Strange Machines

It is official. I have caught Jack and his Dad’s stomach flu and it is certainly unpleasant.

I have been fighting dizziness, a totally stuffed nose, and a terrible headache. I took a Loratadine this morning but still feel awful.

Fortunately Jack is better. His poo is now back to normal and he only pooed twice since last night. His appetite is back and he’s off playing again.

My head sure feels awful. Going back to lie down again.

Thank Grandmas for my mother and father who will be caring for Jack while I rest.

It was a tough day for us today.

Jack woke up cheery as usual but it soon turned sour as he began to weep for no reason I could discern and started clinging onto me all day. I tried my best to placate him but only when we got to lunch did he cheer up, seeing his whole family there with him.

After my Mom fed him her super home-cooked meal, he became Mr Squirmy and I was once again reminded how I lost so much weight, from the sheer frustration of being unable to enjoy my meal. Thankfully, SuperDad was there to rescue Jack and I finally finished my lunch.

We took him home for a nap, and thankfully he was happy in the car the moment I fed him a slice of wholemeal bread (new secret weapon). He got up after nursing and began cruising on the chairs again. Finally he got tired and sat down crying. I held him, nursed him, and we all fell asleep for an hour.

Off we went at 5pm to Novena Square where MPH was having a 20% storewide sale. I remembered they had some great children’s books and wanted to pick up a few more for Jack. It was sufficiently crowded for some atmosphere but not so much that we felt suffocated.

We explored the new Square 2 just behind Novena Square and found the stores rather interesting. There was lots of snack food too. Dinner was prata at Ah Mei’s and then we went back to MPH to buy the books.

I decided I wanted to start cooking for Jack, so we stocked up on some groceries and went home. Again, Jack was placated by the bread in the car - my fingers were grubby so I used the plastic bag it was stored in to feed him.

However, since he only had one nap, he was grumpier when we got home. I quickly put his food to boil and bathed him. He was howling by the time I dried him off and asleep the moment his lips touched my nipple.

His Dad reckons he still has two more days to go before his tummy virus clears. Tired as I am, I try my best to stay cheery. He must be feeling so much worse.

Last night Jack woke again for an extended period of time around 4am. He couldn’t fall asleep again despite my efforts. While sitting up after another failed attempt, he began pooing! Another 5am poo. I dragged myself up to change him while he, decidedly in a good mood, began patting his father (yes, he recognises the large log of blanket beside him as Dad).

After a change, he fell back asleep in my arms again to wake late morning with another poo, strangely the same consistency as yesterday’s, which makes me wonder if this night-waking is possibly the result of a tummy bug he picked up. He’s been pooing several times a day and it has made me ponderous.

He’s also been very attached to me in the day, even refusing my Mom. Perhaps, I suspect, it is a combination of both.

Last night Jack and I slept early and if you’ll excuse the pun, he slept like a baby compared to the previous nights when he woke up weeping from the pain of his tooth erupting.

I remember him waking up once and trying to settle again to bed. Another time, this time documented as 455am, he woke up, sat up, and pooed (made the ugh sound with a serious look on his face). I changed his diaper as he cooed contentedly and we both settled back to sleep.

My Mom commented how cheery he was today. She even let him run around naked twice and ride his cousin’s bicycle in his birthday suit. He was so amused and chuckled when I shrieked in delight.

He has pretty much mastered the stairs, speeding up like a bullet whenever he can. We each take turns following him very closely and he has never even faltered.

Since I can remember, he has always been very attached to my brother. Maybe it is the family smell or the fact my brother always makes funny faces at him, but yesterday my brother took him to play upstairs with his daughter in the playroom and Jack was so thrilled he refused to let go of his uncle’s leg when it was time to go home. Today he was happy to pat his uncle’s leg with affection.

I’m glad his painful teething time is over for now and look forward to another day with my sweet happy baby.

Jack is down with flu. I should have really known better. His cousin has been coughing for a week now. I should have kept him away. His nose had been runny for a few days, and he’d been sleeping shorter periods at night. More 4.5+4 than the usual 5+5 or 6+4. Sunday he was more subdued and his nose ran even more.

Sunday night he woke several times with a crying burst but when I got up he was fast asleep again. Finally at 6am, I decided to wake him for a feed, feeling particularly dehydrated myself. His nose was full of snot. I cleaned him up and fed him. He fed well, unlike his last feed at 1145pm. He smiled several times, and then slept again. At 10am another cry woke me. He was asleep again but I picked him up for a feed. Once again he ate well, and stayed up to play.

Last night he slept 9 hours! Then again, maybe I was just too tired to wake up for a night feed. He nursed fairly well - I was quite engorged, and after, treated me with happy smiles, coos, and ahhs. Back in his cot for a while, he was talking to himself quite cheerily, then later cries for a suckle and nap in Mom’s arms (more like on the MBF so I can type).

Boy too, is sick. He has a blocked urinary tract which can be fatal if unchecked. I’ve blogged about how it started on Five Cats Blog and what happened at the vet clinic and after.

His appetite has been poor but it could be the new c/d food he’s been put on or his house arrest in my room. He ate quite a bit from my hand yesterday but nothing today. The good news is he is peeing in puddles! With his own poo pan in the bathroom, it’s been easier to track his pee schedule. He’s been quite happy napping by my feet, on the rug, or in his Dad’s sock closet, although once in a while he does get wanderlust and sits by the door looking at me forlornly.

As for he and Jack, it’s almost as if he understands the baby needs me a lot more, physically and emotionally, so he sits or lies close by quietly. He knows Jack’s smell is my smell. Sometimes I let him sniff Jack’s hair or hand, and he does so with an acknowledging nod.

Cat experts have often noted how cats know babies are small humans and give them a ton of leeway they normally wouldn’t accord big humans. I’ve noticed this in all the kids. Buffy particularly, who is perpetually jealous of anyone who takes her Daddy’s attention away, is protective of Jack. Perhaps he smells like her Dad too!

I hope both kids get well soon. It’s always terrible to see your children ill, but it melts my heart to see how brave and upbeat they have both managed to be - Boy, selflessly sacrificing Mom-time for baby’s needs but remaining close to us like a guardian and constant companion (I can imagine the wonderful days and nights ahead when the cat-kids comfort an ill Jack and vice versa), and Jack despite an uncomfortably runny nose and cough, never without a smile for anyone watching over him.