Another 2...

Last, but not least - these were the two pictures they sent home for me to chose from... Have picked the one where he's smiling with his mouth open. XXX

Jake's school photos...

OK, I have to say it - isn't he just the cutest thing ever?? I know he's mine and all and I know I'm very biased (aren't we all?), but I could just EAT him up!! Man - how am I possibly supposed to pick one of these to have printed?

Small mercies...

I managed to get Jake to swallow his antibiotic last night and this morning and he's feeling much better for it. I tried to hide it in very chocolatey chocolate milkshake, but he picked up what I was trying to do after one sip and told me it was gross. Anyway, told him that he had to have the medicine and that he could chose how he took it - either from the teaspoon on its own with nice milkshake straight after, or by us forcing it down his throat with a syringe again, or in the milkshake. He saw the milkshake as the best option, although it took him about 2 hours to drink 50mls. I did the same thing for him this morning and it went much faster - whoohooooo!! Success at last. I am the winner!

Well, today is my father-in-law's 59th birthday. Happy birthday, Dad #2, I hope that you have a wonderful day. That said, I'm pretty sure that he doesn't read my blog, so what's the point? On a not-so-good-note, he's off to see the doctor today, with a swollen leg that they think might be a thrombosis, so fingers crossed that he's OK. We were supposed to be going up to Cafe Chameleon for a family dinner tonight, but I'm not sure now whether that'll be happening...

XXX

What to do...

Well, today I can relate to how Pia and Dave were feeling over the weekend - Jake has had a fever on and off all weekend and I've been treating him with paracetamol to keep his temperature under control and kept him off school yesterday. Before I got home from work yesterday though, my mom took his temperature again and it was over 40.5 deg C. I rushed home and made a doctor's appointment, but could only get one for 5pm. Needless to say, he was also running 20 mins late. Jake was very good at the doctor and, besides threatening to puke everywhere, let the doctor do all the checks he needed to. Turns out that my child who says he doesn't have a sore throat has tonsillitis. The solution - antibiotics. This is great in theory, but try getting a sick 3 1/2 year old to swallow some bitter tasting muti. It just isn't happening. I've tried everything - from gentle persuasion to forcing it down his throat with a syringe whilst holding him down with his nose blocked (he still managed to spit it all up). I've made up stories about the medicine being a monster and the paracetamol being spiderman (it's red) going to chase the monster down his throat into his tummy. I've even threatened taking him to the hospital and warned him how sick he's going to get if he doesn't take it. This morning I ended up in such a bad mood with him over it. Honestly, I'm in a complete panic, I don't know how to get him to swallow this vile tasting stuff. The doctor's warned about the dangers of rheumatic fever and I know that Jake just has to take the stuff, but won't. Every now and then he succumbs and has the paracetemol, which at least keeps his temperature under control, but the infection's not getting treated. He just will not listen to any reasoning though (must be the little bull in him) and I'm at a total loss over what to do. I'm going to have to bother the doctor again for an alternative. I wonder if you can teach a 3 1/2 year old to swallow tablets? Why don't they just make medicine taste better? It must be made by men. Without kids...

Hope everyone else's kids are behaving like little angels!

Love, A worried mum xxx

Tomatoes...

This is the last one, I promise. Just some photos of Jake enjoying his veggie garden. He picked his first tomato yesterday and was too excited to wait for it to ripen fully on the shelf before eating it. His strawberry plants seem to be finished bearing berries for now, but his beans have got flowers on and everything else seems to be growing really well. We found a watermelon seedling growing in the garden, so have potted that too. He's still loving every moment of it and can't wait to get digging and scratching when I get home from work. Anyway, with the price of tomatoes as they are at the moment, I think we're all looking forward to Jake's juicy, home-grown ones. Just a few more photos...

XXX Jake's first tomato... Grow tomatoes, GROW! Jake contemplating the meaning of life in his garden...

I'm on a roll...

Might as well get my life (and you) completely up-to-date while I'm about it...

Last weekend, we took Jake to the Cape Town Military Tattoo at the Castle. Although it was freezing cold and we had to snuggle under warm jackets, it was a really fabulous experience and Jake loved every second. It's a bit of a rip-off of the Edinburgh Tattoo (down to the lone piper at the end), but it was really great to have it in Cape Town and to see our men all dressed up and taking part. There were various bands, horses, skits, live gunfire & canons. Although it's got room for improvement, we'll definitely go again next year.

Just some photos to share of the evening. Unfortunately, it was pretty dark inside and my dad's digital camera (I don't own one)doesn't have a strong enough flash...

All the military men lining the entrance into the castle... Jake & I checking out one of the canons with the Serg. Sorry, my dad cut off the top of the mountain... Going in with my mom and Jake...

Congratulations!!!

To my super-duper-clever friend, Caroline: Congratulations on passing all of your exams!!! You have worked so hard throughout the last year and it's been a real challenge adding a tiny baby into the equation, but you've exceeded all our expectations and you are an inspiration to all who know you. I know that you will take the time that you need now, to relax and enjoy your gorgeous baby girl! Well done! I'm so proud to be your friend!! Love you lots xxx