Elisha Matthew

Elisha Matthew Pickard was born on 23rd December 2011 at 13+2 in Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton.  He measured 19mm long.  He had joined his big sister in heaven at about 8+4

School disco and TOG graduation

I've found my usb thingy so I can put photos from my phone on the computer.  So this blog post will probably be more photos than text.

Jeremiah's school disco was on tuesday.  He started leaping about straight away and Isaac was more cautious.  He got into it in the end though and although it was more like marching than dancing he had a whale of a time.

Isaac is the one in the stripy hat

I wouldn't normally put photos of other children on my blog but there's no way anyone will know who the other child is unless they were there.

Today was Isaac's last day at TOG.  Isaac, Malachi and I went to the christmas party and it was lovely seeing how well the other children were doing and to chat with the other parents.

Malachi in the tumbleform chair that used to be Isaac's

Malachi enjoyed the fibre optic lights (although taking photos when he was sat on my lap wasn't easy!)

Isaac getting his certificate

Isaac with the fibre optic lights

We all had a lovely time and Isaac particularly enjoyed snack time as usual.  It was a bit weird having Malachi there doing a lot of the things Isaac did when he first started, kind of like the ghost of christmas past!  In a way it was sad to be going for the last time but it's a huge milestone that he doesn't need to be there anymore.



Another manic monday

By some miracle we were early for school this morning.  Jeremiah enjoyed the school trip to the theatre and Isaac enjoyed his final session at TOG.  I had quite a long talk with the lady who runs TOG about Isaac's school needs.  Not quite sure how it's going to work out.  I think there will be between 1/4 and 1/3 of the class who have special needs which is a big percentage but I think it will be a good thing for Isaac as he hates being thought of as less able or different although at times he will use his disability to his own advantage, especially when being told off!

T'was the fortnight before Christmas

Malachi is in a cuddle me or I'll scream the house down kind of mood today.  So I'm catching up with emails and updating my blog.
Only one week at school before the holidays.  In some ways I'm glad there is only 1 week left but on the other hand I haven't done my christmas cards yet or finished my christmas shopping.  Jeremiah was a cow in the nativity play yesterday.  It will be Isaac's last day at TOG on monday, then the christmas party on thursday.  It will be quite emotional I think.  Isaac has been going for 3 years and the staff there have helped him so much.  I was originally planning to keep him going there until he started school but we are really struggling with transport at the moment and he technically doesn't need TOG any more.

I managed to talk to the reception teacher about Isaac's school needs.  I don't think she realised he was that severe to be honest.  She is going to talk to the senco about him and she reassured me that if he can only cope with 2 mornings a week at first then that's fine and they won't rush him.

We have a furry houseguest at the moment.  A cat turned up last night and we are trying to find her owners without much luck so far.  Simon is going to take her to the vet tomorrow to see if she is microchipped.

End of November

I've been quite lax with my blog this month.  I've had a cold, Jeremiah and Isaac have had tummy bugs and now Isaac has a cough.  He has been coughing so much at night he is being sick so I'm spending rather more of the night than I'd like changing sheets.  Meanwhile Jeremiah has woken up, offered helpful suggestions and told me how many days it is until Christmas.  I am so so tired.

By some miracle we made it to school on time today and Jeremiah is off school tomorrow because the teachers are striking.  Only 2.5 weeks until the school holidays, I can't wait.  Hopefully we will be able to go to some baby groups before then.  It feels like ages since we went to one and I think Malachi is missing his little friends.

Does anyone know?

How to comment on a blog?  Every time I try it says my account doesn't have access to make comments, even on my own blog.  Answers on a postcard please, or in a comment on this post.  If I reply you'll know I managed to work out how!

Jeremiah had his school photos done this week.  They are gorgeous.  He also went on a trip with his class across Wellington to the Methodist church.  This is one of the reasons I didn't become a teacher.  Because taking 26 4 and 5 year olds out would be my idea of a nightmare.  Still, everyone who went made it back in one piece and the teacher said they'd all been very good.

Isaac has had a good week.  On Sunday we had a jamming session together.  I held the guitar and did the chords while Isaac strummed.  The look of wonderment on his face when he realised he was playing a song was amazing.

