Well, living in the northwest and having to be different from the rest of the country, we have just finished our half term holiday. I think the rest of the country have been back a full week.
Anyway, this year we decided against popping over to the Alps for a little ski break, I just couldn't be bothered packing all the gear, and as we are all capable of going down the black runs it seems a little tame trying something other than Everest.
Well ok, that's an absolute bare faced lie. I neither have the gear or the interest in ski-ing. And I was being honest saying I was capable of going down a black run - flat on my arse!
What can anyone possibly find great about ski-ing?? Being out in that cold white nasty stuff called snow and ice, WHY??? When it snows here, everyone moans and whines about it, so why spend an absolute fortune flying out to more of it??
So, we weren't jetting off for a bit of apres ski. The closest to ski will be a trip to Asda and I will get a 4pack, the French Set style ski yoghurts are my fave.
So what did we do with our week off?
MONDAY
Well of course there was the obligatory ill child - this time it was Matthew. Was a little worried about him, after a few days of saying (in a tone that sounded remarkably like my mum when I was ill) its just a cold, a bit of fresh air will do you good, when he started sleeping constantly I decided to take him to the docs. Result one ear infection and a course of anti-biotics. He's much better but he's still ghostly pale. They all went to the dentist - all have lovely teeth, even Madeleine who seems to eat nothing but sweets lol. Harry was none too impressed, William sat with his mouth so wide open you could see into his lungs, Madeleine stood and opened her mouth for a split second and Matthew was a little star. I am determined my children have no fear of visiting the dentist.
Tuesday
Not wanting to surpass a Riley outing to the dentist, Tuesday dawned with a mass trip to the hairdressers for the half-termly haircuts. I went a bit radical with Madeleine and her scraggy long locks have been replaced with a stylish cute little bob, William and Matthew are sporting short back and sides and Maria (being so loverly) offered to snip the 3 long bits from cherubic Harry's head. Well you would think she'd snipped his ear off. He went bananas and screamed blue murder. He absolutely and completely hates anyone doing anything remotely similar to being held down - must make him think of his traumas in Birmingham. He actually made his first shoe fitting look tame!!
Wednesday
We all went on a family outing - and took Dan's car for its MOT We had genuinely thought it ran out at the end of February, but upon just double checking it ran out on the 9th. Aaarghh, Dan has been driving illegally for over a week. Well as expected as we are extremely lacking in the spare cash market it failed. One hundred and ninety five squid failed.
Thursday
Family outing again to pick up Dan's heap, sorry I mean car. And as it was a fine sunny day I succumbed to the kids -you promised we could go to the park- whines and took them to Happy Mount Park in Morecambe. It was freezing. Harry was wrapped up in his snowsuit and snuggly asleep inside his footwarmer in his pram, the other kids were running around and playing on the swings, and were complaining they were hot in their coats, and I was stood keeping careful watch over the cherubs, freezing my everything off. I could bare it no longer and as the ice cream van was unsurprisingly not there the bribe of 'you can have an ice-lolly when we get home' worked rather well and we hot footed it back to the warmth of the car.
Friday
The final Riley outing of the week was a trip to Asda. Their whines of 'its not fair why do we have to come' were rewarded by their nanna treating them to a trip to the big yellow M eaterie. Yes the highly nutritious Macdonalds. My reward that evening was that Dan started his weekend of night shifts. I had planned on updating my blog this evening, but in usual fashion I fell asleep on one of the sofas, so with a dead arm and pins and needles I dragged myself of to the delights of solitary sleeping with the leccy blanket all to myself!!
So here I sit on this freezing saturday night with a choice of sofas to sit on whilst I update my blog. I am actually sitting in my usual spot, on one half of the sofa, not even stretching out. The 3 youngest Rileys are all snugged up in their beds, the oldest enjoying the last few mins of his Xbox and I can already feel my eyelids taking on their lead load and trying to clamp shut.
BUT I have a lot of blogs to catch up on, I will probably be reading into the early hours. You really should take a peep at my sisters blog, it is a right riveting read. She has a talent for always finding the right words. Go on, take a peep.
Well one of my worst fears happened this week and Harry fell head first off the sofa. The sickening thud was awful, but thankfully he's fine. He has no concept of height/depth so to him just crawling forwards is fine, NOT. I was just out of reach. I usually make him lie on his belly and slither off as soon as he's climbed on (I would rather stop him completely but he needs to learn) but he was off before I could grab him. He didnt half sob, poor little thing. Has it made him stop and think 'don't climb cos I may get hurt?' has it heck. He's been on the sofa more times than I can count. Even I am getting sick of hearing 'Down down Harry' lol
Well its 2 weeks to 2 events, my birthday closely followed by Harry's next EUA. Both I hope will pass by uneventfully. I am absolutely far too old for birthday parties and it brings me a year closer to the naffness of being in my forties. And to be frank, if my fortieth happens in the same way as Rachel's did then I would rather forget it. Still I've got time til I get there. As for Harry's EUA, this will be 8wks since his last. I am still very nervous about this gap, especially as his follow-up letter from the last stated that his next EUA is scheduled for 5-7 weeks. So whilst I fully expect nothing to be there, there is that little part of your mind that starts up the what-if games and mine has started such a game.
