|
« March 2009 |
Main
| January 2009 »
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Jack had a long sleep in this morning, and is a bit out of sorts. As Al
prepared his breakfast he initially said he did not want to help, but
then ran over to the bench whining that he want to help after all. As he
jigged up and down complaining he caught the edge of his chin on the
bench, slamming his mouth shut with a loud chomping noise and leaving
teeth holes in his tongue. Queue lots of blood and crying.
Once it was established that he hadn’t bitten off part of his tongue, he
didn’t get a great deal of sympathy from us. I was more disbelieving
that he had hurt himself yet again in such a clumsy way, and Al had to
work hard not to laugh. Thankfully hugs and turning the TV on
distracted him enough and he soon stopped crying.
Posted by Doug at 8:03 AM
Saturday, February 07, 2009
It was another brutally hot day – the hottest in Melbourne since records
began. In the morning we went with Jack to see his first ever cinema
movie, a Bob the Builder special. In the afternoon we stayed in the
backroom with the air conditioner going and were visited by a friend and
his young son, whose house was too hot to stay in.
The media talked up how today could be one of the worst for the state as
far as fires go. It seemed likely it had all be exaggerated – until late
night news articles indicated 14 people had died today, and more dead
were expected to be found.
I can’t imagine any of them went to bed last night thinking that today
might be their last. It’s just flabbergasting.
Posted by Doug at 11:45 PM
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The death toll from Saturday’s fires continues to climb, currently
sitting at 181 and expected to go higher.
I cannot recall a disaster in the past ever hitting me more emotionally
as this one has.
I’ve wondered at my own reaction. Have I been impacted because it was so
close to home? Because we drive through those areas, have holidayed
there, have gone on day trips? Is it because I had dismissed the media
and authorities talking up the dangers of the day, only to find out they
were right? Is it because for years Al has been showing me houses for
sale in those areas?
It was all of the above – but also the nature of the loss. The family
unit is the most important thing to me, followed by the home, which is
such a vital sanctuary. During these fires people – no matter how
prepared they were, lost both. As a friend said – it was just insane.
You listen to the stories, and you can feel so, so much empathy for what
these people have gone through - and baulk at the unspeakable terror so
many faced in death. Many that died would have known they were about to
- and in one of the most horrible ways.
And in amongst all the death you have the families that died together -
Parents with their children. Imagine that – being helpless to protect
your home, your partner, your children, or yourself. That pain must burn
hotter than any fire.
Posted by Doug at 9:37 PM
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Yesterday Jack told Al he had a poo coming and then did it in the potty.
It was a rare glimmer of hope on this very difficult process of trying
to toilet train Jack.
Today Jack was wearing underpants – and wee’d on the couch, on his
bedroom floor, on Al, and on the family room floor. He made absolutely
no effort to use the potty or to tell us he needed to go to the toilet.
A number of times as we washed, scrubbed and cleaned up after him he
stood by with a smug grin on his face. Al asked Jack if he had known he
had a wee coming – and he said yes. She then asked why he hadn’t told us
that he needed to go to the potty, and his answer sums up the difficulty
we face - “because I’m not going too”.
Al is getting quite good at timing when to put Jack on the potty - so he
is certainly getting used to being on it and using it properly. All the
effort so far however has resulted in very little progress.
Posted by Doug at 5:19 PM
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
We have had an up and down week. We all seem to have been extra tired
and grumpy, and Jack’s ramped up whining and complaining has met with
less patience than usual. I believe the underlying issue is our
allergies flaring up due to the smoke and dust in the air over the last
fortnight.
Various thoughts since the last entry...
Al finished up work, which has resulted in a somewhat improved
disposition during the day. She generally hits a brick wall late in the
afternoon though, and finds the evenings a bit of a struggle.
Like the first, Al hasn’t really complained about the pregnancy. She
does however seem to be suffering a lot more from discomfort, aches and
pains this time. She is having a lot more trouble moving around, and
tires quicker and easier than she did last time.
One of the clear warning signs Al was about to go into labour with Jack
was a very bad case of PMS like moods. I had been expecting to watch for
the same warning signs this time round – but unfortunately those types
of moods have been too common. I’ve read before that a woman tends to be
more moody if carrying a girl than a boy, which kind of makes sense. I
wonder if that is part of the reason.
We purchased the second booster seat for Jack, and put it in Al’s car.
After a good clean I reversed his old seat and set it up for the baby. I
did that while Jack was in childcare – and when we picked him up Al said
that there was a surprise in the car. Jack scrambled in quickly and
stopped dead in his tracks. He saw the baby seat and I believe he had
thought the baby had arrived. He looked absolutely horrified. When I
told him the baby wasn’t there, and it was just the seat ready for the
baby he had such a relieved look on his face.
We have packed the bags, and Al is no longer driving the car. There is a
bit of cleaning up that needs to be done in the Nursery, and a couple
items on the shopping list, but nothing that must be done before the
baby is born. Basically we are ready and waiting.
Al has noticed the pre-birth preparations in her body, but when
comparing them to when she had Jack, feels this baby will more likely
come a week or so after the due date.
Posted by Doug at 3:37 PM
Saturday, February 28, 2009
The nursery is now all ready for the baby. It took more effort than I
was expecting, and I spent a good chunk of the day on it. Next in line
is the guest room – which will be an even bigger job.
Posted by Doug at 10:27 PM
|