Waitrose does this charity thing where you get a green token and you get a choice of 3 local charities to vote for.  You put your token in the box belonging to the charity you want to vote for and after a month or so they distribute some money between the 3 charities according to how many tokens are in each box.  We normally only go to Waitrose to use the loo but this month one of the chairities was the play therapy department at the hospital.  So we decided to go in, buy a cake and show our support.  Isaac went one step further and sat on top of the charity box telling everyone to put their token in the middle slot.  Anyone who didn't got a stern look and a "but the middle one is for the children at the hostital".  When the manager came and told him to get down he pulled his disabled rights card and said "I've got tired legs".  At this point I decided it was time to put him back in the buggy and go home.

Malachi is 10 months old today.  Still not crawling or even sitting but he is so happy and smiley.  He has 4 teeth and weighs 17lb 3oz which is on the 9th centile.  I am going to organise for him to have a session in the multi sensory room at TOG before Isaac leaves.  I think he will enjoy that, I know Isaac did when he was that age.

I got a phonecall from the genetics nurse this week.  She said that they were going to stop tyring to take blood from me and just look at Isaac's results which should come through in about 2 weeks.  She wasn't too hopeful about finding a link between Isaac's genetics and Malachi's though which I wish I'd known before letting Isaac have the blood test.  Also the geneticist has gone off sick and so our appointment will probably be in April next year which seems a long time away.

Lots of little things

This week has been really busy with lots of little things.  Isaac's new piedro boots have come.  Not red ones like we ordered but he likes them anyway.  I have been chasing up my blood test and getting nowhere.  Malachi and I have been allowed back to the breastfeeding group where there were 3 other mums and a very sheepish looking health visitor!  I have made lentil and bacon soup.  Isaac has been going to preschool.  Jeremiah has been building things out of lego.  Lots of little things

Oh tumbledryer I've missed you

My tumble dryer is fixed!  I've been catching up on the piles of washing that has been building up since the weather has been bad.  The man from medequip came to take away Isaac's highchair so we no longer have any special needs eqipment in the house.  Isaac proudly told the delivery man that he didn't need it anymore, so cute.

The highchair

Isaac waving goodbye to the highchair

The blood test on Monday was a disaster.  She tried 4 times but couldn't get it.  She got 1ml but that wasn't enough.  She asked me to go to the oncology department to get the rest as she thought they would be good at getting it as people who have cancer often have bad veins but by then I was bruised, the children were fed up and we were all soaking wet from the rain so I said I would go home and ring the oncology department.  It was a good thing I did that because the oncology nurse said I couldn't be seen there without a GP referral and even then probably not as I'm not an oncology patient.  So I rang the GP surgery and the receptionist was saying that the nurse there could have a go but I said no, I only wanted someone who was really good at taking blood to do it as I'd had 10 failed attempts already.  So the receptionist said she would get the GP to ring me the next morning.  The GP rang yesterday and she is going to talk to Nicola and ask her to persuade someone at the oncology department to do it.  I should hear from them by the end of the week.

Malachi in his new cardigan

Jeremiah with his special award cup

Jeremiah in the lego shop in Cardiff

Jeremiah and Malachi fell asleep holding hands

Photo of Malachi

My gorgeous littlest one

 I can't work out how to turn the photo round. 
Half term holiday this week.  Isaac is absolutely shattered.  He refused to walk for most of the day on Friday.  It's been a long half term for him.  He could really do with this holiday and some new piedro boots too.  The piedro boots have been measured for and ordered so hopefully it won't be too long.  I've got my blood test this afternoon, hopefully they get it this time.

Legoland and Malachi's 9-12 month check

On Saturday, nine of us went to legoland windsor.  We all had a lovely time.  Isaac enjoyed the adventure playground although he needed a lot of help.  Thankfully nobody had a camera handy when I was coming down the slide!  I didn't go on many rides but I was happy to watch and I enjoyed seeing the models in miniland and watching the show by the lake where there was lots of slapstick comedy and people pushing each other in the water.  Jeremiah was old enough to go on more rides this time.  We could easily have spent another day there, there was so much to do.

