So today is the first day proper of half term, bank holidays don't really count as the excitement of having Daddy at home usually helps. Of course, it is raining, a lot, and has been overnight as well, bang go the prospects of visiting the zoo/farm/park as three children in wet weather gear is, if I am honest far from appealing!
I should have realised when Matthew woke me at 215am that it was not going to be an auspicious start to the holiday! From the realisation that he had no nappy on and hadn't for the last seven hours to constant demands for drinks, sleep was the last thing I came to on the menu. When Mr T arose to prepare for his day at work the magic of TV kicked in temporarily.
I did managed to sneak in 10 pages of book reading but was then interrupted by Heather with her latest creation, Matthew in his attempts to beat her to the stairs had fallen down two of them and was howling like a wounded dog at the bottom, when he eventually appeared looking rather sorry for himself he explained he had hurt his tummy. Upon examination I was able to reassure him that there were no marks and his food would stay on the inside, of course to recover from his trauma he wanted a biscuit and a drink, he got the drink. Next task, get Lucy dressed, not always an easy task as she is in the wriggling stage, still today was good and in no time she was happily smearing cheerios and milk over herself and any surrounding objects as she attempted to feed herself.
Distantly I heard ABBA and realised Heather was already tuned into her ipod, she was wearing her current most treasured possessions, shoes with a small heel emblazoned with Ariel. She clip clops around the place sounding rather like the horses she loves so much but is gradually getting used to them, soon she will be more proficient than me. Feeling confident that the two bigger ones were occupied and that Lucy couldn't escape from her chair I turned to the paper to see what the latest scandals regarding MP's.
The screaming began almost instantaneously! One bout followed another for the next ten minutes until a distraction was provided by me deciding to hoover, this then resulted in a clamour for biscuits and drinks. I have since then constructed Matthew a train track from his huge Thomas set, refiled the books that Lucy has pulled off of Heathers bookshelves - twice. Really shouted at Matthew for pushing Lucy over, hitting Lucy and being generally obnoxious. All I can say is thank goodness the iron tablets are beginning to work and I am able to keep my eyes open for a whole day now, and that the weather forecast is for the weather to get better later in the week!
We did have a good weekend though, fairly relaxed. Heather and I went shopping and we had a really nice girly day,trying clothes on, looking for baking stuff and having lunch together, it is just a shame that her fashion sense seems to be better than mine! Lucy continues to resist most of our attempts to get her to walk, my writing is still at ground zero as the kids monoplise my time but as the old song goes, 'things can only get better!'
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
2 Doctors visits and a blood test
Being as my children seem to have had a relatively quiet couple of weeks I thought I had better do something interesting...
Last week I finally gave in, I have been feeling tired, no make that exhausted, well make that cannot stand up for another moment, feeling shaky and my eyes closing as soon as I sit down knackered! So I went to see the doc. When I explained the problem and added to it that I felt shaky, a bit nauseous and irritable he asked me if I could be pregnant.
'Not unless God's been at it again!' was my response, 'I have three under five already!' I explained realising it was a little rude!
He wrote out a blood test form and said it was probably just the hectic pace of life catching up with me but best to have a blood test, just to be on the safe side.
So I did, no drama there, no screaming, missed veins or blood spattering the walls.
I didn't expect to hear much about it and had convinced myself that I was just being a wimp and would have to do better. On the way to Heather's dancing on Saturday I grabbed the post, on Saturday I generally get a whole 45 minute session to myself in Starbucks, usually I write but I knew I would have less time this week as I had to run a couple of errands. Heather tapping and first postioning away, errands ran I turned to the mail. There was one from the docs, 48 hours after the test, couldn't be good.
I opened it, 'need a face to face consultation' were the words that jumped out at me, followed by this is NOT urgent! Not urgent! Not flipping urgent I thought, 48 hours after I had the test and now I need an appoinment.
I spent the four days until the appointment the following Wednesday convinceing myself I was ill, very ill. I tried to work out what it could be even putting my symptoms into search engines and self-diagnosis tool - please don't try that at home, not to be advised, definitely bad for your health and sanity!
