Feeling very UP today, don't know why, after all that angst the other day. Nice lunch out with a friend yesterday helped, it always helps! Sweet-smelling baby to cuddle (despite his mother's insistence that his farts smell and his big sister's opinion that he has 'boy smell', all I could smell was sweet newborn head!). The buffet restaurant had an American cuisine special, and no that did NOT mean hamburgers and fries, it meant Buffalo wings with blue cheese dressing, gumbo, three types of spaghetti (so Erica was in spaghetti heaven), mashed potato and gravy and wild rice salad, among other things.
Less angst, more 'eeeee' as I remember what's coming up and start getting excited about it.
Perhaps today feels good because it's a good balance, with lessons in the morning, Journal in the afternoon, time to fit in some tidying, laundry and cooking, and an evening planned watching videos with the kids. Maybe it's just a case of TGIF, although I have to work tomorrow.
Yesterday we took Erica to see her plastic surgeon again. He said her scar has softened up enough (meaning it's finished forming) and we can go ahead with the surgery 'anytime'. Well. Now *I* have to decide her fate? Somehow I wish I could just be TOLD when to do it. Wish I could be back in NZ moaning about waiting lists and rushing up to Starship as soon as a slot comes up... Nah, scrap that. No, it's GOOD that I can CHOOSE when is the best time for us. Summer vacation probably. In the Spring break, it's too likely that her asthma will flare up. Summer will also be easier to dress her, as she will have some elaborate bandaging on, I forget the name he called it, but her hand will be held open to try to stop the scar from contracting.
She will also have a bandage on her foot, as the skin graft will come from the sole of her foot, as it's the only other part of the body apart from the palm with no pigment. He will take a thick graft from a spot on her foot, then take a thin graft from the skin right next to it, and graft that onto the place he took the thick graft from. The hand will heal better with a thick piece of skin, but the donor site won't heal well with a thick piece taken out and may contract, so skin is grafted onto there too. It's called a domino graft.
Now we just have to commit to DOING it. eeeee!!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Ups and Downs
Including take-offs and landings.
I've had a confused day with emotions all over the place, worries and joys in equal measure. I couldn't figure out what the source was for some of my concerns at times!
I'm getting really excited about out trip, but the thought of the logistics involved in packing for and organizing myself and three kids is daunting! I shouldn't read GW's blog. Okay, my kids are bigger and won't be having tantrums, but Erica is still small, and while the train trip on the weekend was only four hours, it was enough for her, it seems! Plus I have a stop-over in Hong Kong, another in Auckland then a road trip to Rotorua to plan for. Usually my suitcase would be out upstairs in the bedroom slowly gathering souvenirs and other necessities by now, but I'm so horrified by the thought of how to organize the packing that I am stalling.
But then there was the UP of getting the family beach trip sussed, or should I say, my superiorly organized older sister stepped in and made some quick decisions that I had been dithering about for oh, about a month now. Yay Maria.
But then of course I got worried about money again, compulsively checking my visa account in case some money miraculously appears there. I won't be happy until all hotels are booked and paid for and all my pay packets are in and safely deposited into my visa account.
Then came the let-down of hearing that my Hong Kong friend won't be able to meet up with us in the city after all. This is really disappointing, as part of the reason we chose Cathay airlines was the chance of meeting them in Hong Kong. To be fair to her, she never promised she could be there, as she travels at the last minute, and I was prepared all along to make other arrangements if they were not there.
But I was still saddened by this, although at exactly the same time, really excited, because it meant I could go online and book lovely hotels again, and organize a trip. And that is ALWAYS fun.
Meanwhile I was concerned about work, as the classes today were for an area with rather strict overseers, who DON'T like games, and DO like drills, and while I tend to agree with them, I still don't feel comfortable with higher-ups coming in to observe my lessons, I feel if people are looking for bad stuff, they will find it!
On the other hand, this clutch of extra lessons I picked up will certainly help me pay for the above hotels!
