Whew!
What a rough few days we've had. Our little Thanksgiving dinner was almost ruined by the fact that Rotisserie chickens were on sale that day for some reason and I waited late in the day to even think about going to get one. So we just decided Marc would stop on the way home from taking Cerys to gymnastics. He had to go to two stores to find one. And it was a little scrawny one, but it was good! The girls are such picky eaters right now that I could just cry, so I think they only ate bread rolls and a few green beans that I made them eat. Sometimes I even wonder why I cook at all. They wouldn't even eat the sweet potato casserole, that is like pure sugar so I'm baffled. Marc and I enjoyed it though.Anyway, the minute Cerys walked in the door from gymnastics she told me her ear was hurting. She never complains of her ears, so my first thought was just that she hit her ear or something at the gym. Marc said she was upset the whole way home about it. I gave her some Calpol (Tylenol) and she complained again at bedtime. This time I was sure it was stall-tactic. She had no fever, her ear looked okay to me and so I made her stay in bed. About 3am I hear her crying really hard and saying "MY EAR, MY EAR." Sure enough, she was burning up and had a fever. I administered more Calpol and tried to get her back to sleep. She finally fell asleep, I'm back in bed, baby is kicking around like crazy so I could not get to sleep. About 15 minutes later I see Marc run to the bathroom....and I'm thinking surely not!!!! Yes, he had a stomach virus all night and into the next morning. I forget to mention that Bailey had the stomach virus on Monday night into Tuesday morning, she and I laid on her floor all night while I tried desperately to get her to be sick in the bowl. It was a long night with her. I thought we had all escaped it, but it got the best of Marc. So far, Cerys and I have been fine. I never seem to get these stomach bugs- and I'm NOT complaining. Anyway, I didn't sleep much Thursday night between Cerys crying and Marc being sick. We got up Friday and of course I knew Cerys would not be going to school but when she came out of her room, she had drainage from that one ear all over her face, poor thing. So I called the doctor as soon as they opened and we were able to be seen first thing that morning. She's now on antibiotics and feels a lot better!So we have pretty much been home all weekend recovering from all the sickness. We did manage to decorate, that took all of about 20 minutes since we have very little in Christmas decor and our tiny little fake tree, well, the girls think it's great and I guess that is all that matters?We were able to visit the other hospital this afternoon. It is a midwife led unit as well, just across town. This hospital was built in 1933. It was nice, much smaller, only 5 rooms I think, but they all have a double bed in them for "partners" (this could mean boyfriend or husband here) and their own bathroom en suite - which was really nice. They have one birthing pool if needed for labor and/or delivery. There are only 2 drawbacks we see-and one is the time to get there, it took us 22 minutes on a Sunday afternoon, very little traffic. My midwife does not think I will have time to get there. (But they also want you to wait until the last minute possible, until you can't take the pain anymore or they will send you home) Marc will be a nervous wreck probably. And two, if anything goes wrong or there is intervention needed, I will be "blue-lighted" (taken by ambulance) to the main hospital here behind our house. Apparently, it can get across town in 3 minutes she said, that is some impressive driving folks! As soon as we got in the car to go home today, Marc was already wondering what route they take and how fast they must be going! So now we have a decision to make. I'm going to hopefully visit the midwife led clinic here at the main hospital behind our house, apparently they have moved it since I had Cerys and my midwife wants me to see it too before making my decision. I have an appointment on Wednesday to see her and she wants my decision made by then. I know some of you might be thinking that I should just stay at the main hospital- and we might just do that- but I would really like to be in a clean, less stressful environment where I will be taken care of. And I felt very calm and impressed by this other hospital today. Even though it is across town.We also had to make a decision regarding schooling for the girls for next year. I know, we just started this year but the forms were sent out and we had to request places already. We have visited several schools that are not in our catchment area (you still have to apply for any school, even if it's in your catchment) and I have really struggled with this decision, but we are both in agreement now and feel a peace about the school we requested- which is the same school she is in now. Bailey will be starting Nursery School next September, when Cerys starts full-time Reception! The other school we were considering does not have a Nursery for some reason and we really felt strongly about having both girls together in the same school. There was a parent meeting this week and we got to meet the Reception teacher and see the curriculum and ask whatever questions we wanted.I did venture out on Saturday to get some maternity trousers and after waiting in line to try them on, they didn't fit. I was desperate, so I just went and got the next size up and bought them without trying them on. Never a good idea. I got home and tried them on, still pretty snug. I was about to cry when I remembered a lady at the check out next to me on Saturday saying how she felt this particular store's sizes ran quite small. Yes, I agree. I was horrified by the size I bought and even more horrified when they did not fit. So, another trip to town for me this week to return them. I didn't even tell you about the mess with the Gap and their maternity jeans did I? I'm pretty mad at Gap right now and might not shop there ever again. Or at least until I've had the baby. :)Well, I'm just rambling now. I better get myself in bed- ready for another week! I know this was random, so well done if you got this far. :)