Anyway, the half term break is nearly over, I didn't win the lottery tonight but I hit the jackpot every morning when I see the faces of my little angels beaming back at me. No amount of money could buy that.
Saturday, 23 February 2013
Wednesday, 13 February 2013
What will you give up?
Happy first day of Lent. A day when people traditionally give up something for the next forty days. Mine has usually been chocolate. How original!
However, this year I have decided to do something different.
Harry wants to give up cancer for Lent, that to me is unacceptable. I want him to give it up for life. You could think if there was a God, whose message in the Bible is always to protect children, that he would spare these innocent little mites from cancer and its devastation it leaves behind. However, I am not going to start a religious debate, I was just thinking thats all.
Harry amazes me. He has been through so much and yet he still smiles. I am still scowling a week after stubbing my toe lol. All my children amaze me and to be the centre of their affection is amazing. There is nothing nicer than them falling out over who is going to sit on my knee to tell me they love me. Harry has even started pulling at them to try and get them off. He's a proper mummys boy.
So I have decided to give up shouting for Lent. I never mean to shout, its probably 2yrs of built up stress that contributes to it, but when you've asked them a zillion times to get their coat and shoes on your voice does tend to get a bit shouty. I always instantly regret it, seeing their little brows crumple into a frown hits home like a hammer.
So I will give up shouting. I am prepared to ask a zillion and one times now. Maybe I should start talking in whispers so by the time I get to a zillion and one my voice will be loud to them, but my normal voice lol and not technically shouting.
What is amazing that it has been 2 years since Harry's 8wk baby check and I raised my concerns over Harry's lack of making eye contact. I'm not going to dwell on the what-ifs and living in the past. What happened, happened. Harry for some inexplicable reason was picked to be one of the 40 children to be diagnosed with Retinoblastoma in 2011. I cannot change what happened, I wish it had never happened, but it did and we have to deal with it.
Harrys life was saved and the cancer brought under control to a point they can manage any new growths by laser. Each EUA brings the 'I hope there's nothing new and the existing tumors stay in remission' game and thankfully at the moment that is what is happening.
We live for today, I do not know what will happen next month/year and should he need invasive treatment again like chemotherapy then so be it.
So at the moment, I have a wonderful nearly nine year old Matthew, my precious first born. An amazing just turned five year old Madeleine, and my only daughter. My incredible three and a half year old William who makes me laugh every day and my superstar fighter two year old Harry. I am blessed to be their mummy and I count my blessings everyday for each and everyone of them. And I treasure them so much, I am giving up shouting for Lent.
What will you give up?
However, this year I have decided to do something different.
Harry wants to give up cancer for Lent, that to me is unacceptable. I want him to give it up for life. You could think if there was a God, whose message in the Bible is always to protect children, that he would spare these innocent little mites from cancer and its devastation it leaves behind. However, I am not going to start a religious debate, I was just thinking thats all.
Harry amazes me. He has been through so much and yet he still smiles. I am still scowling a week after stubbing my toe lol. All my children amaze me and to be the centre of their affection is amazing. There is nothing nicer than them falling out over who is going to sit on my knee to tell me they love me. Harry has even started pulling at them to try and get them off. He's a proper mummys boy.
So I have decided to give up shouting for Lent. I never mean to shout, its probably 2yrs of built up stress that contributes to it, but when you've asked them a zillion times to get their coat and shoes on your voice does tend to get a bit shouty. I always instantly regret it, seeing their little brows crumple into a frown hits home like a hammer.
So I will give up shouting. I am prepared to ask a zillion and one times now. Maybe I should start talking in whispers so by the time I get to a zillion and one my voice will be loud to them, but my normal voice lol and not technically shouting.
What is amazing that it has been 2 years since Harry's 8wk baby check and I raised my concerns over Harry's lack of making eye contact. I'm not going to dwell on the what-ifs and living in the past. What happened, happened. Harry for some inexplicable reason was picked to be one of the 40 children to be diagnosed with Retinoblastoma in 2011. I cannot change what happened, I wish it had never happened, but it did and we have to deal with it.
