'I just get on and do it.'

• When I became ill
• Take every day as it comes
• My son's brilliant!
• The chef of the house!
• I'm happy at home
• Where to next?

Years ago, I worked as a general labourer until I hurt my back in a fall. I suddenly started suffering from pains in all my joints and arms. I had loads of scans and, since they didn't show up anything obvious, I was labelled a liar and a cheat for claiming compensation when I obviously wasn't ill.

Luckily my wife Claire and I persevered. We did some internet research and found that a fall such as the one I had could cause sciatic arthritis. Armed with this info, I went to my doctor and demanded the relevant tests. The tests proved positive and showed I had arthritis in three-quarters of all my joints. I was offered physiotherapy and hydrotherapy, as well as injections to help relieve the pain. I was just glad to know that they finally believed how much pain I was in and that I wasn't putting it on.

I haven't been able to return to work because of my condition, especially in the winter months, when I can only use part of my hands. So I have become a dedicated house husband. Being a parent is enough hard work but when my arthritis flares up it's very tough, especially since the drugs I am on make me very tired. But you have to just get on with it and do it don't you? There's no point feeling sorry for yourself. I take every day as it comes and just plod on during the bad ones, after all I get a couple of hours of quiet when the children are at school or nursery, unless I have medical appointments. You have to as a parent - or who else will do it?!

My son Alex has cerebral palsy. He's a brilliant lad - he can't walk but he can crawl like a demon! He zooms around the house and has such a great attitude - he's always on the go, is happy and doesn't let his illness get in the way of his fun - he does what he wants within his limits. He starts mainstream school in September, which is amazing really as he doesn't have as much verbal ability as other children his age. He'll be fine though.

That said, life with Alex can be hard work. He doesn't sleep very well, which could be because of the medication he's on for a skin rash. He used to itch himself raw but the medicine is making him better now. The problem with him not sleeping (apart from the fact that I have to be up with him and I miss out on my sleep!) is that he gets drowsy in the day, which has an impact on his life to a certain extent. We have decided we have to be stricter with him and have imposed a bedtime routine to wind him down at the end of the day. Fingers crossed he will be a better sleeper soon!

Alex is also dairy intolerant so he needs a special diet to eliminate any trigger foods. That wouldn't be so bad but my son Jordan, 12, has cystic fibrosis and requires, ironically, a diet that's very high in fat! He needs everything that we shouldn't have lots of - margarine, milk in potatoes, etc. As a family we need to watch our fat intake so I am always planning low-fat dishes for the rest of us … but there's only four rings on the cooker! I basically try to get round this by planning our meals around Alex and then adapting them for everyone's needs. Jordan's doing very well though - he's nearly 7.5 stone and does competition swimming. As you can see, he also has an excellent attitude to life!

If I am honest, I admit that I get tired. The night wakings make my joints ache badly and my arthritis flares up. But I enjoy staying home and looking after the kids. Even though most stay-at-home parents are mums, I don't find this isolating at all. Obviously there are times when I get stressed and fed up but I get so much in return that it doesn't matter. If I ever do decide to go back to work (I have been studying computer training skills) then fine, but I am happy where I am at home.

Where to next?

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