Karl’s Asylum

Yep, Isabel is 16 weeks old as of yesterday. It’s flown by.

Glad we took lots of pics – you don’t see the growth day to day. Looking at her now and then, it’s remarkable. She’s still remarkably good tempered and patient, and she’s advancing fast. She’s a strong little tiddler, and now she’s discovered her voice and her toes, it’s getting really funny to be in the same room as her.

When Jem and Izz were in Hospital last week, this place felt wrong. I came home at 9pm-12am, and it just felt empty. I started sleeping down here on the futon, as it didn’t feel right to be upstairs in the bed we all share. It was too quiet, and it wasn’t fun. I got a fair insight into where the cats sleep though..Hex lies between the panels on the double radiator, fudgie sleeps on the beanbag.

Now they’re home again. Jem’s recovering OK, and Izz seems to have got a cold, and a routine that’s very messed up from all the early AM wakeup in the hospital. We’re awake at 5am, sleep is light and sporadic, and she looks exhausted. She’s quite happy though. :) It’s coming up to another probable growth spurt too, which is always..interesting.

I decided in the hopsital to overcome one of my great fears..that of carrying Isabel. It scares me as my disability means I’ve very unbalanced on my feet, and clumsy. I was petrified of dropping her. As it turns out, apart from making my arms and legs hurt a fair bit, she loves it! She just relaxes and starts poking and squeezing my jumper/neck. I’ve got a beastie “lovebite” on my arm as well, where she decided it was similar to a boob and had a good long chomp on it.

I’ve also discovered the joys of babywearing, using a sling to effectively tie and support the baby on my chest, leaving my arms free. It’s great. Today we were able to do the washing up, vacuum the house and make cuppas etc, while Izz was sleeping on me. Upstairs, downstairs, dyson on – she didn’t stir. Better than the pushchair for shopping and busses too! Makes me ache, but it’s worth it.

By 11am, we’d done everything..how ace is that? They liked it in the hospital too – I did circuits of the place with Izzy to send her to sleep, and had LOADS of people coming over to see us.

The downside? We’re all recovering now, we’re all a bit more tired than we’d like. Got loads of things left to do today as well..in fact I should go and make a start,,

Well…what a year was 2009, eh?

3 house moves, 7 months of utter stress in flat #2, the hellhole.

Started the year owning a P reg Astra, had it totalled by an idiot, ended the year in an X reg Astra with an M reg as a backup.

Started the year recovering from pregnancy mishap, thinking “no more kids for a while”, ended the year with a beautiful daughter.

Moved from one old work building to a brand new one.

and many other smaller things to boot…it’s quite shocking when I look back at it! Overall, I’d class it as a win..I was annoyed with losing my much loved and looked after P reg, but the X reg isn’t a bad car either. The N reg was..a trying experience, we’ll see what 2010 brings there.

The last 6 weeks have been the longest of the year…so much changes when you have a child, and so quickly! I’m thinking differently, planning more, being more careful, looking ahead and working towards it, and..well..it’s given me a whole new outlook on things. PCs? Technology? Good, yes. All-important? Hell no. Family first, no arguments. Not just new members, but family in general..I have a list of things I intend to do this year that I’m not about to disclose (otherwise I’ll get nagged at, heh). I’m looking forward to getting stuck in there.

One BIG sad event this year was the loss of my grandmother, at a good old age. A definite character who looked after me when I was in and out of surgery, and taught me a lot about how to “make do and mend”, and not succumb to the modern “throw away” lifestyle. She probably didn’t realise it mind. I wish she’d had the chance to meet Isabel, I really do. I never expected to have kids, what with one thing and another…but she’s here, she’s healthy, and I’m still the genetic oddball of the family, so it’s all good.

What i shall be doing is telling her all about nan, and trying to encourage a similar attitude. I have several bits of nans furniture that’s been well used for the last 50-60 years, and bar a few repairs will almost certainly outlast me – you just don’t get that quality anymore.

As to the whole 2000-2009 decade thing…I remember sitting watching the millennium celebrations with Tom and Seal after coming back from the Benbow and thinking “Millennium dome? Waste of time”. It still is. In 2000 I was single, I owned a C reg banger, I was working 3 jobs part time, sleeping until midday most days, and doing 3am-7am connect 4 rallies at Riks house, followed by breakfast at the excellent Dinky’s Diner in Shrewsbury. Living at home, bumming around living a relaxed life, and spending Sunday nights at the excellent New Inn with Rik, Lynn, Bod, Cheryl, Tom, Seal, and occasionally Anthea and/or Phil.

I then started a 9-3 job at Madeley Court, I met a lot of excellent people including Jem, and things started to settle a bit. Fast forward to jem and me living at mums, then moving out to our first flat in Jackfield..then from there to Clarendon, and the rest as they say..is history! It’s taken me to a place I couldn’t have predicted back in 2000..and what a place it is. Have I changed? Oh yes.

However, I’m hoping to at least partially regroup the old team for another meal and drink at the New Inn..some things just HAVE to be done. I’m looking forward to catching up with people 10 years on…and so help me, if I can find Seal, I’m going to give that man a big kiss, because damn it all, I’ve missed him. All I’ll say, and I’ll only say it once…thank god for Facebook and Social Networking..I’ve reconnected with so many old friends, it’s quite scary! :)

So..there we go…damned if I know what 2010 will bring, but bring it on..