Anyway in a packed surgery the doctor I was seeing passed by, on her way back she looked at me and said 'Melanie.' I just nodded, the fact that she knew my first name must be bad I thought, she was trying to put me at my ease before she delivered the bad news! After manouvering Lucy's buggy around the other patients I sat in her room and she looked at me blankly. I ended up explaining the whole thing again and then she found her results on the computer and started to study them. Maybe it would be OK after all, maybe she only remembered my name from a home visit she had once done, reluctantly!
'Aha, your bilirubin's a bit high' she said, I nodded having expected that and explained for the hundreth time that I have Gilbert's syndrome that causes excess bilirubin, isn't it about time they put it on my notes? She tapped away again and as she sat there all I could think was if you don't tell me in a minute I am going to be sick all over your carpet!
'Aha' she said triumphantly and then looked me in the eye, bad I thought. Very bad!
'I'm surprised you're standing up' she said. Alarm bells were now ringing.
'Your iron levels are very low, no wonder you're tired you're anemic, very easy to sort out though' she added.
She told me about the tablets she would prescribing and the rather charmless side effects I could experience, the blood tests I would have to have and that I should be more like my normal self in about a week!
I was relieved, partly because it isn't serious and there is an easy cure and also because I wasn't imagining it, I am not a wimp there is a biological cause! A day and a bit in and I am feeling a little brighter, probbaly the placebo effect but I haven't fallen asleep yet today.
NEWSFLASH: This is a new section at the end of the blog to record the family achievements; Matthew can now count to 20, Heather got a swimming certificate for being able to do a whole width on her own, Lucy still isn't walking but can say; Heather, Matthew, Mummy, Daddy, Hello and duck! Mr T has laid the turf in the garden, the dogs have watered it!
Last week I finally gave in, I have been feeling tired, no make that exhausted, well make that cannot stand up for another moment, feeling shaky and my eyes closing as soon as I sit down knackered! So I went to see the doc. When I explained the problem and added to it that I felt shaky, a bit nauseous and irritable he asked me if I could be pregnant.
'Not unless God's been at it again!' was my response, 'I have three under five already!' I explained realising it was a little rude!
He wrote out a blood test form and said it was probably just the hectic pace of life catching up with me but best to have a blood test, just to be on the safe side.
So I did, no drama there, no screaming, missed veins or blood spattering the walls.
I didn't expect to hear much about it and had convinced myself that I was just being a wimp and would have to do better. On the way to Heather's dancing on Saturday I grabbed the post, on Saturday I generally get a whole 45 minute session to myself in Starbucks, usually I write but I knew I would have less time this week as I had to run a couple of errands. Heather tapping and first postioning away, errands ran I turned to the mail. There was one from the docs, 48 hours after the test, couldn't be good.
I opened it, 'need a face to face consultation' were the words that jumped out at me, followed by this is NOT urgent! Not urgent! Not flipping urgent I thought, 48 hours after I had the test and now I need an appoinment.
I spent the four days until the appointment the following Wednesday convinceing myself I was ill, very ill. I tried to work out what it could be even putting my symptoms into search engines and self-diagnosis tool - please don't try that at home, not to be advised, definitely bad for your health and sanity!
Anyway in a packed surgery the doctor I was seeing passed by, on her way back she looked at me and said 'Melanie.' I just nodded, the fact that she knew my first name must be bad I thought, she was trying to put me at my ease before she delivered the bad news! After manouvering Lucy's buggy around the other patients I sat in her room and she looked at me blankly. I ended up explaining the whole thing again and then she found her results on the computer and started to study them. Maybe it would be OK after all, maybe she only remembered my name from a home visit she had once done, reluctantly!
'Aha, your bilirubin's a bit high' she said, I nodded having expected that and explained for the hundreth time that I have Gilbert's syndrome that causes excess bilirubin, isn't it about time they put it on my notes? She tapped away again and as she sat there all I could think was if you don't tell me in a minute I am going to be sick all over your carpet!
'Aha' she said triumphantly and then looked me in the eye, bad I thought. Very bad!
'I'm surprised you're standing up' she said. Alarm bells were now ringing.
'Your iron levels are very low, no wonder you're tired you're anemic, very easy to sort out though' she added.
She told me about the tablets she would prescribing and the rather charmless side effects I could experience, the blood tests I would have to have and that I should be more like my normal self in about a week!
