Anna looks even better now that the IV's are all out; yesterday she came off oxygen for the day. At night she still requires a little bit, so the doctors won't let her come home today. She should be home by the weekend, though, after just over two weeks in hospital!

Anna keeps us on our toes

We had a lovely time in Cornwall, but it must be said that Anna was a bit under the weather by the time we were heading home. Monday we took her to the doctor and he prescribed some antibiotics. If you've ever been around when we've tried to give Anna oral medications, you know how much fun antibiotics three times a day are. Despite the medicine, she was still coughing awfully and running a fever. Wednesday we knew something was not right (sparing you the details) and took her to the emergency room to be checked out.

The short version of the story is that she has pneumonia and needs some oxygen to keep her blood oxygen levels up. The longer version of the story would involve details about the three different hospitals she's been in and the various specialists (consultants) who have been called in to see her. We're just glad she seems to be getting better and hope to get her back home in a couple of days.

It's a pretty stressful time for us, but I imagine we'll survive, once again.

holiday 2011

We decided to take the long trek down to Cornwall this year, to see the sea and hopefully get some sunshine. Thankfully, we had plenty of both and a marvelous time playing on the beach and seeing some of the sights. We even took a short boat ride, which both boys especially enjoyed.

But one picture is worth a thousand words, or so the saying goes. Click the link to see the photos!

Next up: Cornwall

That's right. If you're familiar with English geography, you'll know that Cornwall is a long way from Durham. We're hoping for a bit of sunshine, and planning to see the sea (whether or not the sun is shining on it).

If you're wondering how we're going to keep the children occupied in the car...

Yeah, me too. We'll keep you posted.

Anna comes home

It probably shouldn't be news, but it is. Iain wanted a bath; the water was still running. Lucy slept in the bouncy seat. Lewis had gone to collect Thomas from school. And I had that strange sense--intuition?--that it was too quiet.

As I neared the bottom of the staircase, I saw the door standing open. I took the last few stairs too fast (I'm still very stiff and sore from my failed sprint), without thinking about it. Ouch! I headed for the door as quickly as I could, and started calling Anna's name as soon as I crossed the threshold. I called down the back of the terrace and up toward the road. I hoped Lucy was still sleeping. I called out toward the woods, and hoped Iain was all right in the tub. And as I called down the colliery road, knowing I would have to give up in a minute and check on Iain and Lucy, I heard her voice.

She answered. She actually answered. Not only that, she came back, carrying the paper sword and shield she'd made on a field trip that day. It would have made a great photo, Anna hurrying toward me down the road, sword in hand, shield on her arm. But I hadn't stopped to get the camera (or even my phone) on the way out the door. I scolded her for going, but praised her more for coming back. It was a first, and her timing couldn't have been better.

The bathtub didn't even overflow.

Not the plan for Friday

There probably ought to be a photo. But if there were, I would probably rather have it destroyed. A photo of what, though? Of the fall? Of me being carried off the field? Of me being loaded into the ambulance? No. No photo required.

I was hoping to impress a guy, as usual. In this case, my 7-year-old. So I brought my old running shoes along for the mothers' race on sports day last Friday. I've been running since having Lucy, nothing spectacular, but up to 3x/week the previous week. I didn't think I would win; I've never been especially fast or competitive. I just hoped to make a good show of it.

Well, it certainly was a show. Not, however, the sort of show I was hoping for. Apparently the jogging I'd done since the baby was born was no preparation for a flat-out sprint. My hips decided they weren't up to it, and over I went. Not a trip-and-fall, catch-yourself-on-your-hands sort of thing. No, I crumpled, hit shoulder-first, and couldn't get up again. No permanent damage, no broken bones (but no x-ray, either). I will be fine, just taking lots of painkillers and wincing for a week or two.

And Thomas wasn't even that impressed.

adventures with Iain

Although a baby sister wasn't on Iain's list of desirables, he's finding that it has some surprise benefits. Chief among these (though Iain doesn't ascribe it to Lucy) is his weekly day off from school. Since he's had a lot more time in 'school' than the others, it seemed only fair to give him a little break before he starts properly in September.

So every Friday Iain stays with me (and Lucy), and we take walks and sometimes run errands. Last Friday was a particular thrill, as we went to meet a friend in Newcastle--and took the train. A train ride or a bus ride makes for a great day. If there's an advantage to not having a second car, it's in the adventures in transportation it affords. Today, after Mass at St Godric's school, Iain and I found ourselves needing to make our way home. We caught a new-to-us bus and wheeled Lucy aboard, and headed into Durham. Iain's favorite bakery is near the bus station, so that was our first stop. Then I remembered there was a park not too far away, one I pass by on the walk to (or from) Durham. We went off in search of it, but failed to find it. Never mind: Iain's found a street to explore, so off we went, soon finding ourselves in St Margaret's church yard.

It wasn't really where we wanted to be, but Iain didn't mind. We were on to the next thing: finding somewhere to feed and change Lucy. We parked the stroller (or buggy or whatever you want to call it, depending on your country and region of origin...) by a bench and he ran up and down while I took care of Lucy's needs. Then some shopping, back to the bus station and on the bus home.

And we were grateful the rain held off.