Baby Arthur

Well, I had an exciting day! I saw baby Arthur for the first time in the flesh. Such a thrill. Liz had said she was visiting Dawn and should she walk round with Arthur? I’d said we’d see, as John had had an immunoglobulin infusion this morning and we wouldn’t be sure how he felt. As it turned out, he didn’t feel up to much other than sitting in his armchair and resting, so I walked round to Dawn’s instead.

Arthur is a lovely little chap and a very long baby. Going to be like his Dad – very tall, I expect. But the best thing was seeing Liz. She is such a dear god-daughter and such easy company. We nattered for ages. I’d half-expected to be there for half an hour, but in the end, we talked and talked until I realised that a couple of hours had elapsed. Enjoyed myself immensely. Can’t wait for lockdown to end and have another go at it – perhaps in Liz’s own home. That would be a bonus.

This morning, though, was another trip to the hospital for John’s three-weekly infusion. Up early, to have time for a bite to eat and for John to have his nebuliser with the new drug for his chest, and to be in Birmingham for nine o’clock.

Once I’d dropped John off, I nipped to Michael and Danielle’s to take a stair gate. It transpires that a second stair gate is needed to prevent Thomas from climbing up the stairs, which is his new favourite thing to do. I didn’t stay, as I was keen to get back home – even if it would only be for an hour and a half – to get some admin done on Mum’s affairs. There are still a few loose ends to tidy up – the final bills for her care when she was in her flat, for example.

Mind you, I took one look at Danielle and thought I ought to stay and perhaps walk Thomas round the park. The poor girl looked exhausted. Apparently, Thomas hadn’t slept well last night and was in bed with them for most of it – along with William who decided to join in, too. “No, it’s OK,” Danielle said, “I’d rather Thomas slept in his own cot. Michael is upstairs trying to get to him go off to sleep now.” When Michael came down a minute later, I thought he, too, looked pretty ropey. Clearly, no-one had had a goodnight’s sleep.

Anyway, I came away and settled to the few admin tasks I’d planned which, naturally, mushroomed into something a lot larger and other paperwork, that I’d brought from the flat, presented itself to be sorted. I spent a pleasant couple of hours finalising a few things and had the satisfaction of feeling that it was a job well done.

I zoomed back to Birmingham to collect the ol’ man, and he said the infusion had gone well, so I was pleased about that. We came home and had lunch, whereupon I left him to his own devices and hot-footed it round to Dawn’s for some baby-gazing.

This evening was Quiz Night, which is always good. Thoroughly enjoyed it again, and was dead pleased with myself – I managed to answer one or two of the questions. *Does a little dance* I even managed to remember an answer to a question I’d learned off the Antiques Road Show. Whoop-whoop! 1843. Now what was the question, do you think?

John is still tired, weary of all the medication he has to take and very breathless. The respiratory nurse phoned this afternoon, belatedly, to tell us that John needed to do a test of the new medication. Too late. He’d already started it on the advice of the pharmacist from the QE. Ah….. “Is he OK? No side effects?” she wanted to know. “What particular side-effects should we be looking for?” I asked. Severe breathlessness….. oh….. more than before? We’ll keep an eye out for that then.

With regards to the COVID situation, we are still stable at the moment. Some scientists are urging caution as we ease the lockdown rules and the Indian variant is doubling the count of people that it’s infecting each week.

Today’s figures though, are: 2,284 people infected in the community today; 11 people died with the virus in the community and 4 on 10 & 11 May in hospitals, so there’s hope yet.

Take care everyone. God bless.