What's in the Oval Window?

After an absolutely horrendous night wherein he wouldn't let us sleep til around 0330, and a bumpy start to the morning, The Monkey appears to have perked up a lot. Playschool may have something to do with it, but I'll assert that it was the sleep he's had today plus the food he's been voluntarily consuming.

He's sitting on the couch singing to himself as though he's his old self, but he punctuates it occasionally with one of his random moans and grizzly noises. The fact that he's happy to just lie there and watch the television and play with his juice cup rather than hang off us and whine in our ears is a good sign: it means he's finally on the mend.

This may deteriorate later on tonight when he begins to tire again, but at least for now he's in a pleasant mood and happy to entertain himself.

Take Care: Fragile

After not wanting to sleep in his cot, we bundled the little guy into bed with us and the three of us drifted off to sleep. At some point in the middle of the night I put him back in his cot (mainly because he'd taken over my side of the bed and I was being forced to sleep at the foot of it), where he lay talking to himself for a time before drifting away back to the land of slumber. When he awoke this morning he was far from pleasant. He's only just now calmed down after spending most of the morning being clingy and whingey.

He would not allow Patrick to let him go, clinging to him like his life depended on it, and whenever I came near him he would hide his face in Patrick's shoulder and whinge like I was some big scary monster there to take him away. He's still a little like that now, won't allow us to leave him; we are to carry him everywhere we go and hold him while we attend to the things we need to attend to.

With his temperament a little fragile, those occasions when we've had to put him down, he's sat there with his ugly face on and his annoying little whinge. He gets over it pretty quickly though and just sits there with a bit of a smile on his face and chatters to us.

For the first time since he got sick on Monday, Bas has tried to walk again. Unfortunately this illness has knocked him for six and his balance has suffered somewhat. It's almost like he's taken a backward step in his development. Where before he was an accomplished little toddler who could almost run, now he's back to learning to balance and walk steadily again. It's really upsetting for him as well. When he finds himself about to fall over he cries and staggers over to whoever is closest, for comfort. He's decided that for the time being crawling is safest, but there are still occasions where he will try to stand and go for a walk only to upset himself when he starts to wobble. This will sort itself out when his strength returns, which will only happen when he gets over whatever psychological thing he's got that stops him from eating enough food.

The food thing is interesting. Last night at dinner, he would often times refuse the small fork fulls of rice I would offer him, only to eat the few grains that would land on the back of his hand or stick to his lips as I offered it to him. He would play this 'game' for practically every serve, eventually caving in (or me being sneaky and when he yawned shovelling in the rice) and eating it quite happily. It was obvious to both of us that he wanted to eat, but he'd managed to train himself into not wanting it. He ended up having the biggest meal of the week last night, but is still playing the 'i don't want food game' this morning.

He's most definitely a great big sook. And I think he's really enjoying all the extra attention he's getting from being sick, and there are times when you can tell that he's milking it. Oh well, you can't blame him really, can you?

Return to Bas(e) Camp

Good news! Bas was discharged early this afternoon after some comfortably low temperatures and blood work that showed a reduced white cell count! It's still uncertain as to what has caused the fevers, but it does appear that he's on the way back to good health.

He appears to be happy to be home as well. The hospital environment was just a little too much for him I think. All that unfamiliarity really wasn't helping him very much at all (though he did seem to like his nurse. He'd most often have something to say to her and would respond to her questions and give her a smile, even when he was feeling like crap). When we got him home he went straight to sleep, was fine to let us leave him in his bed alone (which was unheard of while he was in hopsital) and has even been eating better! He's a lot cheerier and talkative as well. Given the way he's going, I'd say he'll be close to 100% by the end of the week.

It'll be great to get a good night's sleep in our own beds tonight. I think we'll all benefit from it.

It's a Mystery

The Monkey was admitted to hospital last night due to excessive fever and what may have been a urinary tract infection.

On a bright note: all tests carried out proved negative, however it still means we don't know what the cause of the illness is. All that's been discovered is that he's got a high white cell count, which simply means he's got an infection...somewhere.

Patrtick got a little upset by the Lumbar Puncture, but mainly because we weren't able to hold him during the procedure, and his cries for help were left unheeded til it was over. It was the inability to be able to help him that really upset Patrick, which in turn got me upset (up to that point I'd been doing pretty well). The results to that also came back a resounding negative.

Bas perked up somewhat after he was given some extra fluids, and some antibiotics and some other solution of dripiness. But just as he was admitted into the ward his temperature began to soar again and he started getting irritable.

