’t feel too bad this morning, that considered. I really must not stay up too late tonight or I will really start to turn into a zombie. Still a lot more sorting out to do! I rather hope that we can get some bookshelves for downstairs, it would be good to have the sort of thing again. The records tough… eep – what are we going to do with those long term? The do make excellent ballast for a bottom shelf (making a free standing unit very stable.

Jack was all keen to help, & Eve enjoyed pottering about, but I was left on my own in the end to tidy things up. Jack later burst into tears when he realised I’d done this as he was evidently been expecting to help. Louise went round ‘our/to be the kids’ room later & hoovered & so on, so it now looks… unnaturally tidy! Weird. I guess that’s what we are supposed to aspire to though. Perhaps when the walls are one uniform colour & not half wallpapered & half green washed old plaster with many patches of polyfiller… Be nice if we can stretch to a new carpet in there as well, but I feel that may be pushing it a bit.

Read James Kolchaka’s Diary strips the over the weekend. Finished it over my morning breakfast. It’s an intriguing thing. I’ve read a few diary comics (John Welding’s Goathland & Jim Cameron’s ‘ision’ series) but this is in the form of a 4 panel strip. It must have occurred to him at some point that this could be ‘sellable’ to a ‘daily’ paper. Having said that I may be being over cruel in my thinking on his motivation. It may have started with no real intention of being used in that way… Means must at times. Whatever, the whole concept intrigues me. I keep this text as a form of diary, & the limitations are frustrating, but they are usually due to my Lousy memory & inability to capture those tiny moments of life that are so interesting. It makes me think that drawing a 4 panel cartoon in this was would be a good discipline, but I have so little time to do what I want in the 1st place, that this seems a foolish ambition. It makes me think that I should at least try to illustrate, in whatever way, my daily ramblings.

What has James achieved in his comic? Well, I would recommend it as a comic to another comic creator, but I have misgivings as to how Joe Public would approach such an item. James snatches little moments in time, & they range across many little facets of life… love frustration & the occasional bit of crabby joy. Reading an individual strip would only make you feel as though nothing was happening, but a collection like this, or a daily drip feed, I think would soon have people hooked (even a great many of Joe Public). People, I guess are inherently nosey, & this, you could amply theorise, is just another block in the ‘Big Brother’ syndrome (as we is all big brother now). It’s kinda sweet, & I like the way he draws – always have.