I was relieved, partly because it isn't serious and there is an easy cure and also because I wasn't imagining it, I am not a wimp there is a biological cause! A day and a bit in and I am feeling a little brighter, probbaly the placebo effect but I haven't fallen asleep yet today.
NEWSFLASH: This is a new section at the end of the blog to record the family achievements; Matthew can now count to 20, Heather got a swimming certificate for being able to do a whole width on her own, Lucy still isn't walking but can say; Heather, Matthew, Mummy, Daddy, Hello and duck! Mr T has laid the turf in the garden, the dogs have watered it!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Disney Fever has hit Essex
Never mind Swine flu, bird flu or even mouse flu, Disney fever has hit our house. Eight weeks and counting until we depart to the kingdom of mouse and suddenly the house is filled with talk of princesses, fairies and aeroplanes. The catalyst for all of this seemed to be a guide book dropping though the letterbox. We have already, thanks to a tip off booked the princess lunch in the magic castle but failed to book the fireworks dinner party!
We have decided to book Lucy a seat of her own on the aeroplane, after much discussion we decided neither of us wanted the eight hour wrestling match when there would be two other children to contend with. Then we had to (gulp!) pay the balance of the holiday itself, so we are going now, nothing can stop us, I seem to have spent the equivalent of a day shopping for clothes for me and the children, making sure all the labels are cut off and that they are hidden away from them all. Swimming bags, sunglasses and sun hats have all been checked and thanks to a very good deal from Sainsburys stocks of sun protection are at an all time high.
We then had to decide how much baggage to take, bearing in mind we have to get it and three children though the journey without losing anything or anyone, Heather was insisting that she could fit her entire wardrobe into her beautiful Ariel suitcase, we have now convinced her to take it as hand luggage and agreed to buy a case for the kids. She wanted pink, she's getting black - it's cheaper!
Excitement was compounded when the doorbell rang and a courier delivered two passports, I breathed a sigh of relief that the slightly dodgy photos of Matthew and Lucy has passed the scrutiny of the moderators and that we didn't have to go through it all again. Heather had a panic as her new passport hasn't arrived although her old one has been returned and the fee has disappeared from our bank account so I am expecting it to turn up any day...
Heather has already delved into the book and declared that the first place we are visiting is Ariel's Grotto... I have a feeling that she thinks Mickey Mouse himself will be greeting us from the plane, how disappointed she will be when she is greeted by a surly customs officer and a luggage carousel, followed by a hike to the car rental place! Not to mention an hour in the car before we even get to the hotel, still come Sunday the magic will begin and the excitement will take over. My worst fear is that the reality after the build up Heather has given it will be a let down!
Heather has been talking to friends who have been and so seems to know more than we do, having been once BC (Before children) I can imagine this visit to Florida will be more sedate, involve less bars and roller-coasters and more playgrounds, theatre shows and character chasing autograph book in hand. Still the countdown starts now...
We have decided to book Lucy a seat of her own on the aeroplane, after much discussion we decided neither of us wanted the eight hour wrestling match when there would be two other children to contend with. Then we had to (gulp!) pay the balance of the holiday itself, so we are going now, nothing can stop us, I seem to have spent the equivalent of a day shopping for clothes for me and the children, making sure all the labels are cut off and that they are hidden away from them all. Swimming bags, sunglasses and sun hats have all been checked and thanks to a very good deal from Sainsburys stocks of sun protection are at an all time high.
We then had to decide how much baggage to take, bearing in mind we have to get it and three children though the journey without losing anything or anyone, Heather was insisting that she could fit her entire wardrobe into her beautiful Ariel suitcase, we have now convinced her to take it as hand luggage and agreed to buy a case for the kids. She wanted pink, she's getting black - it's cheaper!
Excitement was compounded when the doorbell rang and a courier delivered two passports, I breathed a sigh of relief that the slightly dodgy photos of Matthew and Lucy has passed the scrutiny of the moderators and that we didn't have to go through it all again. Heather had a panic as her new passport hasn't arrived although her old one has been returned and the fee has disappeared from our bank account so I am expecting it to turn up any day...