Yesterday was Malachi's 9-12 month check with the health visitor.  His weight was 7.6kg although he had just been fed.  The health visitor gave him 2 cubes and tried to get him to bang them together.  He just held one in each hand and gave her his best "you're being daft" look!  He picked up the raisin no problem and shoved it straight in his mouth.  I got a telling off because we haven't got socket covers (although Jeremiah could get them off from this age so I didn't see the point).  We got our free books and she was explaining how to read to him even though I've got 3 children and a degree in early childhood studies so I know all this stuff.  She stopped after a couple of pages and he shrieked and tried to take the book off her lol.  She asked me if I was worried about his development and I said no but I know he is behind.  She said he needs lots of stimulation which I already knew and that he should be going to a baby group at TOG which I don't agree with.  We have to see her again in a month.

wave of light

Eleanor's candle burning for the international wave of light 2011

Update on the breastfeeding group saga

This tuesday was the relaunch of the breastfeeding group.  I went to the childrens centre in the afternoon for the time to chat group and the staff there said there were loads of mums and babies there.  So no chance of the health visitors ringing me and begging me to come back then.  On wednesday I swallowed my pride and went to Isaac's preschool to ask if I could change his days so that I can go to the breastfeeding group with Malachi while Isaac is at pre-school.  On the way I met one of the peer supporters and we had a bit of a chat.  She said that all the other people who had been thrown out weren't happy about it either which was comforting to know as I thought it was just me.  The peer supporters in particular have made a big effort running the group.  The preschool were fine with me changing Isaac's days so I will be back at the breastfeeding group after half term.

I went to see the health visitor and she said that it had been decided that the group will be for mums with babies under one year only, regardless of how mobile they are.  So Malachi and I will be out on our ears again in January.  Apparantly seeing mums successfully breastfeeding babies over a year old will make the mums struggling feel inadequate.  I will carry on going to the breastfeeding group until we are chucked out again but I won't be getting there early to set up or staying late to pack away and wash up.

Jeremiah's special award

Jeremiah got the special award cup at school on friday.  Simon and I went to watch him get it in assembly.  When the teacher announced his name there was a big gasp and spontaneous applause, the teacher had to tell them to stop clapping!

Malachi has a cold.  Which means he is puking a lot.  I rang Nicola's secretary to see if he needs his medication increasing again or if we should wait it out.  I put him on the scales at the children's centre today when we were in for the baby group and he was 7.4kg so still following the line between the 2nd and 9th centile.

I had another attempt at getting my blood taken on friday.  It was not a success.  I have to make an appointment at the dr surgery for another go.

Tomorrow Isaac has an appointment with surgical orthotics to be fitted for new piedro boots.  I was chatting to another mum at the school gates today and she said that if I'm ever stuck at the hospital she is happy to pick up Jeremiah from school for me.  It's so hard to make friends with people when you see them most days but only for 5 minutes or so.  I feel like I'm getting there now though.

Two more weeks until half term.  And the tumble dryer man is coming!  I'm very excited which is a bit sad really.

Back to the hospital

On Monday we went back to the hospital to see Nicola and the physio.  Jeremiah was off school with a cold and a bit of a temperature and Simon is on holiday from work this week so all 5 of us ended up going.  Nicola was running late so we had 40 mins in the waiting room (thank goodness the boys love it there because there are loads of toys.  Malachi was weighed and measured (7.3kg 67cm).  We saw the physio who said that he has made some progress but he has dropped off the physical development chart again.  She gave us some more exercises to do with Malachi.

We then saw Nicola who was really pleased with his progress and she said we could try weaning him off the drugs when he gets to 8kg.  She also sorted out the microarray test.  Isaac needed his done in paediatrics so they sent us down to CAU.  There was a long wait there so we got sent back down to peadiatric outpatients.  Simon took Isaac in to have his blood taken and I could hear him screaming from the waiting room.  I just hope they got all the blood they needed this time.  We had to go to the phlebotomy department at the other end of the hospital for ours and I didn't fancy carrying Malachi, the changing bag and my handbag all that way so Simon went to get the buggy from the car.  Simon had his blood taken no problem but after 2 goes and wiggling the needle around (ouch) they couldn't get mine so I have to go back today when the head phlebotomist is in as she used to do all my pregnancy blood tests.