He's to be kept in for a minimum of 48hours, so they can grow the sample cultures to find out if there is anything worth noting. Other than that, he's just there for observation and treatment in the broadest possible way. There's nothing else we can do.

Patrick stayed there last night, and with any luck I'll be bunking with the Monkey tonight.

Return to Regular Programming

Well, it would seem that the Monkey has been learning some new things while on holiday. The least of which is how to stay up late and squeal like he's been stabbed when he's put to bed. The main thing he's learned over his holiday and in the few days since his return, however, are as follows:

• Oh, really!
• Alright
• Socks
• Shoes
• Shirt (though, the last three all kind of sound like 'shit')
  

Apparently while he was on the plane coming back, he got his own seat. Patrick tells me that the passenger on the other side of Bas noticed that he'd managed to work out how to do up and tighten his seat belt all by himself, which is impressive considering how annoying those airplane seat belts are! Patrick was astounded by it.

I met the boys at the airport on Wednesday when the returned, and Bas looked at me as though he didn't know who I was, and has thusly been treating me like a stranger since. Whenever I've picked him up for a cuddle or even just wanted to play with him, he's gone running back to Patrick as if I was trying to kidnap him or something. Thankfully, since last night things appear to be returning to near regular programming. He's voluntarily coming to me and offering me cuddles and asking for me to pick him up. This morning we were sitting on my fitball (Bas on my knee) and he was being all cuddly wuddly and resting his forehead on my chin and being a real sook. At least until Patrick got out of the shower anyway.

All that's left to do now is to retrain him to go to bed and sleep when we tell him to, instead of having to go through the nightly theatrics of hysterical screaming and balling til he simply passes out from exhaustion. He got away with being allowed to go to bed at midnight virtually every night while in Victoria, and seems to think that he can get away with it here. He's slowly falling asleep earlier and earlier each night, but only by ten or so minutes each timel. At this rate, he'll be going to sleep at his regular time by Christmas! Mind you, he does seem to find the fact that we read him bed time stories absolutely hilarious. He giggles and laughs (almost manically) at the sound of us reading to him in different voices. I think he might like the Scottish Fairy Tales book though, more so than the Andersons Fairy Tales.

One last thing: Bas has been teaching himself how to use a fork. He fed himself his dinner last night using his little fork (given to him by Grammi and one that I used when I was his age). He's been paying close attention to the way we use the utensils and has decided it's time he started doing it himself, so I sat him in his highchair, gave him his plate of fish pie and the fork and away he went! And with next to no spillage as well!

Next step is to start teaching him how to cook! (^_^)

SEB'S WINTER VACATION IN CASTLEMAINE, JULY 2006

Patrick and Sebastian went on holiday for two weeks on the 5th of July, I was forced to stay behind for a variety of reasons. The following is a report of the first week, as documented by Patrick.

Telephone taxi about 11:15 am.

The taxi driver was a nigerian immigrated from England. He was very interested in Seb, and told me he wants a boy of his own. He has three daughters. Recons two kids is the right number (one not enough, three too complicated).

At airport

The flight is delayed one hour: it will arrive at 4:40 instead of 3:15. Qantas give us an eight dollar meal voucher to make up for the delay.

Much hassle getting through the metal detectors. I hand Seb to one of the security guards while I go back and forth throught the detector, each time shedding another article of clothing. The security guard is an older female employee, about 60 ish. She is obviously very happy to get hold of Seb (he doesn't seem to care). The problem turns out to be the mobile phone I forgot was in my pocket.
I finally get through security bathed in sweat and have to sit down for ten minutes to cool off.

Upstairs, we head for the fish and chips counter to consume the eight dollars. Seb enjoys the meal.

I telephone mother. It seems Laurie has already left, intending to tour the general region before picking us up. Mum tells me he has Joe's mobile phone, so I try to ring: no answer. I send him a text message that the arrival time will be 4:40.

Seb goes for a walk around the airport. He tries to get into every retail outlet and pull stuff off the shelves. The staff (always female) generally enjoy the pint-sized shopper. I do my best to keep him in the main aisle of the airport. He doesn't seem aware that others share that space, and has many people dodging around him.

The flight is not as delayed as they thought, and will arrive at 4:15. I send Laurie another text message.