Heather has already delved into the book and declared that the first place we are visiting is Ariel's Grotto... I have a feeling that she thinks Mickey Mouse himself will be greeting us from the plane, how disappointed she will be when she is greeted by a surly customs officer and a luggage carousel, followed by a hike to the car rental place! Not to mention an hour in the car before we even get to the hotel, still come Sunday the magic will begin and the excitement will take over. My worst fear is that the reality after the build up Heather has given it will be a let down!
Heather has been talking to friends who have been and so seems to know more than we do, having been once BC (Before children) I can imagine this visit to Florida will be more sedate, involve less bars and roller-coasters and more playgrounds, theatre shows and character chasing autograph book in hand. Still the countdown starts now...
Monday, April 27, 2009
One weekend, two children's parties
Well this weekend heralded Matthew's very first birthday party. The invite had arrived in the post a couple of weeks previously and much to Heather's dismay this was a party all about him. He has become used to being the tag alonger as Heather attends various party. He was excited, very excited! There were about ten two/three year olds and a sprinkling of older and younger children, and an entertainer. I will admit to being apprehensive, Matthew is not always, ahem, an angel.
I was very surprised, he was so well behaved, he joined in with musical bumps, pass the parcel, parachutes, and pom-pom shaking with joy and excitement. He was so thrilled to be at the party and as soon as we had to leave he kept reciting 'I had a lovely time Mummy.' It was wonderful to see the little ones making their first social steps, some of them socialising easily, others feeling awkward and overwhelmed a little by the situation. Matthew, ever confident took it all in his stride and had a great time.
We returned to a house filled with Grandparents and a sister who questioned him closely, wanting to enjoy the party vicariously, then of course she rooted through his party bag to see if there was anything to her liking.
Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny, today was Heather's party, she was going to dress up as a princess and she did look lovely. I was slightly irritated as the hair clip I had bought the previous day specifically to go with the dress she was wearing had managed to vanish overnight, but still off we went. As she skipped off to join in familiar with most of the children having been partying with them for nearly two years, I couldn't help thinking back to when she had been in Matthew's shoes. How much calmer the parties were then, now the children play louder and more raucous games, there have even been a few scuffles amongst the children. Still Heather danced, jumped and laughed her way through her party, was rewarded with her very own party bag and then homeward bound.
'Mummy, I'm having a party this year aren't I?'
'Yes' I answered, even though she knew the answer, she knows where it is and I had just taken the photograph for the invitations, she is having a joint party with a boy whose birthday is the day after hers.
'Mummy... We're going to give my friends a good present in their party bags, aren't we?' she said.
I gulped and nodded, oh the pressure, the search for Heather approved party bags starts here...
I was very surprised, he was so well behaved, he joined in with musical bumps, pass the parcel, parachutes, and pom-pom shaking with joy and excitement. He was so thrilled to be at the party and as soon as we had to leave he kept reciting 'I had a lovely time Mummy.' It was wonderful to see the little ones making their first social steps, some of them socialising easily, others feeling awkward and overwhelmed a little by the situation. Matthew, ever confident took it all in his stride and had a great time.
We returned to a house filled with Grandparents and a sister who questioned him closely, wanting to enjoy the party vicariously, then of course she rooted through his party bag to see if there was anything to her liking.
Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny, today was Heather's party, she was going to dress up as a princess and she did look lovely. I was slightly irritated as the hair clip I had bought the previous day specifically to go with the dress she was wearing had managed to vanish overnight, but still off we went. As she skipped off to join in familiar with most of the children having been partying with them for nearly two years, I couldn't help thinking back to when she had been in Matthew's shoes. How much calmer the parties were then, now the children play louder and more raucous games, there have even been a few scuffles amongst the children. Still Heather danced, jumped and laughed her way through her party, was rewarded with her very own party bag and then homeward bound.
'Mummy, I'm having a party this year aren't I?'
'Yes' I answered, even though she knew the answer, she knows where it is and I had just taken the photograph for the invitations, she is having a joint party with a boy whose birthday is the day after hers.
'Mummy... We're going to give my friends a good present in their party bags, aren't we?' she said.
I gulped and nodded, oh the pressure, the search for Heather approved party bags starts here...
Monday, April 20, 2009
Holidays are finished so why am I so busy?
Well Wednesday saw the end of the Easter holidays for Heather, you would think that would mean that Mummy, who has been working hard to entertain the troops would get some relief, especially as Daddy was home. Sadly this was not the case, in between coordinating where the various children needed to be where and allowing them time with their Dad.
