Sophie's boys: January 2012

I'm Sophie, married to Simon and mum to Jeremiah (10), Isaac (8), Malachi (5), Ezekiel (3) and Zechariah (2). Also our 2 little ones in heaven, Eleanor (2005) and Elisha (2011).

Jeremiah has Autism.

Isaac has hypermobility syndrome/Ehlers Danlos type 3 and uses a wheelchair for anything other than very short distances.

Malachi has hypermobility and wears piedro boots to support his ankles

Ezekiel has a cleft palate, hydrocephalus, hypotonia and development delay

Zechariah was born with sepsis and has mild development delay.

Friday 27 January 2012

Update on us

Malachi had his appointment with Nicola on Tuesday. We were a bit late due to 2 double decker buses coming along one after the other. I'd already dragged Isaac, Malachi, the folded buggy, handbag and changing bag onto a double decker bus once that day so I decided to take the chance that Nicola was running late. Malachi was weighed (7.4kg) and measured (67.9cm). Nicola was running late but I didn't mind that as I know she doesn't rush people when they have questions. Also there is so much for the children to do in the waiting room.

It looks like Malachi had lost that weight and reducing the infatrini was a bit premature. But increasing the infatrini again seems to be helping which is good so no need to panic about his weight. He is also being referred for more intensive physio. No news on Isaac's blood results yet.

Jeremiah got a certificate this week which was awarded at the church. We sat at the back near the aisle so we could get a good view of the children coming in. Jeremiah waved as usual and Isaac waved at Jeremiah and a couple of the other children who he knows as well. I don't know why but I always get a bit emotional when I see the children walking in crocodile fashion from the school to the church. The Headmaster first, then Haslett class, with two of them carrying the school flag. Jeremiah's class (Newnham) is always right at the end as they are the youngest. I think I'll need to take tissues with me the first time I watch Isaac walk to the church with the rest of his class. Hopefully he will make it without falling over.

Friday 20 January 2012

School entry plan meeting

Isaac has his school entry plan meeting on 19th March. It's getting close now, in a few months time my little boy will be starting school. The SENCO asked me to drop his paediatrician's phone number in to the office when I had a minute and I had to admit that I knew the number by heart. Although to be fair it's on a list of important phone numbers I keep attatched to the boiler so I see it every time I use the washing machine. I've also had to fill in a form to get a new blue badge for him as his got lost. They want to know how many times he fell over in the last year (how should I know, I didn't keep count) and how far he can walk unaided in steps or metres. I tried counting steps but lost count when Isaac kept asking me why I was counting! I'm going to ask Simon's Grandad how far the length of the car park is and see how far Isaac can get across it before he falls over.

I got Malachi weighed on Tuesday and either he has lost a lot of weight in the last 2 months without me noticing or the scales are wrong. We are going to see Nicola next Tuesday so we'll see what the hospital scales say. In the meantime I'm giving him as much infatrini as possible.

Sunday 15 January 2012

a year of breastfeeding

Ok so this is a little late! But I just wanted to post that I have now been breastfeeding Malachi for a year. We have had a lot of challenges but we are still breastfeeding despite it all. We have carried on through failure to thrive (Malachi), expressing (me), hypotonia (Malachi), 2 weeks of being dairy free (me), reflux (Malachi), 2 weeks of dairy free formula feeding (Malachi), more expressing (me), nursing strikes (Malachi) and a pregnancy (me).

In other news, Malachi is now sitting by himself for increasing periods of time. He had his first session in the sensory room at TOG on Friday and really enjoyed himself.

Thursday 12 January 2012

Malach's birthday

This time last year I was in delivery room 6 on the labour ward. I can't remember exactly what I was doing without looking at the notes but I was probably complaining a lot and hoping to meet my baby soon. Malachi has achieved so much in the last year, going from a tiny helpless newborn to, well not really a toddler yet but a baby who can sit by himself for about a minute now, has a few noises that sound like words and has 4 teeth. Malachi is behind in his physical development still but he has come a long way since I first held him in my arms a year ago. Happy birthday Malachi. Also Happy birthday to Elliott, my sister's nephew who was born on the same day as Malachi, but nearly 24 hours earlier.

Monday 9 January 2012

Back at school

Only 4 weeks and 4 days to go until half term. 3 day week this week as Simon has thursday and friday off work. Preschool and breastfeeding group tomorrow, baby clinic and a hospital trip on wednesday. On thursday Malachi will be one! It has gone so fast. I can't believe it was a year ago that we sat watching 9 months and hoping watching another baby being born would kickstart my birth hormones.