Today is Isabel’s 1st birthday. This time last year we were all on tenterhooks, after several false alarms early on, bleeding, prem labour and then an ECV my 3rd grandchild was born at home. Yesterday we had the family birthday party, there was a huge amount of food, an awful lot of it coloured a vivid pink. Izzy took her first steps last Thursday and took pleasure in showing everyone how, if you move one foot, then the other, you will fall over very quickly! She is fascinated by the twins, double the opportunities for sticking fingers in eyes and bashing heads. After repeated admonishments about using them as her personal punch-bags she crawled off, grabbed a (pink) balloon and was overjoyed to discover that she was allowed to bang them around the head with a large object and all anyone, including the twins, did was laugh.
It’s odd to remember that when Izzy was born we did not know that there would be yet another grandchild that year, let alone two. This morning I baby-sat for the boys whilst daughter and Amy went to the dentist, and I really don’t envy my daughter, or anyone else, who has twins, it is absolutely non-stop. One is happy and content to lie on his playmat, the other one is bored, wants entertaining or some milk. You get No.2 settled and previously happy little man starts demanding attention. I have found a good diversionary tactic, take their nappies off and let them have a kick around. That was working well, then Louis decided to show off his rolling skills, at the same time as having a sneaky wee, so Nanny didn’t know what was happening until he rolled onto his back again and the fountain became obvious, liberally showering him, Jamie and the carpet. What will it be like when they’re crawling?
Back to work tomorrow. I’m anticipating that my tray will be absolutely full of yet more directives from ‘on high’, audits that need undertaking and communications requesting a breakdown of stats. Completed my end of year stats before my holiday so at least that nightmare is over, hopefully. What I really am interested to know is why, if we have to complete monthly stats and send them to some poor data entry person via our manager, we then have to complete end of year statistics of exactly the same information. Have they not heard of Excel spreadsheets and the amazing ‘wizards’ that would, at the click of a button, produce all the figures they want in an assortment of formats? I really don’t don’t know why I question all the duplicating of information and tasks, it is the NHS after all.
A Midwife's Muse 