I should be marking...

...but I just can't. I'm exhausted and I truly can't face it. I know I should, since yet more marking will be rolling in tomorrow, but seriously, I can't.

Three members of the department have been off sick this week which has meant that those of us still standing have had to do cover lessons for them. Very tiring, and of course the extra teaching has meant that I'm behind with my marking and preparation. (This is going to be one of those weekends where I work pretty much non-stop, I fear.) Plus I had my PGCE contact session last night after work - 45 minutes to get there, 3 hours there, and 45 minutes home again - which always leaves me shattered the next day.

On an unrelated note, Emily had her checkup with the endocrinologist today. I was sad not to be there, but we thought it best that Bobs take her as I fear that the only other healthy member of my department would have burst into tears if she'd been told that we'd need cover for my classes as well!

Amazingly, at 16, Ems is now of average height, at 165cm (or just under 5'5"). She's still quite slender (her weight's at the 5th centile and her height's at the 25th) but her upward growth is slowing and her weight gain is increasing, so it's all good. Her endocrinologist said that at this point, it's up to her whether she wants to stay on the growth hormone. If she does, she will probably get another inch or two. If she stops, this will be it. Emily says she thinks she may as well continue; the shots aren't a big deal to her and she'd like another inch. When she does stop (perhaps in a year's time?) the endo says she'll need to have another stim test after three months, to see if she'll need growth hormone as an adult. (Some people don't make enough GH on their own to maintain a healthy heart and other muscles). I still feel grateful every day that we live in a country with socialised health care. I know the NHS is not perfect, but so far it's been pretty damn good to us. Emily's medicine costs about £630 (or roughly $900, or R9000) a WEEK. But we get it free. I'd rather pay high taxes and have everyone benefit from good healthcare and good education than take the short-term benefit of the lower tax-rate.

It's very quiet here right now. The girls have just gone to bed, Stephen's all the way downstairs, and Bobby's out tonight, at an Indian restaurant in Croydon, saying goodbye to one of his team members who's going back to India. Though it's not all that much of a goodbye, really, as Bobby'll be seeing him in about a month... Best I don't dwell on that thought, though. Too depressing.

In an attempt to keep as many endorphins as possible flowing, I'm going to get up early and do my third walking/running session at six tomorrow morning; I'm quite looking forward to it, actually! I must admit that I have my doubts as to whether I'll manage when the program switches to longer running intervals, but, like I said before, I'll give it a shot!