Harrys life was saved and the cancer brought under control to a point they can manage any new growths by laser. Each EUA brings the 'I hope there's nothing new and the existing tumors stay in remission' game and thankfully at the moment that is what is happening.
We live for today, I do not know what will happen next month/year and should he need invasive treatment again like chemotherapy then so be it.
So at the moment, I have a wonderful nearly nine year old Matthew, my precious first born. An amazing just turned five year old Madeleine, and my only daughter. My incredible three and a half year old William who makes me laugh every day and my superstar fighter two year old Harry. I am blessed to be their mummy and I count my blessings everyday for each and everyone of them. And I treasure them so much, I am giving up shouting for Lent.
What will you give up?
Monday, 4 February 2013
Am still here!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear Blog
I am so sorry I have neglected you, severely. I can offer no explanation other than 'I'll do it tomorrow' never actually happens. Ok mum, so you were right with that one!
I had so much to write about and yet I never seemed to find that minute, mainly because Mr R seems to NOT have worked a night shift for ages, and that is the time I get precious 'hog the laptop' time.
So, yeah you guessed it Mr R is safe and sound AT WORK hurrah. I have just tucked all the little Rileys into bed, TV turned onto the good stuff and laptop perched upon a cushion on my knee. I know for sure I will have writers block, and all the good stuff will just vamoosh out of my head but here goes for an update.
Christmas was fabulous. The kids were thoroughly spoilt, but were so thankful for everything they got. My fingers were sore from the endles building of toys and lego. When I win the lottery, I am going to franchise a ready-to-play-with-toy range that parents worldwide will kill to buy because, yes you will just remove from the box and it can be played with instantly. No more sodding incomprehensible instruction manuals.
New Year dawned and my beautiful Harry turned 2! OMG how on earth did that happen. It seems like minutes since he was born, well thats a lie really but despite everything thrown at him these past 2 years, he remains happy and living his life to the fullness he can. He seems blissfully oblivious to the word cancer. To him his little life is normal. To me however, he still looks like a baby, and is behind developmentally and in height, but as my sis said on her blog, you cannot tolerate toxic chemotherapy and fight off septicaemia TWICE and still grow and develop in line with your peers. And just to make him turning 2 even more fantastic, he had yet another clear visit. That makes it 4 on the trot, and thats deffo one in the eye of evil nasty cancer. Har Har
Minutes old to 2 years old (thanks Rachie for the images lol)
He has just started the awful process of being statemented. This will forever label him as special needs. To me he is perfect, but to the wide world, he is a little boy who will need help living in todays world. His visual acuity is so bad he will probably learn braille and may need assistance walking round safely (in a clear tidy room in an environment he is familiar with he appears to walk fine. Put something on the floor and he will fall over it it, put him in a strange room and he will bump) I still do not like the idea of this label but if it means he gets whatever help he needs without me having to fight for it then it will be a good thing. The next big thing will be me letting go, learning to trust someone else with his safety is not going to be easy. That has been my sole responsibility since he was born, no one can possibly step up to the mark, well ok Hanty Raychel can.
Anyway, we enjoyed the rest of January, and until the 2nd February, we had a 2,3 and 4 yr old. And then something even more incredible happened. Madeleine turned 5. She is a tall 5 year old. Now just how did that happen. It doesnt seem 2 minutes since she was born, I can vividly remember. Rachel has told Harry's birth story many times. The franticness of him not moving and the bad heart traces. Well Madeleine's was going like a text book delivery. Waters broke at home, it snowed on the drive in, contractions started and progressed quickly (Mr R nearly didnt make it back) and after a few heave-ho pushes out little angel was born. Technically she was an angel as the cord was wrapped tightly round her neck. It took 1minutes and 10seconds (which seemed like a lifetime) until the wonderful sound you need to hear, she started crying and we hae never been able to shut her up ever since. She was a teeny litle dot, and the only thing that contributed to her 7lb 14oz was her little round belly, and she's kept it ever since!
She has grown into a wonderful little girl. So clever, reading marvellously, Wanting to know how everything works, asks a zillion questions a day and is the tallest in her class. Something I always dreamed of being, but it never happened. Yes I am jealous of my own daughter. Happy birthday darling.
William remains my source of laughter. He has an answer for everything. He announced he doesnt want to be 3 any more because its rubbish! Most of the tasks at pre-school are nonsense, so he says. His teachers love him to bits and want him never to go to school.
Matthew is growing into a tall solemn boy. His brain is 2days ahead and he is reading fiction for 14yr olds (checked for suitability of course)
I am so so proud of all my children. They delight me every day. I cannot imagine spending any less time with them, I am so lucky to be a stay-at-home mum. Life is practically perfect. It would be 100% perfect if it wasnt for Harry's predicament. Its leaving an ugly stain on us all, not even Cillit Bang or Vanish can shift it. But we are learning to cover it up so we see it less. Out of sight, out of mind, well sometimes that rule works.
