When we awoke Easter morning it was to a dusting of snow... of course we all got out in it and tried desperately to make snowmen ( snow midgets more like) and in general enjoyed ourselves.

We made ourselves a lovely Easter treat of little chocolate nests and little eggs inside. The preschool here did it and I knew that my son would enjoy the treat too so we made some more.. Here are the two little rabbits showing off their wares.. We had a lovely Easter lunch of Roast chicken with a pork and sage stuffing, roast potatoes, glazed baby carrots, exotic mushrooms and roasted winter vegetables. Yum. I wish I had a plate of that now as I'm knackered and starving. Knackered because DD and I are just back from Gambado ( and indoor play place) where we went with the preschool. Far too much screaming and running around for my taste and that was just the adults !! We spent three hours there (!!!!) which was plenty for me. Tomorrow is a school nature walk to a local lake and a picnic lunch if the weather holds. Today it is gloriously sunny ...... who knows what tomorrow will bring !

Well, No I haven't kicked the bucket... just been very busy with a whole lotta conjunctivitis and viral infections. I thought I was off duty.. but it was just the beginning. Poor hubby in fact got a very bad case of conjunctivits which was not initially responsive to the drops but we finally got it under control after about a week. Now, things are back to normal..whatever that is...lol. In the photo you can see some homemade Easter cards the kids and I were making. If we don't get them into the post by tomorrow though, no one will ever see them in time for Easter !!! Speaking of Easter, the Easter bunny and I have decided to have a secret little egg hunt in our back garden. We are going to go out late saturday night and hide the eggs ( plastic ones, filled with chocolate, etc) and so first thing when the kids open their eyes we can usher them outside to see what the Easter bunny left. Thats the plan. We all know what can happen to the best laid plans. Things like torrential rainstorms. Unexpected snow falls... lol.. and living in England has taught me to prepare for anything so the back up plan is a hunt in the house. Wish us luck. :o)

Ah yes, the saga continues.................. we have conjunctivitis in the 3 year olds eyes, a UTI in the four year old, erm.. pipeworks and also some type of viral lung/coughing thing. Oh, and lets not forget the vomiting and dry heaving. Wouldn't be a hospital ward without 'em ! I have been to urgent care three times, the doctors on call office once, and on the phone with triage nurses twice. I am spent. Last night was the worst of it.. ds was coughing continuously from 7:30pm when we put him to bed until 10:15 pm when I went up to find him dry heaving and shuddering in his bed, tears streaming down his eyes ( the memory of which can bring me to tears now !). He couldn't bring up anything as his stomach was empty since he isn't eating either. My hubby got concerned and phoned the NHS direct to speak to a triage nurse but then passed the phone to me as soon as she started asking technical questions ( like when is the childs birthdate..ha ha ). Once she heard we had just begun a broad spectrum antibiotic that afternoon for a suspected UTI ( blood, protein in urine) she knew her job was mostly to reassure his fraught parents and she was wonderful... reminded me that I am doing all the right things and she went through my sons condition system by system. She congratulated me for having the foresight to prop up his mattress with blankets/towels so that he could breathe easier and also for staying on top of his continuously spiking high temperature. She told me that if he has some bacterial infection lurking that my broad spectrum antibiotic would get it and if it was a virus that all we could do was wait and keep him hydrated. Bring on the ice lollies.. thats popsicles to all y'all over the pond !! Today he seems slightly better although it meant keeping him home from school and after a week of them being home on half term I was gagging to send them back ..lol !! Unfortunately, thats been the jist of my lovely last four days... other than the fact I found my dd some lelli kelly and timberland shoes at the local fleamarket in NEW condition for a song !! Woo hoo ! Hopefully my stint as a pediatric nurse will soon be drawing to a close...........all my fingers and toes are crossed over here on the ward !!
Grateful things :
1. I am grateful for the person who invented ice lolly's... how else would I get so much orange juice into my son when he's so poorly ?
2. I am grateful for calm and cheerful triage nurses
3. I am grateful for foolish fleamarket vendors who don't know ( or care ) what the value is of what they are selling !!