familytastic!

Just flew back in from London yesterday to discover Jake had taken a nasty fall earlier that morning on the way to school.

While running with Rachel and some of their friends, he tripped over somebody's feet and landed face-first on the ground. He didn't even have time to raise his hands to protect himself.

Right now, he's got a glowing red cut on his forehead and his cheekbone and nose are scraped and raw-looking. Poor little fella.

Unlike his sister, Jake doesn't do drama. Apparently he was quite upset after the fall, but as he was getting cleaned off he calmed down and got over it very quickly. Even talking to me about it later, he was very matter of fact - yes his face was sore, but no it wasn't worth getting upset over.

Compare and contrast with big sister who just the other day cried for half an hour because I accidentally bumped her with a football!

So for the moment, Jake looks like the Terminator with half his face off. I keep expecting to see slivers of metal glinting in the light. And all either Lisa or I can say at the moment is "Poor little fella."

Jake's been in funny form this evening, unsettled in his bed and crying out loud. Nothing we can do seems to console him and whenever I try to deal with him he kicks and screams. Just wants his mum at the moment.

Anyway, a bit earlier on, I realised that he might be hungry and Lisa thought he might have stomach cramps. Well, he didn't bother to eat his dinner, did he? Could be trapped wind or something, so we brought him downstairs for a drink of milk and a piece of toast.

While I slaved over a hot toaster, Lisa sat on the dining room sofa, tentatively asking Jake what was wrong.

"Are you hungry?" (nods head)

"Are you thirsty?" (nods head) 

"Are you sick?" (nods head)

"Are you sore?" (nods head - are you detecting a pattern here?)

"Is your head sore? Your belly? Your bum?" The line of questioning looked like it was going to last forever. I said to Lisa, "You're leading the witness. Ask him what's wrong, but don't put ideas in his head." And just to prove my point - because we're both irritating like that - I asked him "Jake. Do you have leprosy?"

(nods head)

First let me apologise for my recent absence! Things in the McGarry house have been hectic, especially with the kick off of reality TV season here in the UK. It means I am spending my life updating our reality TV website!

Jake has also been really ill this week, which was majorly worrying for us, firstly because we didn't know what was making him ill, and secondly because he is normally so resilient, and the last one to catch anything. I'm just not used to him being sick and lethargic.

It started on Wednesday, when he developed a very high temperature which we couldn't reduce and was vomiting frequently. When my doctor couldn't see him we rushed him to our local hospital and were told that he had picked up a stomach bug. We were advised that all we could do was administer both paracetamol and ibuprofen suspension, keep him cool and offer plenty of fluids.

By Thursday he was no better and to make it worse his right eye had swollen so much that he could barely even open it. I rushed him to our GP, to be told that he was having a bad allergic reaction, probably to pollen (severe hay fever). I was this time advised to try giving him some antihistamines and see if he improved.

By Friday Jake could hardly stand. His temperature was topping 40 degrees centigrade and he was barely even talking. I knew that his medication should have had an effect by this stage, so I phoned our doctor, explained how ill he was and once again rushed up to the surgery.

This time the doctor was more thorough in his check up. He discovered that Jake had developed a sinus infection, which had spread to his ears and throat. I was so relieved to finally know what was wrong.

Within 16 hours of taking the antibiotic he was prescribed, Jake was a different child. The temperature was gone, and the old Jake was back, if slightly more subdued.
It was so lovely to chat with him, and watch him play outside with Rachel. The effectiveness of the medication and the speed at which it worked, really amazed me. I couldn't help imagining what life must have been like before the advent of antibiotics and modern medicine. I imagine that severe infections at one time could have led to the death of a child.

I often curse the mosern world, but in this instance I am extremely grateful to have reaped the benefits of the advancement of society.

Here we go again! We heard that chickenpox (also referred to in our house as chickenspots and chickenpops) was going around Ray's nursery about a month ago. We thought we were safe, Ray and Jay both had it last year. Hooray, no sick kids for us!

Then the spots appeared on Ray's face, then her body, then inside her eyes, ears and mouth. The more that appeared the more I knew that despite what the doctor had said, this is not what Ray had the year before. I don't know what that rash was, but it certainly wasn't chickenpox.

Three sleepless nights later and the spots began to fade, later that week we started to venture out of the house again. then we notice the red spots appearing on Baby D.

Thankfully he got quite mild dose, and didn't seem to be overly irritated by the illness. He was a bit restless at night and definately woke a lot more, but all in all he stayed his usual happy and placid self. Once again the spots cleared, we began to sleep again.

Wednesday came, Jay undressed himself as soon as he woke up and I noticed the tell tale signs straight away. I hoped he too would get a mild dose, but we have not been so lucky this time round. His spots seem even bigger than those of the other two, the ones on his scalp are the worst. In fact this time I think his may be becoming infected, so its a trip to the doctors for us tomorrow.

Thankfully the chances of any of them getting chickenpox again is very slight. It's been a tough month with very little sleep. Thank God that the kids get free medication, if we had to pay for all the anti-histamines and painkilling medication that they have taken, our overdraft would be stretched to its limits right now!