Today normal routine re-asserted itself! Heather was at school, Matthew was at pre-school and Lucy was bumbling around at home, falling over and off of things as usual. Only...
At half past eleven I had to go back to the school to help the dance teacher, it was my first time and I can confess to being a little nervous, I have no idea why being as I used to be a teacher and I wasn't even in charge of this lot! Heather was delighted to see me and beamed her way through and it was great to be a fly on the wall for a bit. What was lovely was at the end having tied several show laces, reunited several lost socks with their owners and escorted someone to the toilet I was thanked! I was embarrassed having parked my bottom on a squeaky plastic chair for most of the time and two little boys even gave me a hug!
Then I had to take Lucy to the nurse for her final dose of men c Jab, poor little love has the MMR in June. Anyway I had steeled myself for the trauma that was to follow. We were called in and the little red book handed over so all the relevant data could be recorded and the appointment for the next jab made!
The needle was poised and coming closer, I resisted the urge to run away with Lucy, or hold her so tight that the pain caused by the injection was negated by my grip!
'She'll make loads of noise' I warned the nurse and she smiled, used to the warning at this time on a Monday afternoon!
Lucy insisted on watching the needle all the way in. I prepared myself but not a sound escaped her lips, she gave the nurse a look as if to say 'that hurt' and then that was it. She turned back towards me and I gave her a cuddle and she was fine, off we went in the sunshine to collect her sister from school.
Tomorrow Heather has class photos, my aim will be to ensure that she leaves the house wearing the right uniform, the right way round and with no stains, at least until after the photograph and with fingers crossed that she doesn't pull that silly face she does when she is showing off, but instead smiles as sweetly as possible and dazzles us with her breathtaking beauty.
I am valiantly setting myself writing targets, I have even installed a task manager application onto my iphone in order to try and ensure that I keep up to date with everything. I have managed to complete one task, I have arranged Heather's 5th (how can she possibly be as old as that already?) with the entertainer she simply had to have. I have even managed to book Matthews 4th birthday party, pretty impressive considering he isn't even three yet!
Now for a well earned rest, at least until the morning comes!
Today normal routine re-asserted itself! Heather was at school, Matthew was at pre-school and Lucy was bumbling around at home, falling over and off of things as usual. Only...
At half past eleven I had to go back to the school to help the dance teacher, it was my first time and I can confess to being a little nervous, I have no idea why being as I used to be a teacher and I wasn't even in charge of this lot! Heather was delighted to see me and beamed her way through and it was great to be a fly on the wall for a bit. What was lovely was at the end having tied several show laces, reunited several lost socks with their owners and escorted someone to the toilet I was thanked! I was embarrassed having parked my bottom on a squeaky plastic chair for most of the time and two little boys even gave me a hug!
Then I had to take Lucy to the nurse for her final dose of men c Jab, poor little love has the MMR in June. Anyway I had steeled myself for the trauma that was to follow. We were called in and the little red book handed over so all the relevant data could be recorded and the appointment for the next jab made!
The needle was poised and coming closer, I resisted the urge to run away with Lucy, or hold her so tight that the pain caused by the injection was negated by my grip!
'She'll make loads of noise' I warned the nurse and she smiled, used to the warning at this time on a Monday afternoon!
Lucy insisted on watching the needle all the way in. I prepared myself but not a sound escaped her lips, she gave the nurse a look as if to say 'that hurt' and then that was it. She turned back towards me and I gave her a cuddle and she was fine, off we went in the sunshine to collect her sister from school.
Tomorrow Heather has class photos, my aim will be to ensure that she leaves the house wearing the right uniform, the right way round and with no stains, at least until after the photograph and with fingers crossed that she doesn't pull that silly face she does when she is showing off, but instead smiles as sweetly as possible and dazzles us with her breathtaking beauty.
I am valiantly setting myself writing targets, I have even installed a task manager application onto my iphone in order to try and ensure that I keep up to date with everything. I have managed to complete one task, I have arranged Heather's 5th (how can she possibly be as old as that already?) with the entertainer she simply had to have. I have even managed to book Matthews 4th birthday party, pretty impressive considering he isn't even three yet!
Now for a well earned rest, at least until the morning comes!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)