Archives: bedtime

Eve cried & cried again last night – twixt 02:45 & 03:15.

I forgot Louise’s hot chocolate before bed.

I am starting to amble along in a wakeful state – but not an especially efficient wakeful state.

Jack was hyper at bedtime & took a long time to coax to sleep. Choice of book not that good at the moment – it being Pinocchio (it’s a bit exciting) but then he was rapt by the telling & was difficult before bed – not in bed.

Jude saw a ‘health visitor’ yesterday & it seems it’s most likely he has rubella at the moment. He can get quite a temperature – so we try to control that. The rash is fading somewhat & he’s never especially been ‘off’ with it. He’s eating better now – whereas last week he was having trouble keeping anything down (to the extent he was once sick at the introduction of food into the mouth). It seems that may have been ‘another virus’ that has been doing the rounds, but he’s over that one. Hopefully over this one soon.

Louise is slowly getting better – is very bunged up still.

Right – after that somewhat perfunctory typing I shall cease & sleep a bit, i think.

Train Home

Ha ha – what fun it was this morning – with the train cancelled & the next one no longer running while North Western Trains are in industrial dispute (overtime ban?) the train to work arrived some 40 mins after the one I usually get. No tying – it’s crowded by the time it reaches us.
That may all sound bitter – but I take it all with a pinch of salt really – why should I worry if I’m a little late for work? I still get to sit & I get to read & no one bothers me. I kinda enjoy the farcical nature of it all.

Jack slept a bit better last night – in that he slept…
He went to sleep relatively easy in the evening as well. Counter to expectations Jack & Eve were not really that fractious. Eve was a bit on the hysterical side, but then she does get a mess of tears & shrieks when she gets over tired. Jack did wake up in the night again. I don’t recall what he complained about. I seem to think that he asked whether today was a ‘school day’ – to which it could not be denied – yes. He then was in need of a cuddle & then got one. He then also got a few pokes <jab-jab-jab> on the eyelid as I noticed that he had his eyes open a crack – so, naturally I poked them closed. He complained that it hurt… OK! – OK! – I’m a bad dad. Mitigation: I was sleepy yer honour – stupid things make much more sense when you your brain is not engaged. He does have a sensitive eyelid at the moment. It sometimes gets a little swollen… I wonder what that’s about?
Louise’s nephew called to say ‘tara’ yesterday evening – he’s off to New Zealand for… well – I dunno how long for. He’s got a job & accommodation lined up & everything. I don’t think he’s yet 19 (I may be wrong) but that is such a good example of landing on your feet. I’m well impressed. Louise had a chat with her sister as well – it seems that we get their mum’s good side at the moment in comparison. She is getting her for Xmas as well, while we scuttle off to see my mum & dad (Hurah! – I’ve spoken to my dad &he can give us a lift!). It has been conceded that we should really have her to stay next year.

I can’t really think of much more to add in writing – so I should shut up. It all seems like one long round of sleep derived mutterings at the moment

Cor – the kids all asleep as I left the house. I kinda miss not engaging with them – but Eve has the habit of rising too early & being perpetually tired on an evening. Things rather came to a head yesterday as they were all tired & we were tired & bedtime rather went to pot. Jack got mad with us & splashed Louise &would not calm down & do as he was told. It all ended in tears & hugs. hmm… at least no one was sick…
Oh – I realised how I might get my ramblings off the eMate yesterday. I need not worry about synchronisation for the moment (& having to actually read instructions – I can put that off – woo!). I can just email stuff off the eMate to myself. Tested & worked fine.

Um…
Louise said that they said that they’d like 20 Eve’s at playgroup…. Odd I thought – they want 20 mad things that jump about dangerously shout a lot & made silly noses? They must be bonkers! But of course this is home behaviour – not playgroup behaviour. I imagine that she shows her more compliant side there – but I can’t imagine the (grasps for right adjective but can only come up with…) lively nature is completely suppressed. I imagine there’s a glint in her eye at least, after all – it is alleged that she taught Andrea (playgroup adult) how to swing her hips.

Right – I know there’s a dozen anecdotes that Louise threw at me yesterday (not with the intention I’d be writing anything – she cares little for what I blather). It proves to me again that I cannot think straight in the mornings – but hey – it’s the only time I get.

Brain was on the verge of giving up most all of yesterday. Feeling more chipper today, but not exactly sprightly.

That’s weird… someone who just got on the train smells of soiled nappies. Bleh!

We finally managed to get Jack a haircut yesterday. He was happy with it. There’s a lack of curls at the moment (just a little flick at the back) but they will return. Jack’s hair grows lovely, & then it just comes to this critical point & goes ‘flop’ – turns into a more moppy do.

Now Louise just needs to be able to find time.
All children awake before Ieft the house. Jack was the last to rise & that was my fault. I like to give him a little kiss before I go off, but today he must have been drifting on the edge of sleep as he shot awake. They are all early risers at the moment. Still – Eve is happy to go to have a bath almost directly after tea – so that’s a plus.

Not a thought in my head. Is that so unusual? It would be nice to just drift for a bit.
Pootled about after work in Manchester yesterday & looked at a few pairs of glasses. Humph. The pair I liked will most likely be too expensive at £120.00. The shops that sell glasses are always the same. D&A will remain my least favorite, although it’s where I always got my glasses as a kid. My parents must have liked them… were they different then? Now they are very aggressive (with that mask of helpfulness). Just browsing I try to say to the hawk that swoops on me when I start to look at frames, but she persists & waffles extolling virtues & outlining offers. She also suggests that I partake of the ‘designer matching’ service (or some such) – seemingly unaware of the implicit suggestion that I do not know which pair of glasses might or might not suit me. It’s not just about the vanity of how they sit on yer face; it’s also about personality. Whatever – suffice to say, as soon as her attention switched to a helpless looking old lady, I was outa there.
Also wandered round large record store wondering what on earth I was doing (looking for) & feeling bilious.

