Back and befuddled

Wednesday night - 3 hours in the middle of the night awake with inconsolable toddler with mild fever and some discomfort. Possibly teething, as we don't know how many teeth she has or has yet to get, though she seems to have somewhere between 16 and 20.

Thursday - up for 2 hours in the night with less inconsolable toddler who willingly drank about 300ml of water, maybe more, and all the breastmilk I could hold. Higher fever though.

Friday morning - left house at 8:45 to get the ferry. Arrived ferry terminal about 9:30, to find that ferry was cancelled due to lack of seaworthy ferry after an accident earlier in the week. Apparently it was "on all the news" but that didn't help me. Alternative offered by ferry company? Coach to Dublin city centre that night, ferry to arrive Holyhead approx. 1 am, after which I had a train journey to make. Uhuh. Luckily, a freshly employed Rob meant I could call airlines and get a seat on a flight.

Friday afternoon - I got the last seat BMI had available for the day, with Linnea on my lap, no anti-DVT stockings, and a poorly baby. It was business class and we were next to a Daily Mail reader who could also stretch to many, many repeats of the timeless classic, Dear Zoo. The Guardian reader on the other side of the DM reader was also keen to help babysit but couldn't really get that involved. Both men were enchantged by her, told me often how good she was, bright as a button, etc etc. She was very chatty.

Business class on BMI was cheaper than Economy on Aer Lingus. And we got a meal, though we could only eat the fruit because of dairy. It came with lots of toys - a cup, a glass, a knife, fork and spoon, a paper napkin, and a cardboard packaging piece that became a crown very rapidly.

Saturday Linnea's fever was all gone, and she had a few tiny rash spots. Sunday the rash is all over and apparently a little itchy but not madly so. She mainly wants to eat biscuits but agreed to porridge. She's also drinking gallons.

I am bloody, bloody tired. When Linnea is well I'll write about the good bits, including the "my nose!" incident on the bus.

Cancer Research: Race for Life

I was reminded this evening that although I'd found a partner, I had yet to register for the race.

I will be waddling, 7 months pregnant, in Reading, Berkshire, UK, on Sunday 4th June 2006. 5km isn't far, and I often walk that much in a day, but it will be more difficult pregnant and without a break. (I will be taking a break if I need one).

You can sponsor me online at http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/ailbhe (I know, I'm so predictable when it comes to choosing usernames). I have set my target low enough that I can honour it if I don't make anything from milking friends and family.

Why do it? Because I have a mother, and four sisters, and a daughter. Because breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer. Because there may one day be a vaccine to help prevent cervical cancer. Because I am alive, and I like being alive. Because breast cancer kills men, too. Because I don't do much for other people, ever, and this is something I really can do. Because there isn't a prostate cancer march for me to go on and I'm too lazy to organise one. Because because because.