On top of all of this, it's Journal week, and I should be photo-shopping right now, but I think I'm ready to call it a day. In between the two lessons, two essays, and dropping off and picking up Erica, I had to squeeze in some work on the Journal. It was the housework that got neglected. Time to put on the blinkers and just ignore the chaos! And there's no end to this in the foreseeable future, with a day trip out of town to see Erica's plastic surgeon tomorrow, more classes on Friday morning, a full day on Saturday, an event at the college where I teach on Sunday morning, 7-5-3 on Sunday afternoon, dinner at the Turkish restaurant on Sunday night and a kindy class Monday morning. THEN I might get around to doing the laundry.
I've had a confused day with emotions all over the place, worries and joys in equal measure. I couldn't figure out what the source was for some of my concerns at times!
I'm getting really excited about out trip, but the thought of the logistics involved in packing for and organizing myself and three kids is daunting! I shouldn't read GW's blog. Okay, my kids are bigger and won't be having tantrums, but Erica is still small, and while the train trip on the weekend was only four hours, it was enough for her, it seems! Plus I have a stop-over in Hong Kong, another in Auckland then a road trip to Rotorua to plan for. Usually my suitcase would be out upstairs in the bedroom slowly gathering souvenirs and other necessities by now, but I'm so horrified by the thought of how to organize the packing that I am stalling.
But then there was the UP of getting the family beach trip sussed, or should I say, my superiorly organized older sister stepped in and made some quick decisions that I had been dithering about for oh, about a month now. Yay Maria.
But then of course I got worried about money again, compulsively checking my visa account in case some money miraculously appears there. I won't be happy until all hotels are booked and paid for and all my pay packets are in and safely deposited into my visa account.
Then came the let-down of hearing that my Hong Kong friend won't be able to meet up with us in the city after all. This is really disappointing, as part of the reason we chose Cathay airlines was the chance of meeting them in Hong Kong. To be fair to her, she never promised she could be there, as she travels at the last minute, and I was prepared all along to make other arrangements if they were not there.
But I was still saddened by this, although at exactly the same time, really excited, because it meant I could go online and book lovely hotels again, and organize a trip. And that is ALWAYS fun.
Meanwhile I was concerned about work, as the classes today were for an area with rather strict overseers, who DON'T like games, and DO like drills, and while I tend to agree with them, I still don't feel comfortable with higher-ups coming in to observe my lessons, I feel if people are looking for bad stuff, they will find it!
On the other hand, this clutch of extra lessons I picked up will certainly help me pay for the above hotels!
On top of all of this, it's Journal week, and I should be photo-shopping right now, but I think I'm ready to call it a day. In between the two lessons, two essays, and dropping off and picking up Erica, I had to squeeze in some work on the Journal. It was the housework that got neglected. Time to put on the blinkers and just ignore the chaos! And there's no end to this in the foreseeable future, with a day trip out of town to see Erica's plastic surgeon tomorrow, more classes on Friday morning, a full day on Saturday, an event at the college where I teach on Sunday morning, 7-5-3 on Sunday afternoon, dinner at the Turkish restaurant on Sunday night and a kindy class Monday morning. THEN I might get around to doing the laundry.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
The Trail of Destruction
Or Why My Living Room is Such a Mess
jewellery - I take it off and leave it in front of the computer
teacup - well, I suppose it actually LIVES in front of the computer
new phone box- bought a new phone, the box and packaging are still all over the floor.
photo frames and baby books and wall hanging tape measures - My 'to-do' pile, several years old in places, starting with LENA's baby book...
sewing - my favorite top and skirt, Erica's favorite overalls.
Pile of school notices and sundry papers - things to look up on the computer.... it never ends.
Erica's dressing gown - Why?
overflowing toy cupboard, kids' desks - a large part of the mess in this room is the desks, they just LOOK messy even when they are tidy, with all the bits hanging off them. The toy closet overflows as soon as it's tidied.