We're trying an 8week break between EUA's. Something I'm not entirely happy with. Yes I'm ecstatic Harry is still stable, but we've always been told lots can happen in just a few weeks. So I am currently playing the what-if game. What if there was something just about to grow at the last visit? A 5wk break would enable them to laser it,but it could possibly grow too large in those extra 3 weeks. I know they know what they are doing. But my irrational thoughts will not let me settle and I seem to be stuck on a merry-go-round. I would rather go every 4 weeks for ever than play the what-if game. These next 4 weeks will drag.
Anyway, I apologise for my absence. I completely understand if you have put me on the shelf. I absolutely deserve to be. But now I have started again, I promise I will update you on the deliciousness of life with the little Rileys a lot more regularly.
With Love from me xx
I am so sorry I have neglected you, severely. I can offer no explanation other than 'I'll do it tomorrow' never actually happens. Ok mum, so you were right with that one!
I had so much to write about and yet I never seemed to find that minute, mainly because Mr R seems to NOT have worked a night shift for ages, and that is the time I get precious 'hog the laptop' time.
So, yeah you guessed it Mr R is safe and sound AT WORK hurrah. I have just tucked all the little Rileys into bed, TV turned onto the good stuff and laptop perched upon a cushion on my knee. I know for sure I will have writers block, and all the good stuff will just vamoosh out of my head but here goes for an update.
Christmas was fabulous. The kids were thoroughly spoilt, but were so thankful for everything they got. My fingers were sore from the endles building of toys and lego. When I win the lottery, I am going to franchise a ready-to-play-with-toy range that parents worldwide will kill to buy because, yes you will just remove from the box and it can be played with instantly. No more sodding incomprehensible instruction manuals.
New Year dawned and my beautiful Harry turned 2! OMG how on earth did that happen. It seems like minutes since he was born, well thats a lie really but despite everything thrown at him these past 2 years, he remains happy and living his life to the fullness he can. He seems blissfully oblivious to the word cancer. To him his little life is normal. To me however, he still looks like a baby, and is behind developmentally and in height, but as my sis said on her blog, you cannot tolerate toxic chemotherapy and fight off septicaemia TWICE and still grow and develop in line with your peers. And just to make him turning 2 even more fantastic, he had yet another clear visit. That makes it 4 on the trot, and thats deffo one in the eye of evil nasty cancer. Har Har
Minutes old to 2 years old (thanks Rachie for the images lol)
He has just started the awful process of being statemented. This will forever label him as special needs. To me he is perfect, but to the wide world, he is a little boy who will need help living in todays world. His visual acuity is so bad he will probably learn braille and may need assistance walking round safely (in a clear tidy room in an environment he is familiar with he appears to walk fine. Put something on the floor and he will fall over it it, put him in a strange room and he will bump) I still do not like the idea of this label but if it means he gets whatever help he needs without me having to fight for it then it will be a good thing. The next big thing will be me letting go, learning to trust someone else with his safety is not going to be easy. That has been my sole responsibility since he was born, no one can possibly step up to the mark, well ok Hanty Raychel can.
Anyway, we enjoyed the rest of January, and until the 2nd February, we had a 2,3 and 4 yr old. And then something even more incredible happened. Madeleine turned 5. She is a tall 5 year old. Now just how did that happen. It doesnt seem 2 minutes since she was born, I can vividly remember. Rachel has told Harry's birth story many times. The franticness of him not moving and the bad heart traces. Well Madeleine's was going like a text book delivery. Waters broke at home, it snowed on the drive in, contractions started and progressed quickly (Mr R nearly didnt make it back) and after a few heave-ho pushes out little angel was born. Technically she was an angel as the cord was wrapped tightly round her neck. It took 1minutes and 10seconds (which seemed like a lifetime) until the wonderful sound you need to hear, she started crying and we hae never been able to shut her up ever since. She was a teeny litle dot, and the only thing that contributed to her 7lb 14oz was her little round belly, and she's kept it ever since!
She has grown into a wonderful little girl. So clever, reading marvellously, Wanting to know how everything works, asks a zillion questions a day and is the tallest in her class. Something I always dreamed of being, but it never happened. Yes I am jealous of my own daughter. Happy birthday darling.
William remains my source of laughter. He has an answer for everything. He announced he doesnt want to be 3 any more because its rubbish! Most of the tasks at pre-school are nonsense, so he says. His teachers love him to bits and want him never to go to school.