Yesterday Malachi and I went to the breastfeeding group and the hv told us I couldn't bring Isaac from next week as they are changing it to non walking babies only.  I'm not impressed I have to say.  I'm going to ask the preschool if we can change Isaac's sessions so I can still go.

Yesterday afternoon Isaac's OT came round.  She said she couldn't take the highchair, we have to wait for medequip to come and get it.  She also said she couldn't discharge him without checking with her supervisor first.

Tribute to a moses basket

Malachi is now sleeping in the cot!  After 5 years it's now finally time to put away the moses basket for the last time.  I washed all the frilly bits and put Malachi in it for some last photos.

I'm hoping that the extra room will encourage Malachi to move around more.  He seemed to enjoy being in the cot and he was happily chatting to his toy caterpillar.

Jeremiah only slept in it for 8 weeks because he was such a wriggly baby he liked to move around in his sleep.  Isaac used it for 14 months and Malachi for nearly 9 months.

Jeremiah in the moses basket at home, about an hour old

Isaac in the moses basket in the delivery room in hospital

Malachi in the moses basket in the delivery room



That friday feeling

It's Friday and Simon is off work next week thank goodness.  We've had a busy week this week.  Tuesday we went to breastfeeding group.  Only 4 of us this week and one is going back to work on monday.  Then in the afternoon it was the time to chat group.  It was just Mel and I (again).  We decided to make sensory bottles next time for one of the physios who has recently had a baby. Wednesday was preschool and so was Thursday.  Today was my "day off" so I started blitzing the boys room.  I've also been tie dying some white cot sheets and some other bits ready for when Malachi moves from the moses basket into the cot.  I don't think the cot bedding will be dry in time for tonight but we should be putting away the moses basket at some point this weekend.

This afternoon Jeremiah was in a special assembly at school.  He was one of 2 children with a speaking part and he did really well, he spoke loudly and clearly.  Unfortunately Malachi was also speaking loudly and clearly lol so once Jeremiah had done his bit we left.

Next week Malachi has appointments with Nicola and his physio.  Isaac has an appointment with his occupational therapist (I'm hoping she will discharge him).  I have a parents forum meeting at the childrens centre so it's going to be another busy week.

Nits again - argh

Jeremiah has nits again.  I've combed through his hair, he had loads.  I didn't have any (thank goodness for that).  I'm going to bath Isaac and comb his hair in a minute.  I'm not sure whether I'm supposed to keep him off school tomorrow or not.  He is meant to be kept off until he has been treated but I don't know if that means until he has been treated once or until he is completely clear.

The carnival was brilliant.  Jeremiah loved every minute.  I think this is the first year he has been old enough to appreciate it.  Isaac loved the fire engines and he fell asleep near the end.  Malachi slept through some of it too.

Malachi's first tooth

Well as the title says, Malachi has a tooth.  Or to be more accurate, Malachi has a tiny white speck!  I've been trying to photograph those last gummy smiles before it comes through properly but he is keeping his mouth firmly shut whenever I get the camera out.  I did manage to catch Isaac and Malachi having snuggle time though.

They do this quite a lot but I've never managed to get a photo before.  All three of them get on really well mostly and Jeremiah and Isaac love giving Malachi cuddles and singing to him which is lovely.  We're having a quiet day today.  Getting on with the housework and playing with the little ones.  I've noticed that Isaac will play quietly for ages with Malachi when it's just the 2 of them at home but as soon as Jeremiah gets home he suddenly gets more lively and wants to join in with whatever Jeremiah is doing.

We still haven't had the forms for the chromasone testing yet.  I just want to get it over with now, preferably when Simon is off work so he can come for moral support.  I phoned Nicola yesterday and she is going to chase them up for me.

It's been a fairly quiet week this week, but then I think we've needed it.  Wellington Carnival tomorrow which should be fun.  There is always a big party atmosphere while we wait for it to start.  I wonder what Malachi will think of it.  He loves music but it can be a bit loud.  I think Isaac will appreciate it more this year now that he's a bit older.  We've got folding chairs this time so no more standing around.