Halloween bag - mid-Halloween preparations, we have a box of costumes, a bag of toys and games and decorations
Dry laundry - and wet laundry, dirty laundry, folded laundry, always always some laundry to do!
piano, guitar, drum kits, Rody horses. - The piano and guitar don't look half bad when they are in their place, musical instruments enhance a room, I think. The double kiddy-drum-kits are a bit much, and the damned Rodies, the goddam rodies! Blow them up, they deflate, then sit around looking at me accusingly and taking up space! Guess I should toss them, but it seems such a waste.
spare clothes - all are guilty, but especially K. Jeans at the end of the sofa, suits hanging on the wall. ALL leave socks lying around, jackets and warm sweaters. Winter is worse, of course.
birthday present, wrapping paper - a job on the go, got a party to go to, yay!
Halloween costumes mid-repair - another job on the go, hence in the TV part of the room, where I will theoretically get around to it while watching TV. However, if you read my last post you'll realize that never happens, so the jobs on the go tend to pile up!
remote controls, cushions - GRRRR!!!! I remember my mother also had a thing about the sofa cushions on the floor. Now I get it, it's just SO unnecessary! And my Dad had such a thing about the remote controls that he actually CHAINED them to his chair.
nebulizer, magazines,iphone - in front of the TV, where I give Erica her medicine. Either I play with the phone while she watches TV, or she plays with the phone while I read.
GENKAN is just as bad at the moment:
AFWJ Journals, recipes to be filed - two big boxes of AFWJ Journals, that I WILL get time to look through one day. And I WILL get around to filing those damned recipes, they just all look so delicious!
work bags, kanji's mail, jackets, things 'to go somewhere' undelivered mail, recycyling, spare tables, Kanji's never-ending portable wardrobe relocation project.
potties and bath chair - to be cleaned and stored
tables - yes, TWO tables in the hall and genkan, waiting to either be used for a party, or returned to the shed.
recycling - another thing that lives in the shed, to be taken out when I get the time
shoes - okay, they belong in the genkan, but not in this state! Five people and several different shoe categories means most of the time, you can't see the tile floor.
bags - handbag, medicine bag, empty shopping bag, work bag, kindy class bag, puppet bag! I think I need to rethink where the bags go...
coats - supposed to be hung in the portable closet by the spare room door, but often just strung over the nearest spare table!
KITCHEN of course, has issues too:
plastic kitchen - Erica's toy kitchen, but seems to fit better in the kitchen that where it was in the study half of the Living Room, and it seems more appropriate.
baking and cooking ingredients - for parties, piled on the table rather than put away, as I am going to use them soon
tissues, scales, magazine, leftover food - always tissues and a magazine on the table, scales are a recent addition since I started calorie-counting, and leftover food comes and goes. often cookies and cakes. All this stuff often ends up on the freezer during meals.
medicine boxes, cookies, playdough utensils. - sometimes on the table, sometimes on the freezer.
oil, teapots, water bottles - on the bench between the sink and the stove. Always the dirty oil, sometimes a bottle of clean oil, two teapots and various water bottles waiting to be filled.
scissors - I had to remove them from the drawer when Erica found them, so they are now cluttering up the windowsill.
Windowsill - crazily wide in a Japanese kitchen, traditionally you put pots there.
miscellaneous junk - every house as a place for this unameable, unplaceable, but undisposable STUFF!
overflowing aprons and lunch mats - I settled on a nice basket-on-a-shelf neatness technique, but it's not working, it keeps overflowing.
recipe books - always one or two out lying on a bench somewhere, though the actual shelf is quite neat at the moment.
Purpose of This List: nothing really. But later it was worth its weight in gold when Amy got all morose and complained that it would be better if she didn't exist, because then her mess wouldn't be there messing everyone up and putting Mum in a bad mood. So I said to her, Amy, I just made a list of the mess in the room, because I know that one day, when you are all gone and I am at home alone, I will think about how messy it used to be... and miss it, so I made a list so I would always remember the shocking state of our living room when all my little girls lived in it!
jewellery - I take it off and leave it in front of the computer
teacup - well, I suppose it actually LIVES in front of the computer
new phone box- bought a new phone, the box and packaging are still all over the floor.
photo frames and baby books and wall hanging tape measures - My 'to-do' pile, several years old in places, starting with LENA's baby book...
sewing - my favorite top and skirt, Erica's favorite overalls.
