Birthday

It was Markus's birthday today, his 54th. I got up early to do the washing and do some baking before the day got really hot, but faffed around as usual and got behind time. Got the washing out early nevertheless. before nine, but when I got back from hanging it out Markus was sitting up in bed and watching TV, feeling nauseous again. His being awake made it difficult to prepare his birthday presents. I wanted to print out some of his photos and iron them onto 2 new cotton jackets I bought yesterday. But the printer didn't work right. I struggled and struggled: he asked what I was doing and I told him I was having trouble printing . 'Show me what you want to print' he said. Bad situation. 'I can't', I answered, thinking madly. 'Then I can't help you' he said, offended and grumpy. In short, I had to tell him I wanted to print something for his birthday present. Ok, situation defused. He decided he might like a cup of soup ... later. I made the soup and he fell asleep whilst I was making it. Whilst he was sleeping I finished the baking, washing, hoovering, etc. Fed the cat about 5 times, lost my glasses, cultivated lots of fruit flies in the kitchen by forgetting to empty the juicer. Decided I was really tired and would like to take a little nap sometime before the family come. And still the printer wouldn't work. Markus woke up, and I asked him if he'd like the soup. ' Later, I've just woken up'. A half an hour later I asked again - with the same answer. Getting frustrated and worried, I said I wanted him to have the soup before the guests come. Fatal mistake. No food can be taken under pressure. We almost divorce, then make up again. It's his birthday, after all. And he feels nauseous. Guests come - actually, only 5, but that's all we asked and all we can both cope with. Even so I feel stretched again - trying to prepare presents, talk to people, organise food and drinks - I think I'll explode. Markus drinks his one cup of cream soup - all he will have today. I'm getting so worried, pain and no food to speak of since Tuesday. He's so thin. Lost all the weight we painstakingly got onto him. Markus gets ratty if I talk about the hospital - we are both on edge. The guests come, and after my initial running atround like a hen without a head, feeling overwhelmed and incompetent and like going into the cellar and crying, things smoothen out. Everyone pitches in and helps, the presents are prepared and wrapped, the kitchen is clean, everyone has a drink, Markus is entertained. Markus gets his presents - one, from us all, is a flight in a two seater plane for later when he feels better. The printed jackets work out fine and he likes them. The food is eaten. The young people mix and get to know each other. People laugh and joke. Markus enjoys it, even though his temperature is up a fair bit and he doesn't feel well. It worked, birthday over, I'm tired but happy, it's 2.15 am and I think I'll fall inrto bed. Tomorrow we have to get hospitals and doctors moving. Tomorrow.