Shrove Tuesday

Yep, tried the boys with pancakes for their tea tonight as it's Shrove Tuesday. Samuel was not impressed at all and went into 'lip lockdown'; Jacob tried a couple of mouthfuls but wasn't that into them...I had a great time, as did my waistline...or lack of it!

Well, no more scary spiders seen since last Friday but it has been raining every day since then so I reckon they're all hiding, trying to keep dry. I'm still on edge and can't stop thinking about nasty creepy crawlies...I've gone back to checking under the toilet seat before I go each time!!! There is a real opinion divide on spraying as some people say to do it but others think it just brings the 'nasties' out from their hidy holes. The person I spoke with at pest control said it won't kill spiders unless they actually see them and spray them direct on the day...in that case I reckon it hardly seems worth it. I think we'll just sit tight and wait to see if we spot any more.

We've had a busy few days.

Jacob began his first term of 2008 at Sylvanvale (centre for the disabled). He attends an early intervention class on a Thu & Fri during school term time. He is in a group of 6 children of similar age, all developmentally physically delayed but no others are deaf...there again, neither is he any more!! He has two different carers this year and seems equally as content with them. He has actually settled a lot quicker than last year (cried every time he went for a whole year) but I'm wondering if this is cos he's a little older and knows the ropes now. He seemed to have a great time on Thu &Fri; didn't sleep the whole time he was there (8:30am-2:30pm) and consequently was absolutely jiggered when he got home. Needless to say, Samuel missed him and followed me round for the two days like a little shadow. Alex just got on with things as usual...just like the third child always seems to, as everyone keeps telling me.

Jacob was so tired on Thursday that whilst he was bum-shuffling round the kitchen he fell over and hit his face on the corner of the skirting board and gave himself a proper shiner on his left eye. Poor, poor wee thing. I felt terrible but I need to give him his independence and know it's important he shuffles round without me at his side constantly cos I can't and won't be able to be there for him all the time. Of course he got over it within minutes, it just looks impressive!

Took Alex to get his 6month immunisation shots done on Saturday and unfortunately he had a nasty reaction to them which began Sat. night. None of the boys have every reacted to their shots previously but poor Alex was in a bad way for 36hours - temperature, runny nose, puffy eyes, loss of appetite, swollen legs where the shots had been, crying and wanting to be held constantly. Thank goodness it was the weekend so Bren and I could take it in turns at holding him. He seems to be OK now.

Well, we're back to the weekly appt.'s at the Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre (SCIC) tomorrow. Jacob will get his current implant/hearing tested and adjusted if necessary. We go back next Tues. for the right ear to be switched on and then have a follow-up on the Wed. I'm incredibly excited and hope desperately for his sake that he has the same hearing in his right ear as his left. He's coming on in leaps and bounds with his hearing at the moment and is making some great sounds. He is also recognising LOADS of sounds and voices which is fantastic progress. He really seems to be enjoying hearing and has quite a laugh about certain sounds too - kisses, whistling, certain songs by The Wiggles, the hoover! It's a laugh a minute here in the Carroll household.

OK, it's bed time now...