Matthew is growing into a tall solemn boy. His brain is 2days ahead and he is reading fiction for 14yr olds (checked for suitability of course)
I am so so proud of all my children. They delight me every day. I cannot imagine spending any less time with them, I am so lucky to be a stay-at-home mum. Life is practically perfect. It would be 100% perfect if it wasnt for Harry's predicament. Its leaving an ugly stain on us all, not even Cillit Bang or Vanish can shift it. But we are learning to cover it up so we see it less. Out of sight, out of mind, well sometimes that rule works.
We're trying an 8week break between EUA's. Something I'm not entirely happy with. Yes I'm ecstatic Harry is still stable, but we've always been told lots can happen in just a few weeks. So I am currently playing the what-if game. What if there was something just about to grow at the last visit? A 5wk break would enable them to laser it,but it could possibly grow too large in those extra 3 weeks. I know they know what they are doing. But my irrational thoughts will not let me settle and I seem to be stuck on a merry-go-round. I would rather go every 4 weeks for ever than play the what-if game. These next 4 weeks will drag.
Anyway, I apologise for my absence. I completely understand if you have put me on the shelf. I absolutely deserve to be. But now I have started again, I promise I will update you on the deliciousness of life with the little Rileys a lot more regularly.
With Love from me xx
Monday, 10 December 2012
Its beginning to feel just a little bit like Christmas
Now we have got the trip to the dreaded Birmingham out of the way and knowing Harry is still stable we could turn our thoughts to Christmas.
The wooden, eco-friendly, re-usable Advent calendars were brought out and filled with chocolate and whilst feeling in the Christmas spirit I decided to put up the tree and decorations.
Its either a job you love or hate and sometimes I feel both. But this year, I was bang in the mood so up the tree went.
And so the finished product.
I love just having the tree lights on at night time, it makes everything seem a bit more magical. I blitzed the santa shopping and just need to wrap it all if I can dare brave the cold going to the garage to get it all. Not much room for hiding things, especially from one 8yo who is seriously doubting the existence of Santa. His mind is too logical, like what is the point of toy shops if santa brings everything, why have I got rolls of wrapping paper if santa brings everything, and how can one person do everything and magic is just an illusion not reality.
Still the middle two are giddy with excitement, and Harry just trots around saying mismas.
Its going to be lovely, the kids will love their gifts, and danny will enjoy the chaos as he is not working this year and to top if off Harry doesnt have to go to Birmingham til the New Year. Simply perfect!
The wooden, eco-friendly, re-usable Advent calendars were brought out and filled with chocolate and whilst feeling in the Christmas spirit I decided to put up the tree and decorations.
Its either a job you love or hate and sometimes I feel both. But this year, I was bang in the mood so up the tree went.
And so the finished product.
I love just having the tree lights on at night time, it makes everything seem a bit more magical. I blitzed the santa shopping and just need to wrap it all if I can dare brave the cold going to the garage to get it all. Not much room for hiding things, especially from one 8yo who is seriously doubting the existence of Santa. His mind is too logical, like what is the point of toy shops if santa brings everything, why have I got rolls of wrapping paper if santa brings everything, and how can one person do everything and magic is just an illusion not reality.
Still the middle two are giddy with excitement, and Harry just trots around saying mismas.
Its going to be lovely, the kids will love their gifts, and danny will enjoy the chaos as he is not working this year and to top if off Harry doesnt have to go to Birmingham til the New Year. Simply perfect!
Saturday, 8 December 2012
Awol
I am very sorry I have not updated for an age. Everytime I sit down to do it, one of the angels demands my time and it goes out of the window.
Firstly, harry had a clear visit again, which was amazing. It means we do not have to go back until the new year so we can enjoy Christmas without the gloom of new tumors hanging over us. This makes it 4 consecutive visits now, and whilst not being complacent, am quietly cautiously optimistic that when harry turns the magical 2 in January and when retina growth starts to slow down that we may have turned round a corner to winning this fight.
Mind you, there are plenty of families who thought the same and relapse, regrowth and new growth started so thats why I am not being complacent.
Madeleine is much better after a nasty ear infection which ended up perforating her eardrum. It must have been agony for her, and I wasnt impressed with school leaving her to cry assuming she was just missing mummy who was in Birmingham with harry.
I have to keep it dry for 6 wks whilst it heals. That will be fun washing her hair. She could also get recurrent ear infections too. Grr winter bugs.
Xmas is just round the corner. My cards are written, my tree and decorations are up (will post a pic separately) just need to sort the mountain of gifts I need to get. You can bet that as I have left it so late it will he sold out locally so I will have to trek out to the toy superstore. Oh well it wouldnt be Christmas without a little stress.
Sunday, 25 November 2012
eek its nearly December
I simply cannot believe we are almost at the end of November. Yes I Have started to send some things off to Papa Noel for the month from now over indulgent festival, but I have tonnes to do.