Pile of school notices and sundry papers - things to look up on the computer.... it never ends.
Erica's dressing gown - Why?
overflowing toy cupboard, kids' desks - a large part of the mess in this room is the desks, they just LOOK messy even when they are tidy, with all the bits hanging off them. The toy closet overflows as soon as it's tidied.
Halloween bag - mid-Halloween preparations, we have a box of costumes, a bag of toys and games and decorations
Dry laundry - and wet laundry, dirty laundry, folded laundry, always always some laundry to do!
piano, guitar, drum kits, Rody horses. - The piano and guitar don't look half bad when they are in their place, musical instruments enhance a room, I think. The double kiddy-drum-kits are a bit much, and the damned Rodies, the goddam rodies! Blow them up, they deflate, then sit around looking at me accusingly and taking up space! Guess I should toss them, but it seems such a waste.
spare clothes - all are guilty, but especially K. Jeans at the end of the sofa, suits hanging on the wall. ALL leave socks lying around, jackets and warm sweaters. Winter is worse, of course.
birthday present, wrapping paper - a job on the go, got a party to go to, yay!
Halloween costumes mid-repair - another job on the go, hence in the TV part of the room, where I will theoretically get around to it while watching TV. However, if you read my last post you'll realize that never happens, so the jobs on the go tend to pile up!
remote controls, cushions - GRRRR!!!! I remember my mother also had a thing about the sofa cushions on the floor. Now I get it, it's just SO unnecessary! And my Dad had such a thing about the remote controls that he actually CHAINED them to his chair.
nebulizer, magazines,
GENKAN is just as bad at the moment:
AFWJ Journals, recipes to be filed - two big boxes of AFWJ Journals, that I WILL get time to look through one day. And I WILL get around to filing those damned recipes, they just all look so delicious!
work bags, kanji's mail, jackets, things 'to go somewhere' undelivered mail, recycyling, spare tables, Kanji's never-ending portable wardrobe relocation project.
potties and bath chair - to be cleaned and stored
tables - yes, TWO tables in the hall and genkan, waiting to either be used for a party, or returned to the shed.
recycling - another thing that lives in the shed, to be taken out when I get the time
shoes - okay, they belong in the genkan, but not in this state! Five people and several different shoe categories means most of the time, you can't see the tile floor.
bags - handbag, medicine bag, empty shopping bag, work bag, kindy class bag, puppet bag! I think I need to rethink where the bags go...
coats - supposed to be hung in the portable closet by the spare room door, but often just strung over the nearest spare table!
KITCHEN of course, has issues too:
plastic kitchen - Erica's toy kitchen, but seems to fit better in the kitchen that where it was in the study half of the Living Room, and it seems more appropriate.
baking and cooking ingredients - for parties, piled on the table rather than put away, as I am going to use them soon
tissues, scales, magazine, leftover food - always tissues and a magazine on the table, scales are a recent addition since I started calorie-counting, and leftover food comes and goes. often cookies and cakes. All this stuff often ends up on the freezer during meals.
medicine boxes, cookies, playdough utensils. - sometimes on the table, sometimes on the freezer.
oil, teapots, water bottles - on the bench between the sink and the stove. Always the dirty oil, sometimes a bottle of clean oil, two teapots and various water bottles waiting to be filled.
scissors - I had to remove them from the drawer when Erica found them, so they are now cluttering up the windowsill.
Windowsill - crazily wide in a Japanese kitchen, traditionally you put pots there.
miscellaneous junk - every house as a place for this unameable, unplaceable, but undisposable STUFF!
overflowing aprons and lunch mats - I settled on a nice basket-on-a-shelf neatness technique, but it's not working, it keeps overflowing.
recipe books - always one or two out lying on a bench somewhere, though the actual shelf is quite neat at the moment.
