A week in reflection – Asthma, Aches and (dead) Animals

Last week was one of those roller coaster type of weeks… plenty of ups and a few downs, in a seven day stretch that felt more like ten.  On Monday myself and the children headed to Wicklow for the annual Summer week with Nanny and Grandad.  For the children, the excitement of spending a week with beloved Grandparents with the bonus of exploring their lovely old garden, meeting cousins and the joys of a few regular, local walks and activities.  For their mum, a chance to catch up with family for a few days before taking a rare couple of days away from the children to rekindle an old pursuit.

All went well on Monday, we arrived in time for lunch and as the Sun shone for the rest of the day we took to the garden and I got to spend the afternoon watching my children do what children do best….. play! Climbing trees, riding bikes, rolling down hills and swinging on the old fashioned rope swing.  A day full of fun and fresh air.

Three tired children tucked into bed that night and I was sure they would sleep soundly until the next morning.  Unfortunately that was not the case.  At three in the morning I had to lift my seven year old from his bed as his asthma kicked in and his breathing rate soared.  I had brought him to the doctor before we left to be sure that the heavy cold he had was nothing more.  Two days before I was told his lungs were completely clear, now the wheezing and the rapid breathing spoke a different tale.  I spent an hour trying to calm him, with one hand on the inhalers and the other on the car keys, ready to bolt for the hospital if required.  Eventually I felt he had improved enough to go back to bed and I lay watching him until morning arrived and I could bring him to the doctor. Asthma confirmed and a course of steroids and antibiotics prescribed. 

 

Did you know… Ireland has the fourth highest prevalence of asthma in the world?

Tuesday was spent in a tired and worried state, watching my son wanting to run and play with his cousins one minute and then slumping on his mother’s lap the next.  My plans to finish my week’s blog quota went out the window and my proposed departure the next day did not look too likely either. The steroids made him hyper and agitated so another restless night for both of us.

Wednesday morning dawned a little brighter.  Cautiously I acknowledged that his breathing had improved.  He seemed a much more alert, happy kid.  My parents urged me to pack my bags and head off, they would look after him and his siblings for two nights and everyone would survive.  My son even told me he was well enough for me to go!  I was still unsure at lunchtime, until I saw his Nanny open a second tin of beans to stave off his renewed appetite.  Leaving my parents a two page list of medical advice and instructions I headed for Limerick to meet up with hubby and join the last day and a half of an Aikido Summer school.

It was with anticipation and fear that I undertook this course.  Although I have put in many hours of training in my day and I help my hubby run a kids Aikido club in our local village, it has officially been ten years since I last did any formal training!  Rather than choosing to dip my toe in to an evening class I somehow found myself signed up for eight hours of training!  Encouraged by a lovely group of people that welcomed me back on to the mat I muddled through and managed to complete most of the remaining course.  The sense of achievement was equally balanced with the sense of PAIN!

Apparently…

…”there are 642 muscles in the human body”…

…I think I ached in every one of them!  It was lovely to have crossed the line and be back training again and despite the pain there seemed to be a good level of muscle memory left after the ten year gap.  Now that I have done this I am determined to return to training on a more permanent basis.

Smiling through the pain with hubby (left) and Sensei John Rodgers -Shehan (centre), head of IAF

So Friday afternoon I managed to ease myself into the car and make the journey back to Wicklow and a heart warming welcome from our three lovely children.  Despite the reassurance from my parents and the regular phone calls it was lovely to see for my own eyes that my son was recovering very well.  The rest of the evening’s entertainment was unwittingly provided by my attempts to sit, stand and manage the stairs.  My very unsympathetic family were in stitches at my demise!

Saturday morning and our last day before returning West and I was determined (despite the aches) that we finally make a family trip to the National History Museum …. otherwise known as the Dead Zoo! The trip did not disappoint… Caer said it was the best Museum every and the children darted from one animal to the other with unwavering enthusiasm and delight.

This display shows the skeleton of a human, a chimpanzee (common), a baboon, an orangutan and a gorilla.  I asked the children which one they thought was most like the human’s and after a bit of consideration they all decided it was the chimpanzee.  They were spot on as the chimp is the most closely related species (genetically) to us!

I couldn’t resist this one… with a name like Culann I had to take this photo when we came across the Irish Wolf Hound.  The Wolf Hound was bred to hunting wild boar, elk and wolves that would have been native to Ireland at the time.  They were also commonly used as guard dogs… as mentioned in the Cu Chulainn legend.

Finally, a photo that leaves us all a bit red faced!  This is the last Golden Eagle in Ireland, it was presented to the Museum by Captain Boxer but the story goes that it was my children’s Great, Great, Great Uncle who shot it on Clare Island, Co. Mayo and then gave it to him.  At least we can take solace and encouragement in knowing that the project to re introduce these beautiful creatures back into Ireland is doing well.

So that was our week… fun filled, action packed and presenting us with some great memories to add to the wealth already generated this Summer.  Now safely back home in the West, my aches are subsiding and I can get back to my blogging. We will no doubt find some local exploits to fill our last and final week of Summer holidays… for when you keep your eyes open to it, there is always an adventure waiting around the next corner!