NotSheep

Ssshhh…

*looks around nervously*

I don’t want to say this too loudly, but I think we might be over the worst of the chickenpox

Both George and Freddy are at the all-scabbed-over stage - which is quite possibly worse-looking than the blisters stage, but at least they’re not so itchy now. Jack is nearly there; he’s still got a few blisters. They’ve all been much more cheerful today than they were on Monday and Tuesday, and I’ve been grateful for that. Oh so grateful. If you only knew…

Poor Toby though - I don’t think he let go of me at all last night, except a few times to wail at me. He spent yesterday and today just clinging, head buried in my shoulder (or whatever shoulder was available at the time). He was quite hot through the night and the morning. I gave him an early lunch - not that he ate much - then sat him in an oatmeal bath for a while before slathering on the calamine lotion. Once he was suitably ghoulish-looking (seasonal, huh?) I took him to bed. He slept a long time, but when he woke, he was much, much better. He ate a reasonable amount at dinner and was even chatty again - it was so nice to have my cheery baby back. I hope this means he’s over the worst. Sick children is bad enough; sick babies is just Not Fair.

George, Freddy and Jack spent the day playing computer games. They’re fed up with being in the house, and there really isn’t anywhere we can go until they’re better. Barney and Henry were showing signs of cabin-fever too, so I suggested they cycle to the leisure centre and go swimming. Their friend N went along too, and Scratchy collected them afterwards, to save their poor wee legs from having to cycle back up the hills

I phoned a friend who’s been ill recently and was very happy to hear her sounding brighter and much closer to her usual self. She’s been dealing with heart stuff, which isn’t something you should have to handle in your mid-30s. It seems she’s finally on the right levels of the right medications (fingers crossed); I hope it’s all good for her from here.

While Toby slept today, I read this which made me laugh. Apparently there is a new trend towards larger families. The article mentioned our reason for having more-than-2.4-children - “Why not?” - but my favourite bit was this:

(A mother of five)… is aware of the buzz that large families — in the suburbs, at least — are a new status symbol. “I thought it was kind of funny,” she said “Most people who have a lot of kids don’t have the time or energy to care what about others think.”

We’re cutting-edge, baby, cutting-edge