Purpose of This List: nothing really. But later it was worth its weight in gold when Amy got all morose and complained that it would be better if she didn't exist, because then her mess wouldn't be there messing everyone up and putting Mum in a bad mood. So I said to her, Amy, I just made a list of the mess in the room, because I know that one day, when you are all gone and I am at home alone, I will think about how messy it used to be... and miss it, so I made a list so I would always remember the shocking state of our living room when all my little girls lived in it!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Foiled Again
Part I: You know about this, my failed attempt to watch a TV show of my choice as sundry family members imposed.
Part II: Time - check. Family - quietly disposed of in various beds, sounds asleep. DVD - check. Pop it in the machine. Nothing. The multi-region DVD player is in its box, neatly tucked away under the box with all the remote controls in it. Nah, it's too late to go through all that... I go to bed.
Part III: Time - check. Family all asleep - check. DVD player - check. This time it's not too late and I make the effort to unpack and plug in the DVD player. DVD - uncheck. It's gone. Parts 2 and 3, yes, in their box by the stereo where I left them last time. But Part 1 seems to have gone awol...
Aha! There it is, in the remote controls box. Where else? I pick up the DVD player to get the wires plugged into the TV and hear an ominous clatter. I know that clatter. It's the clatter of a loose DVD inside the DVD player. At some point, when I've packed it away I forgot to remove the DVD. And as I packed it or as I moved its box around, the DVD has slipped out from the tray and fallen somewhere inside the body of the machine.
Cue tragi-comic DIY attempt to remove DVD from player usingiphone LED torch and jewellery tweezers. No luck. Wiggle it into place? I must have looked like I was playing one of those motion-sensitive iphone games as I gently tilted the machine to get the DVD directly under the tray, then FLIP quickly turn it over, hoping it'll settle back into place. No luck. Time for bed.
Part IV: Time - check. Family asleep or out - check. DVD - check. Screwdriver - check. The top of the DVD player easily comes off, only 7 screws, which I fiddle with while watching a documentary on human cloning - yes please! Just one more me, to catch up on all the TV shows, movies, books and magazines I have lying around while the other one does all the work, like unscrewing DVD machines.
Wiggles DVD successfully removed from machine, lid successfully replaced, DVD finally inserted into machine, press Play and...
... nothing. I get some sound but no picture. Time for bed again I think!
postscript: In a moment of inspiration, I decide the TV is at fault, and connect the Little DVD player to the Big DVD player. After some fiddling to find the right channel, success! Sound AND vision and I am now going to sit up all night watching TV!
Part II: Time - check. Family - quietly disposed of in various beds, sounds asleep. DVD - check. Pop it in the machine. Nothing. The multi-region DVD player is in its box, neatly tucked away under the box with all the remote controls in it. Nah, it's too late to go through all that... I go to bed.
Part III: Time - check. Family all asleep - check. DVD player - check. This time it's not too late and I make the effort to unpack and plug in the DVD player. DVD - uncheck. It's gone. Parts 2 and 3, yes, in their box by the stereo where I left them last time. But Part 1 seems to have gone awol...
Aha! There it is, in the remote controls box. Where else? I pick up the DVD player to get the wires plugged into the TV and hear an ominous clatter. I know that clatter. It's the clatter of a loose DVD inside the DVD player. At some point, when I've packed it away I forgot to remove the DVD. And as I packed it or as I moved its box around, the DVD has slipped out from the tray and fallen somewhere inside the body of the machine.
Cue tragi-comic DIY attempt to remove DVD from player using
Part IV: Time - check. Family asleep or out - check. DVD - check. Screwdriver - check. The top of the DVD player easily comes off, only 7 screws, which I fiddle with while watching a documentary on human cloning - yes please! Just one more me, to catch up on all the TV shows, movies, books and magazines I have lying around while the other one does all the work, like unscrewing DVD machines.
Wiggles DVD successfully removed from machine, lid successfully replaced, DVD finally inserted into machine, press Play and...
