Monday, July 9, 2012

My Daddy's 50th Party!

I think I'm supposed to censor what I put on my blog or at least so I've heard, where's the fun in that though. My dad turned 50 last week and we threw him a party, things got a little hectic, I got covered in cake and cream, glasses broke and the floors were very sticky the next morning, all great signs of a great party.

Friday, July 6, 2012

To a great man

Clive Lawrence Easton

Those we love and lose are always connected by heartstrings into infinity.

~Terri Guillemets

You were taken to soon, a husband, a father, a grandfather and a friend.

A kind soul who was always interested in how you were doing,

a man who wore his heart on his sleeve,

you could see the pride of his daughters in his eyes

and the love for his grandsons in every movement,

and his loyalty and commitment to his wife of many years,

may your soul rest in peace and your loved ones find comfort in your

memory and your love.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Ink

Lots of people hate tattoos, there is also a great debate on the fact that woman shouldn't be tattooed, I personally don't care. I love tattoo's, I'll never be covered from top to toe and I don't see myself getting another one but I love people with tattoo's and I have never dated a guy with clean skin.

I have one other tattoo that I got when I was young, 16 in fact, no parental permission, I just did it. Was it stupid, yes, do I like it now, not really, do I notice it, no, because tattoos become a part of who you are, it's a story no matter in which way it was done. My first tattoo represents probably besides from the last year and a half, one of the hardest times of my life and it's a reminder of how I conquered that and how far I have come.

Last week in between the madness, me and my brother and sister all got swallows tattooed on our wrists, I have wanted this tattoo for a while. When I lived in Cape Town and knew no matter where I end up my heart will always be with my family and that is what the swallow represents, it is a symbol of loyalty and trust and that you will always find your way home.

Just as I was about to get it I fell pregnant and so put it on hold, and somewhere along the line my siblings decided to make it a family affair, creating even more meaning to our new ink.

I waited patiently till my sister was 18 and she had thought about it for at least a year as I don’t want her regretting anything down the line and we did it. Love it, hate it, damn me to hell or whatever else your views are, but here it is, and I love it.

Fever Panic

I never really know what to do with high temperatures, I never know when I am meant to panic and when to just give some Calpol and rock my baby to sleep. On my many outings to many hospitals last week one of the doctors gave me this little letter all about fevers and what to do, so I had to share.

FEVER

What can I do to lower my child's fever?

Undress the child and remove all blankets (please note: shivering is generally a response to high fever, do not cover child with blankets!)
Place child in a lukewarm bath and allow the child to play in the water for 10 minutes. DO NOT LEAVE THE CHILD UNATTENDED!
If no bath is available, sponge your child down with lukewarm water, taking care to sponge the following area's:

Arm pits
Groin area
Chest
Forehead

Cool room by using a fan or opening windows. Do not allow fan to blow directly onto the child.
The child can be dressed in light summer clothes.
Give medication only as prescribed by your treating doctor.

Emergency Room IMMEDIATELY:

Persistent fever that does not respond to temperature lowering measures
Seizures/ convulsions/ fits
Refusing to drink fluids (it is not unusual for the sick child to have a loss of appetite)
Decreased level of responsiveness
Child becomes "floppy"

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Hospital Round 3, 30, 300

I hate hospitals, sick babies are my new pet peeve and I'll never moan about being home all the time again. The last week has been one straight out of probably any mothers worst nightmare and I barely survived.

Aiden started getting sick last Sunday already and his temp was high but manageable. I never want to be one of those moms who freak out over spilt milk and rush to the hospital for every bump and fever. I now will be ones of those moms with pride and my new policy is 'rather safe than sorry.'

Monday and Tuesday I kept A home from school as he seemed off but not too bad, on Tuesday I went off to get a tattoo with my two better halves (own post all together), and when I came back, I came back to a very hot baby. Like, 39 hot and I couldn't break the fever.

So off to the Clinton Clinic we go, thank you doctor on duty for overlooking everything, you could have stopped a lot of sickness and pain. He did a one, two and said A had a respiratory infection and gave him some meds.

My sick little monster

Sleeping off the medicine

Wednesday evening comes and A's temp jumped to 40 and I couldn't break it and he started having convulsions and his eyes started rolling back. So off to the Union hospital we go, thank you to the doctor who actually treated my son but you should have admitted him and not made us wait 2 hours just to see you. After blood work and x-rays and lots of embarrassing sobbing she said A had a Bacterial Infection but should be fine. New meds, another day.

Two very exhausted individuals

We got there at 8pm, this is when we saw the doctor

Boredom sets in

My sick angel

By Friday my little angel was looking worse, temps still ranging between 39 - 40 and he started having convulsions, so off to our paediatrician in Benoni at the Linmed hospital we go, thank God for good doctors who don't care for anything but the well-being of their patients.

He immediately admitted Aiden, and all the tests were re-done. Of course this sent me into panic mode, my parents were away, I would be stuck in Benoni, my sister would be home alone for the first time, and I wouldn't have much help.

Luckily I have surrounded myself with the best of best people and my friends came to our rescue and were there for Aiden and I the whole time.