Thanks, and welcome little George!

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7070073334378425698.post-63479004521165881612008-07-11T12:21:00.004+10:002008-07-11T13:02:00.947+10:00Thanks, and welcome little George!Thanks for all your good wishes for our sick babies. I've had one night in hospital with Mr Small being rehydrated. He's still ill but at present, sleeping soundly in his cot which is a great blessing. He has a herpes infection which is a serious one for little children. His mouth, nose & face are dotted with lesions and he is so terribly miserable. He's eaten nothing since Saturday (6 days), but is taking a little milk from a bottle as he weaned himself off the breast about 2 weeks ago (I wonder if they're connected?). Telemarketers just woke my sick baby up with a pointless call about phone services. Remind me to take the rotten thing off the hook next time will you? It's not all dismal news here. My new nephew is George! My baby brother is now a Daddy and I love the fact they've chosen our Grandfather's name for this tiny babe.<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OJQJK6giw4I/SHbFewvHdLI/AAAAAAAAA6E/DZ8GDVNKIVE/s1600-h/0807060013+(Small).JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_OJQJK6giw4I/SHbFewvHdLI/AAAAAAAAA6E/DZ8GDVNKIVE/s400/0807060013+(Small).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221577950251938994" /></a> Today's post at <a href="http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/">Down to Earth</a> is a potent one for me, and is a reflection of one of the reasons I took up blogging. For my mind, people who are outside the paid workforce for whatever reason, can become a bit invisible. No one thanks you or pays you to do the things you do all day and all night. Generally, that's not what we're looking for either. As Rhonda says, we fill our days with the efforts of a climb toward the ideals we set ourselves. What might they be? To live thoughtfully, without excess & waste. To use only what we need. To feel the joy in the simple things. To remember to take the phone off the hook when your sick baby is sleeping....did I mention that already? So, I wanted to take the time to tell you how I spent my day yesterday, as a small record of the work that is done and the way this work structures and enriches our lives here. If it goes past unmentioned....did it really happen at all? It was an early wake up having spent all night asleep on a mattress in front of the fire (slow combustion) with sick baby who needed pain and fever medication every 2-3 hours. Up and at'em at 6am. DH had the day off. While carrying baby, I made a saucepan of porridge and served it to one ravenous mouth (Mr 4) and tried to tempt baby. I then tried yoghurt, and custard with no luck. Gave up and warmed his some milk. Made Mr 8 warm weetbix (yeuch) which was inhaled more than consumed! HE got himself dressed, and I got Mr 4's clothes ready and on for a trip outside into the SNOW! The maximum yesterday was 2.8 degrees C. While they were outside leaping around like loonies on the slippery snow covered trampoline, I put a pan of milk on the simmer plate awaiting their arrival inside - wet and cold. I decided a shower might be nice for baby and he enjoyed it immensely but then threw a pint sized tanty when the taps were turned off. Back to the fire to be dressed in just a singlet & nappy - temp back up to 39C. DH decides he needs uteload of gravel for road which is getting a bit slushy in the wet and snowy weather. He takes big boys to town with a shopping list for me, and the job of getting their hair cut at the barbers. This gives baby a chance to lay listlessly in front of the fire with me, and fall asleep draped on top of me like a sloth. I am pinned there and cannot move for an hour and a half. This is the time I notice the cobwebs in the cornice. I have to move him to put more wood on the fire which wakes him. Hot again. More medication. The hospital gave me some uber-mouth gel which works a treat but getting it in there is a bit of an experience. The boys arrive home with some fresh bread from the french patisserie (a bit of an indulgent treat for mother!) and we cut big chunky slices and eat it plain which is the best way to eat fresh bread. I gather various dummies and bottles together and sterilise. Baby cannot lay or walk by himself without becoming delirious with sadness. I sit in front of the telly watching the same Wiggles dvd three times over. Spend the rest of the night with the Shimmy Shake song stuck in my head. I love the Wiggles, but not as much as baby does. DH & boys spend rest of the cold, cold afternoon outside working on a new series of garden pathways which look brilliant. I walk outside for 1 minute with baby. Doesn't hurt him to be out in the cold - Doc says it's fine if he's feverish. Garden looks great. What's this? An asparagus shooting up? Surely not? Yes, he's jumping the gun a bit I think. I realise at this point the only time I've been outside in nearly two weeks, is to take sick kids to the doctors. Fun. Back indoors. I've taken some chicken out of the freezer, but I haven't had a minute to brush my teeth, let alone worry about dinner. DH gives the kids a shower and I dress them all out by the fire. Poor baby so very sad. He wants to watch the Wiggles again, but I just can't bear any more. DH takes over laying with him but he doesn't want him, he wants me. I make a bargain with DH who hates cooking, to cook dinner just this once. I guide him through grilled chicken seasoned with lemon juice, salt & olive oil, over a simple lettuce leaf/carrot/cheese/broccoli salad. He does a GREAT job. Poor baby wants nothing but to be cuddled. I put him to bed and he just cries. Up he gets and he's happy for a while. Put him back to bed after about 45 minutes. I'm not a religious person, but I might admit to whispering a small prayer for his wellbeing! Everyone else is in bed. DH has an early start tomorrow. The kids are pooped. I decide to spend an hour doing something that doesn't involve cuddling or medicating a crying baby. Change into flanny pj's and lambswool slippers. Make myself a spectacular hot chocolate and start knitting the second slipper for baby. Just about finished when baby wakes screaming. Medicine. I stack the fire up for the night and close the flue. We lay down together on the mattress in front of the fire and he drifts off in my arms, ending the day just as it began. I'm sure there were other things achieved yesterday, but I can't remember what they were. I guess I strengthened my arm muscles carrying a weight around all day? If he's no better by 2pm this afternoon, it's back to hospital. We are very lucky to have our public hospital system in Australia, even with it's faults. I hope you have a lovely day and breathe a bit of fresh air for me will you? Thanks! Lisa xThe Tin Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03422547957232680227noreply@blogger.com