Friday started off as a totally normal day.  Bella had her class assembly so I went in to school to watch, collecting a happy Charlie from his class to sit with us and enjoy it as a younger sibling.   The assembly was fantastic  – the kids were so grown up and displayed such blossoming confidence.  I said my farewells and went on to meet a friend at London Bridge to discuss her new shoe Collection.  As I stepped out of the tube my mobile rang..It was the school – Charlie, who I’d just literally said good bye to wasn’t feeling well and had a temperature what would I like to do? I rang my parents and they said they’d collect him and in the mean time the school nurse gave him some Calpol.  Phone rang again..my mother – they’d picked him up but despite the Calpol his temperature was still high, he had a red face, was not looking good and was complaining of a sore neck.  What should they do? It was friday, the doctors surgery was closed..we both could hear the warning bells..I said take him to the paediatric A & E at our local hospital and I’d meet them there.  Better safe than sorry. By the time I got there my laughing child was curled up asleep on a hospital bed radiating heat and looking very small.  It was one of those times when you know you’ve reached a cross roads – to recovery or a darker place.  We were lucky..it wasn’t meningitis but a nasty virus – the fever broke and Charlie started responding to us, but my heart so goes out to any parent with a sick child..it’s a gut wrenching place to be.  And even when the worst’s been avoided – we all got to go home with Charlie under strict observation –  the potential weight of it stays with you for a long time..I swear The Husband and I have looked worse than him all weekend with eyes like piss holes in the snow just from the sheer depletion of emotional energy.

But when all’s said and done….it’s a price you’re more than happy to pay.

Laters, Kate x