Wednesday, January 28, 2009
England Trip Wrap-Up #3: Exeter
More photos from our England trip...the below pics are from another couple days we spent in Exeter, the town in Devon where James and I used to live. We met up with two of James' friends, Ben and Duncan.
Friday, January 23, 2009
England Trip Wrap-Up #2
I took this picture the day before we left for London (update to come on that soon). It's my new favorite pic.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
sickness and health
Poor Dorian. We made it back from England last Monday night and all went straight to bed. Tuesday was spent unpacking and catching up. Dorian got reacquainted with his toys while we disassembled his cot and removed his changing table. Now he sleeps on a mattress on the floor and has a cool tent from his Nana and Granta to play in. We didn't leave the house once, except to the store for groceries.
The next day, conscious he needed to be out and playing, I took him to a nearby playgroup. He seemed fine: toddling about, playing with the toys, reading books, watching the older kids...business as usual. I sat with him at the play-dough table, but became a bit too engrossed in making sure the guitar I was making was accurate. When I finally looked down Dorian had his face slightly scrunched, like he was about to cry. I picked him up and then stood. As soon as I did, a milky wave of baby sick emanated from him, all over my T-shirt and trousers. Somewhat dazed, I ran with him to the restroom to clean up. I presumed he'd swallowed some dough, so tried to reassure the other parent by shouting, "it's the plasticine! it's the plasticine!" Later I found out no-one here knows what plasticine is (trade name apparently), so I probably seemed a bit weird, covered in vomit and shouting incoherently. When I got him to the bathroom and half presentable he turned back into Mr Creosote and covered me a second time. I emerged from the restroom worse than when I went in and took a weak, fragile looking Dori back home.
After a bath and some food he seemed much better, so I figured I had been right about him swallowing some play-dough. He seemed well enough for me to take him to Gymbouree in the afternoon. I thought he would be excited to see his friends and all the Gymbouree stuff, but he just lay in my lap the whole time. I put it down to jet lag and the shock of his morning adventures (he'd never vomited before) so we left early and he went to bed.
The next morning he seemed brighter, but on changing his diaper it became obvious all was not well. It was filled with a pool of bright yellow diarrhea. Some had spread up his back and down his legs, but the worst was yet to come. As I held him up to put on a clean diaper I accidentally squeezed his stomach and he emptied out onto my lap! With a vomit shower one day and a diarrhea bath the next I was feeling like I'd passed some sort of initiation to becoming a real dad. Actually I was feeling pretty wretched, but Dori was worse so I couldn't complain.
For a week, he's not been eating much and producing a lot of watery poo. I've done a lot of washing (clothes, sofa covers duvets etc) - that stuff gets everywhere. There has been some farting that was probably picked up by the California Geological Survey and our appartment has been smelling like a chemical plant. Worst of all, we've not been able to go out much.
Thankfully he was back to his old self yesterday (just in time for the heat wave to give way to rain). It's been a looong week.
The next day, conscious he needed to be out and playing, I took him to a nearby playgroup. He seemed fine: toddling about, playing with the toys, reading books, watching the older kids...business as usual. I sat with him at the play-dough table, but became a bit too engrossed in making sure the guitar I was making was accurate. When I finally looked down Dorian had his face slightly scrunched, like he was about to cry. I picked him up and then stood. As soon as I did, a milky wave of baby sick emanated from him, all over my T-shirt and trousers. Somewhat dazed, I ran with him to the restroom to clean up. I presumed he'd swallowed some dough, so tried to reassure the other parent by shouting, "it's the plasticine! it's the plasticine!" Later I found out no-one here knows what plasticine is (trade name apparently), so I probably seemed a bit weird, covered in vomit and shouting incoherently. When I got him to the bathroom and half presentable he turned back into Mr Creosote and covered me a second time. I emerged from the restroom worse than when I went in and took a weak, fragile looking Dori back home.
