Archives: jack

doodle from my pad at work, again:

And a little summary – I’ve been a little under the weather this week (& there’s been some weather to be under) – head cold & bad chest: pretty boring, & make me even duller edged than usual.

Jack has coped well with his first week at school – he’s been doing French & German (seems quite taken with French).  We popped out to Manchester today as he needed to get german & French dictionaries for school; just Jack Esme & myself.

Big Empty train (strike day – limited service). Hey – my brain is the same!
It would rather be sleeping, but that could not be the case even without work to attend, as Eve was awake before I left this morning.

I shall attempt to recount a little of the holidays again. If Boxing Day was Thursday (I think it was) then Neil & Jess arrived in the afternoon. This pleased Jack no end, as he really likes them. They all had a good time. Eve tuckered out again & so did Jude (later), but Jack kept going. He would have kept on & on. He was starting to tire, even with his buoyant mood & excitement he was getting clumsy, so rather than he be upset by upsetting someone, we upset him; by taking him to bed. He howled & protested for a while, but calmed down with the reading of a new book; Ivor (the Engine) & The Foxes – which has a mounting sense of excitement as Mrs Fox gets chased.

The next day we went to this open farm. The really good thing that the kids enjoy is the barn which has one of those inside play areas – all slides & climbing & …well- adventuring for the young ‘uns.
They stayed there a good while & bounced on the trampolines & Eve had a go on the tractors (push along & pedal). Was not so mild that day tho – so the adults (Louise & I, me mum & Neil & Jess) did a lot of standing/sitting around being cold. Jack befriended some other boys in one of the climbing frames & then went off to play on the slides. The boys all then started shouting, “Jack! ….Jack! JACK!” etc. Like he gets an instant cult… weird.

Saturday was pottering around & packing. Not so interesting for the kids, but Jack & Eve did get a little walk on the beach with Neil & Jess.

Traveled back that night & home. Only Eve worried us on the journey. After we left the motorway & were ‘on the final straight’ metaphorically, she stirred & was upset. She cried & was almost to the ‘distressed enough to be sick’ point. She did one of those magnificent pre puke belches she does – forced out by a cough… but she managed to keep it together.

Jack awoke the next morning & announced to Louise, “That was the best holiday I’ve ever had” (as already mentioned).
They’ve settled down quite well. Jack still has a slightly frantic edge, but nothing compared to pre Xmas.

We have Caroline from London visiting now – so I was up far too late last night. My body has not yet adjusted to the early morning wake up that I have to do to get to work – so I was already a bit of a wreck by the time I was coming home. Actually – I’ve been clumsy as well – which is more than tired… Aha! I can happily blame this cold, then.

This being New Years Eve, it looks a lot like I will be up late again tonight. Bonus point is that I do not have to go to work tomorrow – yeay!

Train home.

Cut short on typing yesterday due to the crowded train & this morning I had someone hogging the table with an enormous laptop. Blimey them things are big – I’m glad for this little eMate.

Anyway – to cut the chase – (continuing from yesterday) Jude’s rash got a whole lot worse. Worse than anything the health visitor had seen when we popped in on Wednesday, but it did not bother him & it got better. You’d not know it had been there now.

Jack has been a shepherd in the school nativity – which has meant going to school the last couple of evenings to perform. We took him Monday – the whole brood, but we didn’t get to see the play itself, as there were no tickets. We also had Eve & Jude – so it really was not that practical to stand at the back. We stayed in the classroom & both kiddies enjoyed roaming around a while before the classes filed back in. Louise’s mum took him last night. Eve konked out asleep in bed just before they got in the house. She was tired. Louise’s mum got to see the play by sneaking in at the back – but didn’t really say that much about it all. The ‘inkeeper’ was a comic role as he kept having to get out of bed & they sang a lot. Well – they would sing. Jack enjoys his singing & often sings his latest hymns to us at home. A favourite with Jack & Eve at the moment is ‘Jingle Bells’ – which through Jacks reading goes, “On that farm it is to ride on a one horse oaken sleigh, HEY!, Jingle bells etc…”
Got all of Jack’s Xmas cards done. Have to do all of Eve’s yet & our cards… welll… I’ve done one or 2… I used to do LOADS. Time time time time.

hmm – ok – I was going to write this morning, but I don’t feel much in the way of what I’m supposed to write. I managed to sleep in all beds last night… sigh.
Eve did well at one point – she got out of bed to go to the toilet. She’d decided she needed to go & was off. No protest about the situation – no fuss no bother… that was nice. Back to bed & asleep… wow.
I scampered back to our own bed – only to go downstairs for some medicine for Jude who was running a temperature. Next thing I know Jack’s crying out – so It’s down to him. He’s had a ‘sad dream’ – which he actually tells me about – that Eve had broken her forearm – right hand side from the way he pointed at his. Drifting off to sleep & then he announces he needs a wee as well. Heck, for some reason does not like the cupboard in the bathroom, & thus does not like to go to the bathroom unaccompanied sometimes. He did go to sleep again with little bother & I retired to the futon in the back room as I noticed by my alarm clock that I only had as much sleep as I could grab in half an hour.
Hmmm – well – I’ve slept better.

Happy birthday to me!

What did I get? I dunno – I ain’t seed no post yet. I have bought myself various bits & bats – glasses OSX & all that – so I can hardly feel neglected. I got Louise a card as it is our anniversary as well.
I failed to get Ralphie’s present off to him. Going around in a daze these past few days has not been conducive to remembering to do anything past responding to what’s in front of me; will try to do that today.

