Hectic

Today was always going to be a busy day, with no wriggle room for things not going to plan.  Stupid me should have realised that by actually making a plan, I was setting myself up for problems.

The morning started fine, although Duane and I were both a little tired from the previous nights antics.  It was a ridiculously hot night and I even resorted to using the air-con (something I'd been avoiding since the whooping $500 power bill I got last week).  I managed a nice sleep for the first half of the night, with 2 little squirts joining us in the cool comfort around 11.30pm.  What I didn't enjoy though was the crazy thunderstorm that started about midnight and sent the dogs into a barking frenzy.  They wouldn't calm down, and after getting up to them a few times I was wide awake, so headed to Grace's room and read for a few hours.  Not the best choice when I have a son who's decided 5.30am is a wonderful time to be up and insists I get out of bed the same time he does. 

The morning started off fine - all to plan!  I knew that I'd be going to a home birth meeting today, so whipped up a batch of banana, carrot and honey muffins before 6am.  Grace, as usual, got herself dressed and ready for school without me even reminding or nagging her - she is always so eager to go! Xav was his usual reluctant self, that boy would stay in his Pj's all day if I'd let him!

After dropping Grace at school, Xav and I headed to the local community hall for our double vaccination shots.  I was getting my last hep b for uni requirements and Xav was getting the one that was stuffed up last year.  I had mentioned to him last week we were getting it done, and based on his reaction I knew he wasn't impressed.  So, I did "forget" to remind him until we were safe within the walls of the hall and there was no chance of an escape.  After explaining the previous stuff up again, and once again being told how terrible it was that that happened, it was our turn.  I figured Xav would be best going first, as he knew what was going on and wasn't going to be calmed down by watching me getting stabbed before him.  I ended up having to bear hug him whilst the nurse jabbed him in the arm, and him screaming all the time.  Lucky the line up was full of tiny babies who had no idea what the older boy was screaming about!  I had a freddo frog ready for when he finished, so he sucked on that in between sobs.  Mine was next, but by the look of all the fluid running down my arm and squirting on the desk, I have my suspicions that all the vaccine went in.  The nurse did also comment that she had leaked a little, but Xav's sobbing kept us distracted.  I'm just hoping that when I have serology done next month, I've got enough antibodies and don't have to go back for more.

It's policy to sit and wait 15 mins before leaving.  I'd timed it perfectly; 9am needles, leave by 9.15 and at the home birth meeting by 9.30am as it was just around the corner.  Xav and I were sitting on our uncomfortable plastic chairs waiting for the obligatory 15 mins to be over, going through the photos and videos on my Iphone (love that phone!) when Xav told me that he wanted something to eat.  I said that we had some food in the car, and I'd get it for him soon.  He said again he was hungry and came over white and clammy.  I knew instantly he was about to vomit, so immediately cupped my hands and caught the flow.  Now, considering he'd had porridge for breakfast plus the freddo as a bribe, it was a very gross mixture.  A few more heaves and I was covered up to my elbows, all over my clothes, pooling on the floor and Xav had bits all over him.  I called the RN and she came over with a bowl and some wipes.  Xav was still not looking well, so they tried to lay him down with an ice pack - which was not the easiest thing to do on such uncomfortable chairs.  He was a bit distressed from the vomiting, so didn't want anyone but me touching him.  She wanted to take his pulse, but he wasn't cooperating, so I did it and it was fine.  It took a while for him to get colour back, so we spent the next hour waiting and watching.  Finally he seemed better so we could head out, after a quick clean up in the bathroom as I tried desperately to remove the "vomit eu toilette" aroma wafting from us both.

By this time I'd well and truly missed my 9.30am meeting, but there was a similar one on at 1pm, so I planned to make that one.  Next on the agenda was a trip up to Logan uni to put in all my clinical documents.  I really couldn't be bothered taking everything up there, but the alternative was getting everything witnessed and signed by a JP, so I figured a 2 hour car trip might have been the better option.  Xav was not up to doing much after his little ordeal, so he curled up in his seat with blankie and had a sleep in the air-conditioned comfort of the car.  Once up at uni, I had to get everything photocopied so trudged up to the library.  It tuned out to be a great day to visit, as the normally sleepy campus was alive with stalls giving out lots of free things.  I scored a bunch of pens and highlighters and Xav was given some coconut juice drinks and some small packets of chips.  He loved the coconut drinks, but complained that the samboy plain chips were "too spicy", which just meant I got them all!

We got back to our house by 12.45pm, just enough time for a toilet stop and a quick drink.  Then it was straight back in the car so we could make our 1pm appointment.  I wasn't really sure what to expect for this meeting with the Homebirthers.  Part of our assessment is attending 10 hours of community experiences that pregnant or new parents would go to.  I'm extremely interested in home birth, so figured I'd include that as most of my hours.  I had nothing to be worried about, it was awesome.  I'd missed the early session that's more a support group, with lots of advice and everyone sharing their pregnancy/birth experiences.  The afternoon session was more on parenting, with one of the older Mums giving a little talk on her parenting journey and what worked or didn't work for her family.  It was lovely and casual, with the kids all paddling in the water close by or playing together with the toys.  Xav found a huge tractor to play with, so spent all his time with that.  My idol Midwife was there too, so it was lovely to get to know her better as we talked about parenting and different ways to discipline.  So many of the Mum's there were connected to Silkwood too, which just makes me feel even more content with our decision to send our kids there as it's such a community of like-minded people. 

We left there just in time to pick Grace up from school at 2.50pm.  I was excited to see her, but apparently the feeling wasn't mutual as she burst into tears as soon as she saw me.  I ran over to her, thinking something bad had happened.  Seems all is fine, she was just expecting us to do the drive by and pick up today.  We've never done that before, but I did remember she had asked if she could do it but I'd forgotten.  Seems she's too cool to have her parents pick her up already!!  There is a group of her friends that are doing it, so I've promised her tomorrow I will not get out of the car, but swing by the pick-up zone so Miss Pam can put her in!

In the madness of getting our injections, I'd hastily said to Xav that I'd take him on a train ride if he let the lovely lady shove the needle in his arm.  I thought he'd forgotten, but seeing the train line on the way up was enough to jog the little elephants memory.  I managed to wrangle out of it then and there, but suggested we go once we'd picked Grace up from school.  He was fine with that arrangement.  After picking Grace up, we got Duane and then headed to the train station.  I took the kids, and Duane drove to the next stop to wait for us.  The lovely ticket man put the kids on my free, seen as how we were only going to the next stop.  Xav was beside himself with excitement and was chattering all the way. "Do you like trains Grace?  I like trains.  This is a big, long train isn't it?  It's going very fast too.  I love trains!"  t was a quick 6 minute trip, but enough to appease the children.  Duane picked us up the other end, then we did a quick trip to the mall for Nicole's birthday present for tomorrow.  Then it was home for a quick dinner, bath and the kids in bed asleep by 7pm.  I'm not going to be far away either.  My days are so busy at the moment, trying to combine everything is doable but very tough and draining.  The heat is not helping either, so I'm looking forward to it cooling down and hopefully me getting myself into a better routine with study.