After a bath and some food he seemed much better, so I figured I had been right about him swallowing some play-dough. He seemed well enough for me to take him to Gymbouree in the afternoon. I thought he would be excited to see his friends and all the Gymbouree stuff, but he just lay in my lap the whole time. I put it down to jet lag and the shock of his morning adventures (he'd never vomited before) so we left early and he went to bed.
The next morning he seemed brighter, but on changing his diaper it became obvious all was not well. It was filled with a pool of bright yellow diarrhea. Some had spread up his back and down his legs, but the worst was yet to come. As I held him up to put on a clean diaper I accidentally squeezed his stomach and he emptied out onto my lap! With a vomit shower one day and a diarrhea bath the next I was feeling like I'd passed some sort of initiation to becoming a real dad. Actually I was feeling pretty wretched, but Dori was worse so I couldn't complain.
For a week, he's not been eating much and producing a lot of watery poo. I've done a lot of washing (clothes, sofa covers duvets etc) - that stuff gets everywhere. There has been some farting that was probably picked up by the California Geological Survey and our appartment has been smelling like a chemical plant. Worst of all, we've not been able to go out much.
Thankfully he was back to his old self yesterday (just in time for the heat wave to give way to rain). It's been a looong week.
Friday, January 16, 2009
England Trip Wrap-Up #1: Equation Kids
We spent a lovely day with Kath and Sean, James' former Equation bandmates, and their twin girls Lilly and Poppy. The girls are 3.5 months older than Dorian and so cute. We had a wonderful time catching up with everyone, and Dorian was smitten with the little ladies. We ate a nice meal prepared by Kath (though I'm still not convinced about trifle) and took a very cold walk. Gorgeous views by their house - check out the pics at the end of this post.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Missing his cousins...
This morning Dorian was walking around our bed (trying to persuade us to get up at 3am) when he saw a photo of his cousins, Rowan and Josh. He spent a lot of time with them in England and loved every minute. So, he picked up the photo and kept pointing at their faces and talking. I'm not sure what he was saying, but it was the same babble each time. He did this for a couple of minutes and then started kissing the picture! I don't mind admitting I choked up a bit. He misses them as much as we do.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Home!
We arrived in San Francisco safely at 4:30pm yesterday. We all went to bed at 8:30pm California time last night and woke at 2:30am this morning. Now we're unpacking. Love jet leg!
More later, and more pics too!
More later, and more pics too!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
London
OMG, I love this city. I want to move here. It is absolutely amazing.
We fly out of Heathrow tomorrow morning and arrive in San Francisco at 4:30pm on Monday. Fingers crossed for an uneventful flight and a well-behaved little boy (and Dorian too).
More in a couple days.
We fly out of Heathrow tomorrow morning and arrive in San Francisco at 4:30pm on Monday. Fingers crossed for an uneventful flight and a well-behaved little boy (and Dorian too).
More in a couple days.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Last Leg of the Trip
We're off to London tomorrow morning, where we will stay with my friend Sam until we fly home on Monday. I can't wait to spend some time in London!!! Shopping and bars are on the agenda (James will be watching Dor most of the time to give me a little break).
I will post loads more pictures upon our return to the US.
See you all next week!
I will post loads more pictures upon our return to the US.
See you all next week!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Night Out with Friends
We went out to a pub and dinner on Saturday night with James' best friends since junior high school, Nick and Hanlon. I know both of the guys well - we used to go out a lot with them when I lived in the UK. We met Nick's newish girlfriend Sarah for the first time and she was lovely. She happened to look a lot like Sarah Palin so I found it coincidental they had the same name. Hanlon's wife is also called Sarah, so it was all very Twilight Zone. It was great to see Hanlon's wife again...we've always got along really well and she is a nurse so we had loads to talk about.
In addition, Sarah and Hanlon have a daughter, Erin Rose, who is exactly 2 weeks younger than Dorian! We saw them last year when we visited, but of course, Erin has changed tremendously since then (as has Dori, of course). The kids were so cute together. At one point, Dorian ripped Erin's smock off and she started screaming. It was hilarious. Lots of jokes stemmed from that incident. Then Erin started feeding Dorian bits of food and Dorian loved it, just grinning away at her. More jokes ensued. Maybe the two will get married someday, who knows? We had a wonderful night out, and I even got a little tipsy on wine (for the first time in months). Apologies for some of the glare on the pictures - we're still trying to figure out all the nuances of our new digital camera.