... nothing. I get some sound but no picture. Time for bed again I think!
postscript: In a moment of inspiration, I decide the TV is at fault, and connect the Little DVD player to the Big DVD player. After some fiddling to find the right channel, success! Sound AND vision and I am now going to sit up all night watching TV!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Eggceptional Week
Well, I got my eggs from Jo - four trays, and I gave one to Baachan and Jiichan of course, which still left 3 trays of eggs for us to eat!
I started out with omelets for lunch that very day, and happily served them up to Kanji and Erica after marvelling at the YELLOW color of the free-range eggs.
Lunch the next day was fried eggs on toast, then scrambled eggs on Saturday. Saturday night I used the eggs to crumb chicken nuggets, then made everyone an omelet. Sunday I made mashed egg for sandwiches. Today I've made a quiche, and I have some spinach to make an souffle tomorrow night. After that, I might actually run out of eggs!
I started out with omelets for lunch that very day, and happily served them up to Kanji and Erica after marvelling at the YELLOW color of the free-range eggs.
Lunch the next day was fried eggs on toast, then scrambled eggs on Saturday. Saturday night I used the eggs to crumb chicken nuggets, then made everyone an omelet. Sunday I made mashed egg for sandwiches. Today I've made a quiche, and I have some spinach to make an souffle tomorrow night. After that, I might actually run out of eggs!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Erica Starts Kindy
Erica had her first day at kindy today! Actually she stayed home her official first day with a fever! Here she is, ready and rearing to go with her pink backpack on (which she calls "my pink" or "packback").
She was very keen to go! Never looked back. We had been there three times to enrol, so she knew the place very well. She had not been inside yet though - she is obsessed with the outdoor play area. Once she'd gone inside and registered the fact that there were other children there, she came back to the door where I was waiting, took my hand and led me inside. I'd come early so I could stay with her as long as she needed, so I went in. She started to play with the kitchen, and the teacher encouraged me to leave. She looked a little surprised when I said "goodbye, I'm going to work" (she is used to that, as I say that when I leave her with her Daddy or Baachan).
Apparently she was so happy playing when her Daddy came to pick her up an hour later that she really didn't want to leave! So it's been decided that she will stay for the whole four hours. So, that was easy! Helps I suppose that we waited until she was ready - putting on her shoes and yelling out to me "Mum! Let's Go Yuu-kun!" (her friend's name) or "Let's go Baachan" because she was bored at home.
Left: on the way to kindy on her new bike. This was a few days before, and we were going for a talk. Kanji still had his blond hair at this point - it's got spray-on black on it just for this meeting!
Right: the kindy gate, and the hondo on the left. The kindy is at a temple.
Left: eager beaver can't wait to get in!
Right: on the famous Dinosaur climbing frame. I was terrified because she immediately copied an older kid and held on to that red bar at the top by her hands and I wasn't sure if she could swing her legs over to the platform or the down bar. She can't grip around a bar with her scarred hand, you can see in the picture how she is wrapping it around.
The sandpit. Ooookay... You've got to wonder why they bother...
She was very keen to go! Never looked back. We had been there three times to enrol, so she knew the place very well. She had not been inside yet though - she is obsessed with the outdoor play area. Once she'd gone inside and registered the fact that there were other children there, she came back to the door where I was waiting, took my hand and led me inside. I'd come early so I could stay with her as long as she needed, so I went in. She started to play with the kitchen, and the teacher encouraged me to leave. She looked a little surprised when I said "goodbye, I'm going to work" (she is used to that, as I say that when I leave her with her Daddy or Baachan).
Apparently she was so happy playing when her Daddy came to pick her up an hour later that she really didn't want to leave! So it's been decided that she will stay for the whole four hours. So, that was easy! Helps I suppose that we waited until she was ready - putting on her shoes and yelling out to me "Mum! Let's Go Yuu-kun!" (her friend's name) or "Let's go Baachan" because she was bored at home.
Left: on the way to kindy on her new bike. This was a few days before, and we were going for a talk. Kanji still had his blond hair at this point - it's got spray-on black on it just for this meeting!Right: the kindy gate, and the hondo on the left. The kindy is at a temple.
