Web Log for January 2006

This month has been overshadowed by Clare's Dad unergoing quadruple heart by-pass surgery on the 6th of January. The surgery was planned in advance and that's why we went home on December 30th to see Peter before the operation and for Clare to stay behind for a couple of weeks during the initial stages of his recuperation.

Eddie was spoilt rotten by his Grandparents and by his Aunties and Uncles as he enjoyed a second Christmas of present opening. In the short period before Peter's operation we managed to see all the family and got to Manchester to have a look around. Granda Christine was still recuperating from a very nasty chest infection and another virus on top of that from Christmas so we really didn't do much. The week I was home flew by and before I knew it I was travelling home with Eddie and Grandad back to Houston. By this time Peter had had his operaion and was still in intensive care. It was a very worring time but Clare was happy to be close at hand with the rest of the family to help in any way.

Obviously Grandad Ken was full of himself to be travelling across the Atlantic to the U.S. for the first time. Eddie was a blast and showed Grandad the ropes before promptly falling asleep for much of the first leg to New York. The transfer through customs to the Houston flight was like an episode of It's a Knockout with a grumpy Eddie in a pushchair and having to half strip off (well belts and shoes) to pass through the security check. We were last on the flight with about 10 seconds before the plane pushed away from the gate. The rest of the journey was a breeze and we arrived on time.

The news about Peter was a worry in the next few days as Dad adjusted to the new environment. His recovery was a little slower than expected and it was suspected that he had had a minor stroke. However because of the recovery from the surgery it was unclear what the effects of the stroke were. This took the shine of Dad's visit. However Clare, Eddie and I have to say that Dad coming over was a god send. Without doubt he worked his b**lls off looking after Eddie as I went back to work imeadiatley after returning to Houston. Every day Dad got Eddie fed, dressed and ready for school or played with him all day around the neighbourhood. He worked extra sepcially hard has I came down with a bad chest infection that gave me laryngitis for the first time ever. So for Dad's first visit I was hole up in bed straight from work unable to speak for about 5 days. Nevertheless we did get to give Dad some flavour of our life here. It has been a very mild January (in the 60's to 70's) and there was in impromptu cook-out in the cul-de-sac whilst one of neighbours teams were fighting for a place in the American Football Superbowl. Dad could see for first hand how these events pan out with everyone helping out. Another day we managed to get to go downtown to see some of Houston oldest houses juxtaposed against the 21st Century skyscrapers. In the evening we went to see the Houston Rockets basketball team.

After Clare delayed her stay at home for a further few days she returned back home to Houston much to Grandad's relief after Eddie had run him ragged. At least he managed to get a few days rest and relaxation in the pool and jacuzzi. We even managed to get a couple of BBQ's in as well. Before we knew it Grandad Ken was returning home causing Eddie a lot of upset. I don't think he's had as much attention as he has had these two weeks. Hopefully we can persuade Grandma Chrissie to make the trip now. Grandad Ken wrote a journal whilst he was here - click this link to go to it.

The rest of the month was spent pottering around the house as we all worried about Peter's condition and Clare got over the stress and fatigue of the flights and I got over my chest infection. By the end of the month we had some positive new in that it appeared that Peter was making a slow recovery and the initial diagnosis of his stroke were that there were no apparent major physical problems.