Got to get a nasty trip to Birmingham out of the way for starters, and hoping things will be clear will mean we don't have to go before Christmas.
But knowing my luck, some little swine of a tumor will have stuck its nose out AND THAT WILL MEAN GOING BACK TO 3 WEEKLY VISITS and that will coincide slap bang with the last day of term and the school Nativity service in the adjoining church to the school. As Madeleine is in reception she will be dressed as an angel (only reception dress up and all 14 as angels) they turn off all the lights in the church and they parade round accompanied by candlelight. It is beautiful and tear jerking as they sing unaccompanied too. Matthew is doing a reading and is singing solo in the little drummer boy song, SO IF I HAVE TO MISS THIS BECAUSE OF EFFIN CANCER I WILL BE MADDER THAN A RHINO WITH AN ITCHY ARSE
So I am warning you now Retinobloodyblastoma just you dare show your face this time. A clear visit is the only thing I want to hear.
I know what I want to buy everyone, I just need to a)pull my finger out and get it sorted and b)stop spending money on shite so that I can do a)
Matthew (I think still believes even tho I'm fending off a barrage of questions) is simply looking forward to getting the advent calendars out. A daily dose of chocolate more like, and the daily argument who will have Harry's as he doesnt like chocolate.
I spent a little more on some beautiful wooden creations with 24 little drawers in for you to refill year on year. I think I might use quality street this year, If I don't scoff em first lol.
( I am actually doing what I said in the about me bit and am halfway through shifting 28lb off my fat arse. I am now in my size smaller skinny fit jeans, tho I have a size smaller still in my wardrobe and will try to be good as the season of goodwill approaches)
I will share a Matthew story (and again I do not mean any offence to anyone as the career of Waste Engineer is very important and rewarding (aka Bin Man to some people))
My wish is that Matthew applies himself at school and uses the very bright (and inherited from me) brain to pass for the Grammar School. I and my sis Rachelradiostar both went to the Girls Grammar School (and yes my grammar and spelling is atrocious but who cares)
Anyway, we drove past it the other day and I again reiterated that clever boys go there and can then go onto univ (YES I KNOW THEY CAN DO THIS FROM ANY HIGH SCHOOL BEFORE YOU GET ON HIGH HORSES) and hopefully get good jobs, 'oh like Doctors and lawyers' he said. Exactly I replied.
We drove down a shortcut through a council estate and he asked what was further up the hill. A high school which will be my last choice for you I replied. Is it not very good, he asked. Well its not as good as the grammar school (thinking for putting on CV purposes)
Oh he said, so if you go to grammar you'll be a doctor and if you go to the other school you'll just be a binman!!!
I inwardly snorted to myself. Now I admire those who do work in the refuse industry, its certainly something I couldnt do but a childs perception that working with rubbish is rubbish is very funny indeed.
Ok, A Madeleine story, as we drove along somewhere, someday I can't remember and doesnt really matter there were 2 quite elderly gentlemen talking together in the street. Why are they not dead? she asked. Why would they be I answered. Well when you get old you die and they are old.
Actually both were funnier at the time and I suppose you had to be there.
I will finish on a little Harry update. His physio came last week and was amazed at his progress. She was loving his walking, and just wanted Matthew's orthotic surgeon to look at his feet as he is displaying signs of hypermobility. So I took him along to Matthews appointment later that day and 2 bits of good news. They will let Matthew try a spell without his Forest Gump boots and have insoles inside Boots of his choice. Still boots but its progress. They took impressions of his feet, gooey and yukky, so his insoles will match his feet perfectly. Brilliant he was over the moon as it was becoming an uphill struggle to get him to wear the boots.
He looked at Harry, and said he looked just like a baby who has just started walking and it could correct itself, but to buy sturdy boots to support his ankles. So Harry's first shoes will be boots, if they do them in his little size, Madeleine was in cruisers til she was nearly 3 as her feet didnt grow into proper hard walkers.
Harry's eye teacher came, she too is pleased with him. He can say her name now which made her grin, and she will come back with the occupational therapist at her next visit.
He's talking really well, well he should be as he's nearly 2. But in Asda the other day, whilst at the checkout he was protesting at being in the trolley. He was demanding 'get me out, am stuck' and the lady behind commented 'ooh what a clear talker for such a little one'. Err he's nearly 2, but I didnt tell her why he is so little. He's our little superstar, and he won't let Rb get in his way (especially next Friday)
Happy thanksgiving to all our lovely over the pond readers. Hope you had a great time.
See you all soon xx
go on, a little Harry fix for you.
Got to get a nasty trip to Birmingham out of the way for starters, and hoping things will be clear will mean we don't have to go before Christmas.