Left: eager beaver can't wait to get in!Right: on the famous Dinosaur climbing frame. I was terrified because she immediately copied an older kid and held on to that red bar at the top by her hands and I wasn't sure if she could swing her legs over to the platform or the down bar. She can't grip around a bar with her scarred hand, you can see in the picture how she is wrapping it around.
The sandpit. Ooookay... You've got to wonder why they bother...Monday, October 11, 2010
Thwarted
More than once!
First, I had to cancel my 'No.1 Fan' appearance at my husband's gig, due to Erica falling sick. At lunch time, I thought she was bit lethargic, not eating her soba with as much gusto as usual. I pretty much guessed, even before I touched her skin, that she was running a fever when she complained of being cold - part of lunch was barbecue, and there was a grill in the centre of the table, really hot, so there was no chance she was actually cold! Her temp. hit 39.3 by evening, but I avoided going to the doctor.
I still took Amy and Lena to stay with Baachan, as per the original plan (Which was to dump all three kids on their grandparents and run away to be a groupie). With Erica feverish and sleepy, I figured I could spend the night watching TV, eating whatever I wanted for dinner, maybe even having some dessert, after I got the laundry out of the way.
BUT. Just as I was finishing the laundry, the phone rang. It was Jiichan. Amy has a fever and a stomach ache. "Does she want to come home?" I asked. He went off to find out, then called again. "Yes, she does". Just before hanging up, he told me the Stand was shut, so could I park around the back. What? You expect me to bundle poor suffering Erica into the car again on a cold night when she has a fever? Luckily sense prevailed, or maybe Baachan reminded him, as he called back 2 seconds later to tell me he would bring her home.
So, she is fine except for a very painful tummy. We suspect the milk she drank at Baachan's. They don't drink milk much (since Jiichan, who drank a cup of milk a day since primary school, saw an NHK documentary on the evils of milk) so it might have gone off. Well, I know there's nothing much you can do about that but wait it out, and the most comfortable way to do that is lying curled up absolutely still. And if you are lying absolutely still, what else do you want to do but watch TV?
Aladdin happened to be on Disney, so they watched that. Erica was awake by now, and under a second lease of life after pain and fever meds. I only give those if the fever goes over 38.5, I'd rather have a sick kid in a fever-induced sleep, quietly healing, than running around the room because they feel better after meds. But she was up to 39.3, and complaining of pain too, poor thing, so I gave her some. So they settled in on the folded out sofa-bed, while I went to search for K's concert streaming live online.
I missed their set, they were on first, back when I was folding laundry, cooking toast and taking Erica's temperature and trying to get her to eat some soup and bread.
Not quite the Arrested Development evening I was expecting.
Finally the movie ended, Erica was tired enough to get to sleep, Amy could finally move, so I finally got them up to their own beds, quietly asleep, and starting thinking NOW I can finally relax, watch some of my own TV and maybe have a bit of dessert.
And Kanji came home.
How can you complain about that? At least he was home in time to guard me from monsters when I wanted to go out to the car to get my phone. At least he was thoughtful enough about Erica's condition to come home instead of going to a post-gig drinking party. But it did mean I was back over on the damn computer again, while HE took over the cosy sofa and watched variety shows.
So Kevin, if you're reading this, this is one of the many reasons while I will have your DVD box set for several months before I get a chance to watch it!
First, I had to cancel my 'No.1 Fan' appearance at my husband's gig, due to Erica falling sick. At lunch time, I thought she was bit lethargic, not eating her soba with as much gusto as usual. I pretty much guessed, even before I touched her skin, that she was running a fever when she complained of being cold - part of lunch was barbecue, and there was a grill in the centre of the table, really hot, so there was no chance she was actually cold! Her temp. hit 39.3 by evening, but I avoided going to the doctor.
