If a butterfly can cause a hurricane why am I still surprised that a fever can cause pandemonium?
On Sunday Alby transformed himself into a living, kicking hot water bottle and stayed that way for three days. And just as hot water bottles are for snuggling, Alby became a total Snuggle Monkey. As much as I tried to continue as normal it has all fallen apart, totally and utterly.
Firstly there is the routine chaos caused by Alby’s fever disrupting his sleeps and appetite. Alby hasn’t slept properly or eaten properly all week. Today he didn’t nap until 4:30pm when we were out walking Percy and then stubbornly stayed asleep for two hours, only waking when I took the rain cover off the pram to check he was still breathing. Dinner at 7pm, bath and 8pm and bed by 9pm wasn’t quite what I had in mind!
His appetite for food and milk has been low and even though they say “don’t make mealtimes a battle ground” seeing my lovingly cooked meals dropped on the floor rather than into the mouth can be testing.
And then there is the chaos around the house. For the most part Alby has been in my arms or clambering up my legs making even the simplest chores a challenge. When he can be left to play he does so in one way and one way only – through havoc. This morning he emptied his toy box, turned over the Sprog Box, emptied the DVDs until the telly, pulled the books off the bookshelf, pulled the trays and chopping boards from their cubby hole and ended by tipping Percy’s water bowl over himself.
Often such destruction during time sensitive periods causes me to utter my favourite word this year “Really?” (as in “Really world, that’s what you’re going to give me?”) But today, as he splashed in the water bowl he had the biggest smile on his face and after days of heavy eyes, red cheeks and grizzles I couldn’t care less.
What all this means though is that the little Mark voice in my head saying “Clean as you go” has been nagging in vain as try as I might to put a dent in the chaos it just hasn’t worked. However, tomorrow we have the day to ourselves and I’ve got a date with Lord Derek of Dysonton and his buddies. By Sunday when Arthur comes over to play, my house will be own again – watch out Chaos theory, I’m coming and I’m armed with pledge!
No comments:
Post a Comment