Eve was tired last night – she wanted to get in the bath almost straight after tea (which she wolfed) – so we ran her a bath. It all worked quite well. Jack most likely got to feel he was up later than usual, & was very good going to bed. She woke at 5:10 hollering for mum – which was a drag, but unlike yesterday I managed to get her to sleep again (phew). …It’s just a shame I didn’t get to sleep again, but never mind.
brain would like to stop having to commit to thinking now. Thank you, & good day.

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

Louise has not broached the subject of school yet. Jack’s holidays end next Tuesday & he is still basically unaware of this fact. Louise now worries that she has left him unprepared for this sudden halt in the holiday.
Louise’s mum came over for a weekly visit yesterday & she was apparently in one of her blacker moods. Before Jack went to sleep he said that he hadn’t seen Grandma that much that day. He recalled when he had seen her; “I was playing out on the back street & she was sitting on the bench…. Then….. Sitting on the bench…. Then sitting on the bench… Then Sitting on the bench…. & then…. inside… & then & then….).

Bit of a funny evening… It’s very hot at the moment & Jack has considerable trouble getting comfortable, & settling own to sleep. I eventually fell asleep with him. When Louise roused me it was half nine. I doddered off downstairs & put the kettle on, while Louise stayed upstairs for the moment. Jude woke up, so I stumbled back upstairs & took him to Louise, lay down on the bed a moment & promptly fell asleep again. Could see it coming & should have got up, but couldn’t be bothered. Woke at eleven thirty & thought… Ah! Better turn out the light & lock up the house. Putting the cover on the sandpit woke up Eve (as it’s below their bedroom window & it’s hot, so it’s open… Back upstairs & she wants her mum. Louise staggers over having woken up & I pootle off to lock doors & turn lights out again. Back to bed; back to sleep. Not very productive, but I do feel a little fresher this morning… I guess.

Jack has a guilty secret at the moment that I don’t think he realises I know about. Jack & Eve were play fighting the other day (Eve is usually the more antagonistic in these situations) & Jack bit Eve on the side. He drew blood. Eve was very distressed. It’s all getting better now healing already. I think Jack, from what Louise says, was very shocked that he had hurt Eve so, & asked Louise not to tell me. The big plaster was difficult to miss.
When I got home yesterday everyone was wilting from the heat. Our neighbour Caroline then turned up with a paddling pool for the kids! Wow! Much huffing & puffing & water carrying later the kids were wet & happy. Jack had his water pistol & Caroline had her watering can & they had a little duel. I would say that the watering can is more effective. Heh. She’s too good to us is Caroline

We disappointed Jack last night. He was keen to go to the park again & we had basically said, yes, OK… but then he went off to play with Jessie, & came back half an hour later & we said it was all too late now. He howled at the injustice of it all. He had not heard the warning not to go out as we were due to go. Eve was even more tired than yesterday, so it would have been far too much for her. She is back to whingeing a lot at the moment. Was doing it at 05:00 this morning (nyyyuuurg). It drives Louise a little to distraction. It’s probably all to do with teething.
They came to measure up for fitting carpets yesterday – the attic & the front room. We will get a quote in the next couple of days… & I imagine that we’ll take it (even though it will be more than we want it to be). It will be most pleasant to actually have the carpet in the attic (after all this time). The walls may not be painted, but it’s time we were thinking of moving up there. Didn’t manage any painting last night, as Jack was not keen to go to sleep. I went up to convince him asleep, & ended up asleep myself. Louise woke me at 10 to watch some of the wonderful inanity of Big Brother, & then… to….
…bed

To work on a Saturday again… Would normally be working next Saturday, but there’s a train strike then, so I would not make it – so swapped shifts.
Jack was not for settling to sleep last night. It was all a bit hectic. Eve & Jude had their bath while Jack was still out playing at Jessie’s house (after a bit of initial resistance Jack Hamish & Jessie seem to have settled to playing well – there was a bit of unevenness in the dynamic for a bit there, but it seems to have worked out). I went to get Jack, & it was deemed a bit late for a bath, so he was straight to bed, which was probably a mistake as although he was jolly tired he was not keen to settle down. I read to him for a bit in which time a very flakey Eve succumbed to sleep. Jack was in the mood for more. Tried to put the sleeping Jude into his cot & only succeeded in waking him, much to Louise’s annoyance. So we had Jude & Jack awake, & Louise needed to be getting on. As we were both flakey we were in poor decision making mode. Jack was grabbing books to look at rather than sitting in bed. If he was I could have coaxed him to sleep. Still, rather than risk waking Eve with loud Jude Louise took him out of the room. As Jack was refusing to settle I went as well, with the advice that we had things to be a doing & to go to sleep when he had finished with the books. I thought he would soon come downstairs again… He didn’t – he actually settled down & went to sleep! Now this may seem foolish of us, but that was the 1st time the he went to sleep on his own – with no one else there to guide him to slumber… I was annoyed that he wouldn’t settle down, but so immeasurably pleased that he managed to do that on his own.