But knowing my luck, some little swine of a tumor will have stuck its nose out AND THAT WILL MEAN GOING BACK TO 3 WEEKLY VISITS and that will coincide slap bang with the last day of term and the school Nativity service in the adjoining church to the school. As Madeleine is in reception she will be dressed as an angel (only reception dress up and all 14 as angels) they turn off all the lights in the church and they parade round accompanied by candlelight. It is beautiful and tear jerking as they sing unaccompanied too. Matthew is doing a reading and is singing solo in the little drummer boy song, SO IF I HAVE TO MISS THIS BECAUSE OF EFFIN CANCER I WILL BE MADDER THAN A RHINO WITH AN ITCHY ARSE
So I am warning you now Retinobloodyblastoma just you dare show your face this time. A clear visit is the only thing I want to hear.
I know what I want to buy everyone, I just need to a)pull my finger out and get it sorted and b)stop spending money on shite so that I can do a)
Matthew (I think still believes even tho I'm fending off a barrage of questions) is simply looking forward to getting the advent calendars out. A daily dose of chocolate more like, and the daily argument who will have Harry's as he doesnt like chocolate.
I spent a little more on some beautiful wooden creations with 24 little drawers in for you to refill year on year. I think I might use quality street this year, If I don't scoff em first lol.
( I am actually doing what I said in the about me bit and am halfway through shifting 28lb off my fat arse. I am now in my size smaller skinny fit jeans, tho I have a size smaller still in my wardrobe and will try to be good as the season of goodwill approaches)
I will share a Matthew story (and again I do not mean any offence to anyone as the career of Waste Engineer is very important and rewarding (aka Bin Man to some people))
My wish is that Matthew applies himself at school and uses the very bright (and inherited from me) brain to pass for the Grammar School. I and my sis Rachelradiostar both went to the Girls Grammar School (and yes my grammar and spelling is atrocious but who cares)
Anyway, we drove past it the other day and I again reiterated that clever boys go there and can then go onto univ (YES I KNOW THEY CAN DO THIS FROM ANY HIGH SCHOOL BEFORE YOU GET ON HIGH HORSES) and hopefully get good jobs, 'oh like Doctors and lawyers' he said. Exactly I replied.
We drove down a shortcut through a council estate and he asked what was further up the hill. A high school which will be my last choice for you I replied. Is it not very good, he asked. Well its not as good as the grammar school (thinking for putting on CV purposes)
Oh he said, so if you go to grammar you'll be a doctor and if you go to the other school you'll just be a binman!!!
I inwardly snorted to myself. Now I admire those who do work in the refuse industry, its certainly something I couldnt do but a childs perception that working with rubbish is rubbish is very funny indeed.
Ok, A Madeleine story, as we drove along somewhere, someday I can't remember and doesnt really matter there were 2 quite elderly gentlemen talking together in the street. Why are they not dead? she asked. Why would they be I answered. Well when you get old you die and they are old.
Actually both were funnier at the time and I suppose you had to be there.
I will finish on a little Harry update. His physio came last week and was amazed at his progress. She was loving his walking, and just wanted Matthew's orthotic surgeon to look at his feet as he is displaying signs of hypermobility. So I took him along to Matthews appointment later that day and 2 bits of good news. They will let Matthew try a spell without his Forest Gump boots and have insoles inside Boots of his choice. Still boots but its progress. They took impressions of his feet, gooey and yukky, so his insoles will match his feet perfectly. Brilliant he was over the moon as it was becoming an uphill struggle to get him to wear the boots.
He looked at Harry, and said he looked just like a baby who has just started walking and it could correct itself, but to buy sturdy boots to support his ankles. So Harry's first shoes will be boots, if they do them in his little size, Madeleine was in cruisers til she was nearly 3 as her feet didnt grow into proper hard walkers.
Harry's eye teacher came, she too is pleased with him. He can say her name now which made her grin, and she will come back with the occupational therapist at her next visit.
He's talking really well, well he should be as he's nearly 2. But in Asda the other day, whilst at the checkout he was protesting at being in the trolley. He was demanding 'get me out, am stuck' and the lady behind commented 'ooh what a clear talker for such a little one'. Err he's nearly 2, but I didnt tell her why he is so little. He's our little superstar, and he won't let Rb get in his way (especially next Friday)
Happy thanksgiving to all our lovely over the pond readers. Hope you had a great time.
See you all soon xx
go on, a little Harry fix for you.
Sunday, 18 November 2012
There's no stopping him now
Well Harry had found his feet a wee while ago and was daring to step a few steps by himself.
He's now quite happy plodding across the room, typical 'baby-learning-to-walk' pose with arms in air and his usual grin on his face. He's so proud of himself.