I still took Amy and Lena to stay with Baachan, as per the original plan (Which was to dump all three kids on their grandparents and run away to be a groupie). With Erica feverish and sleepy, I figured I could spend the night watching TV, eating whatever I wanted for dinner, maybe even having some dessert, after I got the laundry out of the way.
BUT. Just as I was finishing the laundry, the phone rang. It was Jiichan. Amy has a fever and a stomach ache. "Does she want to come home?" I asked. He went off to find out, then called again. "Yes, she does". Just before hanging up, he told me the Stand was shut, so could I park around the back. What? You expect me to bundle poor suffering Erica into the car again on a cold night when she has a fever? Luckily sense prevailed, or maybe Baachan reminded him, as he called back 2 seconds later to tell me he would bring her home.
So, she is fine except for a very painful tummy. We suspect the milk she drank at Baachan's. They don't drink milk much (since Jiichan, who drank a cup of milk a day since primary school, saw an NHK documentary on the evils of milk) so it might have gone off. Well, I know there's nothing much you can do about that but wait it out, and the most comfortable way to do that is lying curled up absolutely still. And if you are lying absolutely still, what else do you want to do but watch TV?
Aladdin happened to be on Disney, so they watched that. Erica was awake by now, and under a second lease of life after pain and fever meds. I only give those if the fever goes over 38.5, I'd rather have a sick kid in a fever-induced sleep, quietly healing, than running around the room because they feel better after meds. But she was up to 39.3, and complaining of pain too, poor thing, so I gave her some. So they settled in on the folded out sofa-bed, while I went to search for K's concert streaming live online.
I missed their set, they were on first, back when I was folding laundry, cooking toast and taking Erica's temperature and trying to get her to eat some soup and bread.
Not quite the Arrested Development evening I was expecting.
Finally the movie ended, Erica was tired enough to get to sleep, Amy could finally move, so I finally got them up to their own beds, quietly asleep, and starting thinking NOW I can finally relax, watch some of my own TV and maybe have a bit of dessert.
And Kanji came home.
How can you complain about that? At least he was home in time to guard me from monsters when I wanted to go out to the car to get my phone. At least he was thoughtful enough about Erica's condition to come home instead of going to a post-gig drinking party. But it did mean I was back over on the damn computer again, while HE took over the cosy sofa and watched variety shows.
So Kevin, if you're reading this, this is one of the many reasons while I will have your DVD box set for several months before I get a chance to watch it!
Friday, October 08, 2010
Pinch Hitter
I have met about 217 people in the last two days. Around 100 5th graders, 31 6th graders, and 86 university students! And before you bother asking, No, I cannot remember their names, although, surprisingly, several stand out in my memory, names attached - and I know I will never forget them!
I've been called a Pinch Hitter 3 times in the last few weeks, so I guess that must be the latest Japanese katakana word for 'substitute teacher' and I'm guessing it comes from baseball (correct me if I'm wrong lurker Emily!!!)
I'm filling in between teachers again, a nice 5-6 weeks of extra classes that reminds me both of how much I can achieve in one day, and the downside of working full-time - laudry piling up, short-tempered with the kids, no time for hobbies, weekends spent cleaning etc!
The oddest thing is that while I am working tomorrow, it's only 3 juku lessons, so it feels almost like a holiday! I think it's funny how normally it would FEEL like 'Oh my god I am working on a Saturday', but now, after 217 students in 2 days, it feels like a day off in comparison!
I've been called a Pinch Hitter 3 times in the last few weeks, so I guess that must be the latest Japanese katakana word for 'substitute teacher' and I'm guessing it comes from baseball (correct me if I'm wrong lurker Emily!!!)
I'm filling in between teachers again, a nice 5-6 weeks of extra classes that reminds me both of how much I can achieve in one day, and the downside of working full-time - laudry piling up, short-tempered with the kids, no time for hobbies, weekends spent cleaning etc!
The oddest thing is that while I am working tomorrow, it's only 3 juku lessons, so it feels almost like a holiday! I think it's funny how normally it would FEEL like 'Oh my god I am working on a Saturday', but now, after 217 students in 2 days, it feels like a day off in comparison!
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