In addition, Sarah and Hanlon have a daughter, Erin Rose, who is exactly 2 weeks younger than Dorian! We saw them last year when we visited, but of course, Erin has changed tremendously since then (as has Dori, of course). The kids were so cute together. At one point, Dorian ripped Erin's smock off and she started screaming. It was hilarious. Lots of jokes stemmed from that incident. Then Erin started feeding Dorian bits of food and Dorian loved it, just grinning away at her. More jokes ensued. Maybe the two will get married someday, who knows? We had a wonderful night out, and I even got a little tipsy on wine (for the first time in months). Apologies for some of the glare on the pictures - we're still trying to figure out all the nuances of our new digital camera.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Devon Gig
James played a gig tonight at his local pub, the Bridestowe White Hart. Well, I suppose it was more a jam than a gig. But it was still cool to feel like James had come all the way from his rock star life in San Francisco to his tiny home-village in England to play for his childhood friends and neighbors. I felt like the hip Californian wife watching my husband with our gorgeous child in tow. Sorry to sound full of myself and family, but it was a great feeling after all the fatigue this week. :)
My husband is so talented, it blows me away. I always forget because I hear him play all the time. But then I'll see a packed pub cheer for him (or a festival of 10,000!) and I remember how damn good he is. His family is incredible too. James played with his dad, uncle and two family friends. They were all amazing. Hannah, James' sister, came up and sang a couple songs too. That chick has a stunning voice - check out her band (and James' dad's band) here.
A good night was had by all. Dorian was such a charmer, smiling, dancing, listening to his Daddy play. He loved James' friend Ben (who is an awesome pianist) and kept wanting to sit on his lap. And, he even fell asleep at the end!!! WTF???? He won't sleep at home, the tiniest freaking noise wakes him up, but he'll sleep at a loud gig?????? I don't get it!
My husband is so talented, it blows me away. I always forget because I hear him play all the time. But then I'll see a packed pub cheer for him (or a festival of 10,000!) and I remember how damn good he is. His family is incredible too. James played with his dad, uncle and two family friends. They were all amazing. Hannah, James' sister, came up and sang a couple songs too. That chick has a stunning voice - check out her band (and James' dad's band) here.
A good night was had by all. Dorian was such a charmer, smiling, dancing, listening to his Daddy play. He loved James' friend Ben (who is an awesome pianist) and kept wanting to sit on his lap. And, he even fell asleep at the end!!! WTF???? He won't sleep at home, the tiniest freaking noise wakes him up, but he'll sleep at a loud gig?????? I don't get it!
Exhausted
This trip has been HELL with regards to sleep. I am still jetlagged. Dorian is all over the place. He has slept worse here than ever before. He refuses to go to sleep for naps or at night. He wakes up every hour or more in the middle of the night, screaming. He is not sick. His teeth have come in. His routine is all off, I suppose. I am so tired. I am so tired of making excuses for him. I am so tired of the crying. I can not believe I have this child who is perfect in every single way, and yet all I can seem to focus on is his lack of sleep. Sleep deprivation is horrendous. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. This sucks. This really, really, REALLY sucks. Are we still having a good time? Of course. But I am spending more than half the daytime catching up on the sleep I'm not getting at night. I feel awful saying this because my inlaws are doing such an amazing job of making us feel welcome, but I can not wait to come home. I can not wait to get Dorian back on a proper sleep schedule in his familiar surroundings and be able to take him outside and for long walks (he screams every time I try to take him for a walk here - too cold, I think). I can not wait to go back to his Gymboree classes and playdates. I am sooooo glad we came on the trip because it is very important for James to see his family and friends and for Dorian to know his British relatives. But this is awful!!!
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