Isaac's journey in pictures

Last week I finally got round to putting the photos from baby group on a CD for my friend.  While I was looking through the old photos it made me think about how much progress Isaac has made over the last 3 years.

Me and Isaac minutes after birth

With his NG tube in aged 5 months

At Tog aged 9 months

Isaac on his 1st birthday weighing 14lbs

Isaac aged 18 months

Standing with support aged 22 months

Isaac in his special needs buggy.  Aged 2 years 2 months

In his standing frame aged 2 years 7 months

"Look Mummy I is walking"  aged 2 years 10 months

Proud big brother aged 3 years





Wednesday weigh in

Today I went to the childrens centre to see the health visitor and get Malachi weighed.  He weighed in at 7.2kg which is 15lb 15oz.  His head lag is improving too which was encouraging.  He has been nearly sitting for over a month now so it's nice to know he is improving in other ways.  I had a chat with the health visitor about the breastfeeding group and it was suggested that the mums of older babies could meet in the new room at rockwell green.  One of the staff at the children's centre has asked me to be a case study for the childrens centre that they can show to ofsted as an example of how the childrens centre helps individual families.

Tuesday ramblings

Just me and Mel at time to chat today.  I got to take home the jaffa cakes though so it's not all bad news!  Mel told me Isaac had been mentioned at MAISEY today along with all the other children starting school in September next year.  The lady who runs TOG just said he was doing brilliantly and will be leaving TOG at Christmas.  He will still be on MAISEY and have a transition to school meeting in the summer term.

The powers that be in charge of breastfeeding in somerset have decided that as of October 11th mums with mobile babies and toddlers will no longer be welcome at the breastfeeding group.  The ladies who run it are trying to sort out another venue for those of us no longer allowed to attend, which is most of us.  I think they are making a huge mistake to be honest but only time will tell.

Preschool tomorrow and getting Malachi weighed.  Another day of rushing around like a mad thing.  2 weeks and 3 days until Simon's week off work!

Malachi - 8 months

Malachi is 8 months old today.  This weekend he has done a bit of rolling and he's getting quite good at it.  Today has been a manic day.  Took Isaac to TOG (Taunton Opportunity Group) today.  Malachi and I went to new parents group and then we all went to the drop in group this afternoon.  Isaac slept 13 hours last night and he was still tired this morning.

I've been promoting the time to chat group this summer and so has Mel, the portage worker.  Today 3 mums said they'd be there which is an exciting yet terrifying thought.  Mel and I have been meeting up for a year now trying to run a group that nobody else goes to and while it's exciting that we might get some other people coming, I'm worried that they'll come and not like it.  I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

Isaac at preschool and assorted ramblings

Isaac went off to preschool for the first time yesterday.  He was absolutely fine and went off to play like he'd been going for years.  This morning he took one step in the door and burst into tears.  Absolutely shattered.  I had a chat with the supervisor and we agreed that I would go and have a wander round town for 5-10 minutes and then phone them to see if he had settled.  When I phoned he was fine so I went home.  He'll be in bed early tonight I think, it's been a long week for him, and for all of us.  Thank goodness it's Friday tomorrow.

On Tuesday we went to breastfeeding group.  Apparantly there has been complaints from other mums about older children being at the group so they have stopped coming.  The health visitor has suggested that we have 2 groups, one for non-mobile babies and one for mobile babies, toddlers and babies with older siblings who come too.  Problem is I can't see them being able to find any peer supporters to run the group for non mobile babies if you have to have breastfed for 3 months at least to do the course (they prefer 6 months) and then you have to have childcare for your baby when he or she becomes mobile.  From a selfish point of view it's annoying for me because I had volunteerd to do the peer supporter course but I can't now because they need someone for the non mobile group and I have Isaac and hopefully Malachi will be on the move soon anyway.  Apart from that it was lovely to have some adult conversation again and 2 of the mums announced their pregnancies which was all very exciting and made me feel quite nostalgic although any hint of broodiness stopped when they started talking about morning sickness!