There's just a slight (well major) snag. Anything on the floor is an instant trip hazard and yes I know this is the same for any baby learning to walk but he doesnt see something the size of a cushion and promptly falls over it. He's got plenty of bruises, and I'm waiting for the inevitable whack as his head meets with something hard. But it doesn't seem to put him off, if anything he's more determined and gets back up and off he goes again. The physio is coming on Tuesday, if she's not pleased I'll eat my hat!!!
He's chatting away quite coherently now (well his dad would disagree) and has now got quite a big vocabulary. He's counting to six, and trying to get to ten. He just smiles all the time and its wonderful.
Well he doesnt smile all the time, last week he caught the strange virus the others had, and spent 4 days trying to shrug off 39+ temperatures. He was a bit sorry for himself and wanted lots of mummy cuddles, which I obliged with absolute pleasure. Its the first time (apart from a one day vomiting bug) he's had a temperature since finishing chemo. It was quite nice not having to panic and pack the bags for the inevitable minimum 2 day stay in Manchester on antibiotics whilst the found the cause of the infection which would have happened on when he was on chemo. Do I miss those days? Absolutely NOT.
Well to further Harry proof our living room and to make things a little safer for him. We swapped our lovely glass TV unit for a fabuloso solid Oak wide TV unit. Okay, the bangs will hurt just the same but we don't have the worry of the glass shattering and the TV toppling down on top of him. Plus he can't get behind it now so those little chubby hands can't feel the wires and give them a good tug and again avoid pulling something on top of him. Our hard gaming chair has been replaced by a soft brown leather bean bag, so his head bangs onto something soft whilst crawling and to finish the room off, we had the sofa's steam cleaned, well the arms anyway. I just bunged the cushion and seat back covers in the washer (despite the labels saying Never do this) and it looks like new.
Just under 2 weeks and we'll be back in Birmingham. I'm sure all will be well, Harry's proving too much of a tough cookie for this cancer lark, and it will be a quick in-out and off we go home. There's the consultants comments from last time weighing slightly heavy that there's some areas they're concerned about so he's not out of the woods, but hopefully it won't amount to anything. I'm getting too used to having clear visits now and nice 5week breaks between appointments. Maybe its complacency and I'll get a rude awakening one day, but for now clear visits are fine.
He's now quite happy plodding across the room, typical 'baby-learning-to-walk' pose with arms in air and his usual grin on his face. He's so proud of himself.
There's just a slight (well major) snag. Anything on the floor is an instant trip hazard and yes I know this is the same for any baby learning to walk but he doesnt see something the size of a cushion and promptly falls over it. He's got plenty of bruises, and I'm waiting for the inevitable whack as his head meets with something hard. But it doesn't seem to put him off, if anything he's more determined and gets back up and off he goes again. The physio is coming on Tuesday, if she's not pleased I'll eat my hat!!!
He's chatting away quite coherently now (well his dad would disagree) and has now got quite a big vocabulary. He's counting to six, and trying to get to ten. He just smiles all the time and its wonderful.
Well he doesnt smile all the time, last week he caught the strange virus the others had, and spent 4 days trying to shrug off 39+ temperatures. He was a bit sorry for himself and wanted lots of mummy cuddles, which I obliged with absolute pleasure. Its the first time (apart from a one day vomiting bug) he's had a temperature since finishing chemo. It was quite nice not having to panic and pack the bags for the inevitable minimum 2 day stay in Manchester on antibiotics whilst the found the cause of the infection which would have happened on when he was on chemo. Do I miss those days? Absolutely NOT.
Well to further Harry proof our living room and to make things a little safer for him. We swapped our lovely glass TV unit for a fabuloso solid Oak wide TV unit. Okay, the bangs will hurt just the same but we don't have the worry of the glass shattering and the TV toppling down on top of him. Plus he can't get behind it now so those little chubby hands can't feel the wires and give them a good tug and again avoid pulling something on top of him. Our hard gaming chair has been replaced by a soft brown leather bean bag, so his head bangs onto something soft whilst crawling and to finish the room off, we had the sofa's steam cleaned, well the arms anyway. I just bunged the cushion and seat back covers in the washer (despite the labels saying Never do this) and it looks like new.
Just under 2 weeks and we'll be back in Birmingham. I'm sure all will be well, Harry's proving too much of a tough cookie for this cancer lark, and it will be a quick in-out and off we go home. There's the consultants comments from last time weighing slightly heavy that there's some areas they're concerned about so he's not out of the woods, but hopefully it won't amount to anything. I'm getting too used to having clear visits now and nice 5week breaks between appointments. Maybe its complacency and I'll get a rude awakening one day, but for now clear visits are fine.
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