On the aeroplane

The flight is full. I have to strap Seb to my lap, and he doesn't like it. During take off I give him his bottle of milk, which he socks back like there is no tomorrow.
His demeanor deteriorates with distance from Brisbane. I walk him down the aisle. We hang around toilets. Anything to escape the horror. I spot a box of apples in the staff area. Seb likes the apple, and the whining subsides mercifully. Back in the seat, Seb falles asleep during the descent to Melbourne. I carry him off the aeroplane.

Laurie is waiting for us at the bottom of the stairs where he has been waiting for an hour. The car is parked in a half hour zone. He did not get my messages because he did not know how to turn on Joe's phone. We carry bags and sleeping infant to the car. No parking ticket!

Seb wakes up as soon as he is in the baby seat, and recommences the whining. The misery grows with distance from Melbourne. In desperation we stop at Woodend, and Laurie buys Seb some loillies. That didn't work. I suggest we find a supermarket and get some bananas. Banana in one hand, lollie stick in the other, the bawling reduces to a relatively tolerable, intermittant whining.

At Castlemaine, Seb's mood lightens as soon as he sees his grandma. He seems to remember. Within minutes of arrival he is telling her all about the trip. The cot is made up for him, and we both go to bed about 10 pm. Seb sleeps all night. I have to get up four times to put the covers back on him. It is freezing cold.

Next day

Seb makes it clear I must NEVER leave his sight. If I go to the toilet, have a shower, or leave the room for any reason at all, we incur a primeaval scream and a misery exhibition.

Joe, Seb and I take a trip into Bendigo to take the old dictionary to the book restorers. While there. I telephone my cousin Marg to find out what she wanted me to do about an old "table" in here garage (a good enough excuse for a visit, a cup of tea, and an escape form the freezing cold). After one look at Seb, Marg is hooked. For the next hour she repeats over and over what a "beautiful baby he is". Seb, in turn, loves her house: full of draws, shelves and stuff.

The "table" turns out to be vestiges of a ceder chest of draws: just the top and two draws. Marg is adamant it came from my Ward grandparents, and that I should retore it. (Another project to add to the list.)

The next few days

Life is pretty much indoors at Castlemaine, near the fire as it is too cold outside. Seb slowly lets go of his hold on me: letting me out of his sight for short bursts, as long as his gran or uncles are still around. He spends a lot of time with Laurie and the computer. He helps out a lot turning off the power supply and playing with the on switch. His favourite pastimes are "separate the DVDs from their cases" and "pull the VCRs out of the shelf". He has also talks on the phone, which can be a real phone or a remote control.

Outside, Seb checks out the garden. His main interest is the dog, Tommy. He follows Tommy up the back stairs, and next I hear a sack of potatoes roll down the stairs, followed by Seb's wail. I find him at the base of the stairs on his back, crying, and with three scratches on the right side of his face. I carry him around while he cries. When he sees the dog again he forgets his problems, and wants to get down to chase the dog again.

Following Tommy, Seb takes a liking to a dingo teddy bear. I succeed in teaching Seb to say "It's a doggie".

We visit Jason and Katrina. Seb gets on well with the other kids.There are many musical instruments there, and Seb gets his first exposure to cello and saxophone, and has his first bash at the keyboards. We hear piano renditions from Alex and Bead.

The weather is staring to warm a little during the day.
I film seb coming down the back stairs: on his belly, head first, one step at a time, very careful. I try to teach him to come down standing while holding the rail.

Anthony turns up on his motorbike, unexpectedly for a visit. He did not know we were there; just decided to go for a ride. We heard some gossip from Moonambel. No sooner had he arrived than he was back on the bike again.

The two adventurers return tomorrow evening. I'll be happy to have someone to talk to, even though I've got laryngitis and can't actually speak.

Build 'Em Up

Ages ago, my parents gave Sebastian a cup stack for him to play with. It's only in recent months that he's been at all interested in them, and tonight he's just been proving his ability to sort the different cups so that they fit together perfectly.

He'll start with one scenario (say all of them apart) and work his way around every single situation imaginable (practically) until he can get all the cups to stack in the right order. He'll look at each one and try several ways to get them to fit, pulling apart the ones that don't if needed. He'll then have a big grin on his face when we applaude and congratulate, followed by him grabbing the pile of cups, carrying them over to Patrick an putting them on the ground in front of him in a "Look at what I just did" fashion. He'd then return to me and sit on the floor right up close with his back to me, so I'd have to peer over his shoulder and help him out by giving him clues or showing him where he'd made his mistake.

He's having a blast with these cups and won't let them leave his site. Presently he's throwing them around the dining room, but I don't think he'll be as quick to clean them up this time!