Yesterday after I'd taken Isaac to preschool I took the opportunity to get as much infatrini milk for Malachi as I could fit in the buggy.  I managed to get one box in Isaac's seat and 2 bags in the basket.  It's a good thing I thought of that as the pharmacy have said that I have to collect Malachi's medicines all in one go rather than in little bits at a time like I was doing.  After school we went to the after school club at the church which Jeremiah's school is attached to.  Parents stay and sit in the corner with tea and biscuits while the school aged children play games, do a craft activity and listen to a story.  The toddlers mostly chase each other round the church.  This time Jeremiah was old enough to do the activities without my help so I got to have a good gossip and a cuddle with my friend's baby girl.  Isaac came up to me while I was cuddling the baby and he said in a loud whisper "mummy, you've got the wrong baby"

Like I said, it's been a long week and it's not over yet.

Jeremiah back at school

Jeremiah went back to school today.  He is in a class of 26 this year rather than the 15 from last year and he is in a mixed year class.  He enjoyed his first day and was excited to be back.  The reception class are split in two groups so the older children are doing mornings this week while the younger ones are doing afternoons.  The 7 year ones in the class are there all day.  The rest of the year one children are in the year 2 class.  This morning you couldn't tell the new children from the older ones but this afternoon there was quite a big difference.

Why can I never get a decent photo of Jeremiah?

We managed to walk home from school in 45 minutes which was good for a 1.5 mile walk.

Reagan's Reason

Raising awareness for my friend's little girl.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/Reagansreason

If you're on facebook, please like this page.

The park, snow and the price of cot sheets

Yesterday we went to the park again.  It was probably one of the sunniest days we have had all summer.  There were lots of people feeding the ducks, playing football and sunbathing.  Jeremiah and Isaac enjoyed themselves and came back covered in sand as usual.

Isaac spent a lot of the time on the slide/climbing frame in the shape of a train.  Jeremiah spent most of the time moving too fast for me to take photos.

Today we played snow on a baking tray.  We got some toy cars and some of that weird soapy foam stuff and Jeremiah had great fun burying the cars in the "snow".  Isaac wasn't too keen.  He said it was messy so he watched from a distance, letting out a shriek whenever Jeremiah flicked "snow" at him.

I need to move Malachi out of the moses basket into the cot.  He still fits it it fine but I'm hoping that having the room to roll around will encourage him to do it more.  It's kind of sad though, knowing that when I put the moses basket away it will be for the last time.  I've washed the hood and the lining so it's all ready for the final photo.  I thought I'd buy some new bedding for the cot as the stuff I've got has been puked on and washed so many times it's looking tatty now.  When I looked on the mothercare website I was quite shocked at how expensive everything was.  £22.99 for a cot blanket!  Babies r us were charging similar.  I'm going to look on ebay.

fun with balls

This week I've been trying to do things with the children that we won't have time to do once the new term starts.  So today we got out my old birth pool.  I thought about filling it with water but when I thought about how long it took to fill and then to empty and dry last time we used it, I decided to put balls in it instead.

Jeremiah has grown a lot since the last time he was in here

Isaac

fun with balls

I thought it would tire them out but by the end of the afternoon they were more hyper than usual.  They enjoyed themselves though and even Malachi joined in.

Time with Malachi

While Jeremiah and Isaac were with Simon's mum and dad I took the opportunity to spend some time with Malachi.  I got out the play nest thing that we haven't used since Isaac was a baby because it takes up half the living room.  We played with the treasure basket which Malachi loved.  Malachi's favourite thing was playing with Isaac's keyboard.  Of course this morning when I suggested to Isaac that Malachi might like to play with his toys I got "the look" from Isaac and a determined "no I don't think so" which is the standard response to anything he isn't keen on.

Now we are into the last week of the holidays.  I know it's a cliche but it's flown by.  Next Monday Jeremiah is back to school and next Wednesday Isaac starts preschool.  I will miss the freedom that we have in the holidays.

Trip to the park

Today we went to Vivary park.  Isaac did a lot of walking.  Malachi went on a swing for the first time.  It's not a park we go to much as it's in Taunton and normally we go to Taunton for the shops.  The park has had a huge makeover since we were there last and all 3 boys had a great time.  We came home very tired and covered in sand.  I found it quite hard keeping an eye on all 3 of them without going cross-eyed lol especially while taking photos too.  I think I might take the younger 2 boys when Jeremiah is at school next time or go at the weekend when Simon can help.