Eve slept better last night – in that she did wake up & she did howl – but she stooped howling & went to sleep. Jack slept through again. Bed time was a little less stressful as although Jack was in a hyper mood again (had an enormous tea – completely into food at the moment – his body is up to something to demand this) he was also in a very sweet mood & he played very well with Eve. His play has changed a lot this year. He is much more into initiating ‘imaginative play’ whereas he used to want you to take the lead, he now takes it with Eve, & Eve is well into it (she’s always been good at pretend play).

Jude is still not well. He is better, but not well & apt to getting a little bit of a temperature still.

Jack was a little disappointed to have only the one chapter of Pinocchio read to him. He is very into this rendition of the story (which is good) as he was really rooting for Pinocchio to be a ‘good boy’ when the ass drawn coach drew up & tempted him to go to Boobyland. He voiced his disappointment at Pinocchio’s decision to jump aboard.

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.

Louise conceded that it might be a good idea to go to the doctors on Saturday morning – what with her near inability to get up & all that – so she did. I thought I was bad at going – but it seems Louise is even worse. She tried to back out a couple of times, but was reminded how rubbish she felt. It being an ‘open surgery’ on Sat morning you didn’t have to book – but you did have to wait. Fortunately it did not seem any more busy than usual really. Louise forged on ahead while I pottered on with the kids… Jude on the Wilkinet, Eve in the pushchair & Jack on the Buggy Board. Jude was good enough not to pull at Jack’s hair as he was within easy reach.
Louise was asked if she has been in contact with anyone who has Mumps? It seems the glands on her neck are swollen – they being the ones that Mumps has a go at. Not that we are aware of… None of the kids have been that well of recent though. Jude is badly off. He has a rash at the moment that looks a lot like ‘Rosa Bella’ as (I think) similar was called for Eve when Louise took her to see a doctor. Nasty little rash – temperature & generally delicate & unhappy.

We went into Manchester yesterday to get some shopping. Not too bad – more hectic than we thought it would be. I carried Jude most of the day & most of the time he huddled into me, not especially keen on viewing the outside word. ‘Busy’ seemed a bit too much for him. We suspect the kids all have ‘something’ as they are all ‘a bit piquey’; their skin seems delicate & they mark even more easily.

Me? I’m fine. I have a cold – but that’s not exactly news… I tend to have one most of the time… Gosh even had a suck on me inhaler this morning as I had to dash to the station – being late setting off

Everyone awake as I left the house this morning… well… Eve was nearly asleep. Everyone was awake when I got up this morning.
Jack claimed a bad dream at @03:17 & did not settle. I’d be drifting off to sleep & he’d wake me with another plea of some form that I’d sleepily try to placate. Obviously I do a bad job or he’d sleep. At @04:20 I decided that I’m doing a bad job & go & get Louise to swap to see if that goes any better as I do need some more sleep & I can’t see the situation changing. I get some sleep until 05:30 when Jude stirs & my alarm goes off (in that order). Nyurg – time to get up. Unfortunately it seems that Louise has fared little better – if not worse as Eve woke up as well. All downstairs at 05:30 – sheesh!
I get my shower & all that as the usual routine with added baby hanging onto leg when doing the breakfast. Jack starts to falter & the telly goes on. He is going to remain awake now.
It could well be a grumpy evening.

I did not do well getting home yesterday. I was doing a little pottering (& dithering) in town; got an album & some groceries. Went to catch a train & found it cancelled. The next train was crowded & hot. I didn’t notice Todmorden go past until it was too late & had to get off at Hebden Bridge to go back the other way.
Silly.
At least I was able to use Louise’s mobile phone to call her to let her know how dim I was.

Right – well – as might be suspected I am tired… typing stop & I might try some passive reading – some vacant staring into space or some grateful sleeping. Such fun can be had sitting on a train to work.

Louise was ill yesterday, so I stayed at home to get the kids to school & all that. I have things easy as she looks after Jude a bit as well – so Eve gets to play a little with me, rather than clamouring for attention away from Jude. I even managed to set her to play with a train set while I cleared the ‘top of the cellar’ area of all the stuff we push in there ‘out of the way’ – a job that’s needed to be done for far too long.

Jack went to school yesterday even though he protested that he was not so well the night before (I do not recall him complaining in the morning – but that does not mean that he didn’t). I bumped into him in the playground after taking Eve to school playgroup for the afternoon & he complained again quite plaintively. I cleaned his snotty nose & gave him a hug or two, but didn’t take him up on his offer to come home. Still, I felt guilty & tried to see what he was doing as I departed. He was with someone else, but I lost sight of him in the melee of playground. He had evidently complained to his teacher that he was not feeling so well as she mentioned it when they came out. She also said that he was shouting & laughing with the rest of them at the visiting theatre company they had in the afternoon. Hmmm….
They seem to have a lot of those… I recall one or two when I was at school, but they seem more abundant nowadays…

Jude cried a lot in the pushchair when I took him shopping. He was not sure at all about this ‘mummy being ill’ thing. He wanted her for reassurance, rather than mean ol’ daddy – so he was not for being held by others & not happy at being in a stationary pushchair (must – keep – moving!). He’s starting to engage a lot more. There are regular episodes of ‘holding up your hands’ at tea time. His facial expressions are amusing as well. He’s taken to doing quite a curled lip snarl. I’m not really sure why (what mood it imparts) but it may be to do with teething. He cut an upper left incisor last week (Thursday?). It’s funny when he snarls & then you make him smile – snarlsmile… heh.