How the day ended

Linnea and Louis went to HIS house for their sleepover₁₉₈, since Linnea loves sleepovers and doesn't need us. She sent me two heart-shaped cards with personalised messages inside (one penned by Rob and one by Maria) because I said I'd miss her ("I love you. I miss you. I don't miss Louis. Ailbhe you are very tired. Now you have to look after Emer as Dad is here. from Linnea.") Rob brought them home with him after dropping her off.

Emer went to sleep instead of eating dinner, then woke up and deflated like mad. Stinky.

Then we had a bath and she washed my back, to pass the time₁₉₉.

Now she's wide awake, which isn't as bad as it sounds, because Rob is up anyway because his work has gone pbth.

Rob and I miss Linnea like a hole in the house.

And I found various online clothing sales and bought some things for the children₂₀₀, who are growing, and myself, who are shrinking. Now I feel terribly guilty, because I'm not entitled to clothes. Hmph.

But Emer did representational drawing. It's so cute.

Feeling Poorly

My mother hates the word "poorly." I love it - it's a useful one to go along with ill and sick, with different nuances. But she hates it, because of a card her English cousin sent her little sister once.

The card said "I'm sorry to hear you've been poorly."

The little sister had died of meningitis a few days previously.

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I'm sitting here looking at the children's Little Red Books, or Personal Child Health Records.

Linnea has had vaccinations for (or against) Diphtheria/Tetanus/Whooping Cough/Polio, but not Hib/Men C, aged 2 months, 3 months, 4 months and 3 and a half years, when she also had a Hib one. She had her first MMR just before she turned 2 years old. She's due the booster for that, I think.

Emer had Diphtheria/Tetanus/Whooping Cough/Polio, Hib/Men C and something called Prevener LT at the same time, at just over 2 months, 3 months, and 5 months. She had a Hib/MenC jab at 14 months, and the MMR and Prevener at 17 months. She's not due anything more until she's 3 years old.

They appear to be up to date with the NHS schedule, though googling for Prevener didn't give me much information. I keep meaning to phone the doctors and double-check what they have and haven't been immunised for because they have different schedules, things changed after Linnea was born. In fact, the schedule changed after Emer was born. And, of course, I was operating in a haze every time I went near a medical professional, which doesn't help.

They've both been exposed to but not contracted chicken pox and hand, foot and mouth disease. Rob and I both got the BCG and Rob got a polio vaccine and I caught rubella. I had measles and whooping cough as a toddler; I faintly remember the measles but I wasn't very ill with either one. I was shocked to learn that Roald Dahl's daughter had died of measles, when I read it in the dedication of one of his books.

I've had chickenpox three times. Rob isn't sure he ever has. I hope the kids inherit his immune system, and not mine.