The rest of last week

Last Tuesday, Ezekiel and I went to the breastfeeding group.  As it's for mums with babies up to 4 months now we probably won't be able to go again before Ezekiel is too old.  Still, it was nice to have a chat to other mums with babies the same age as Ezekiel.

Wednesday was my day off!  Well, a day off from appointments anyway.  I spent a big part of the day sorting out the outgrown clothes and putting them in labelled boxes to go up in the loft.

Thursday was mine and Ezekiel's 6 week check.  All fine except my blood pressure was a bit high.  I was holding a screaming Ezekiel at the time and willing the appointment to be finished so I could go and feed him so that's probably why. 

Friday was physio.  Ezekiel has low muscle tone in his arms and core and high muscle tone in his legs.  We have some exercises to do with him and we see her again in 2 weeks.

Jeremiah and Isaac finished school on Monday.  The health visitor came to weigh Ezekiel on Monday and she is so pleased with his weight gain we only have to get him weighed once a week now.  This week has mostly been taken up by feeding, pumping, housework and various activities at home.  I haven't attempted to take all 4 of them out on my own yet.  Tomorrow we will be picking up the big car from the Vauxhall garage.

Malachi's 2 year check

Today we went to see the new health visitor for Malachi's 2 year check.  Apart from flinging himself on the floor in a massive strop and making me feel like the worst mother ever, he did well and the health visitor ticked all her boxes.  However she said she was very concerned about his height as he hasn't grown since he was last measured in december although his weight has remained steady on the 9th centile, where it has been since the reflux stopped.  So she is going to speak to the GP about it and review his height again in June.  He has come a long way and is doing really well.

Meanwhile I left Isaac in a bad mood at school this morning and not even his favourite teaching assistant could cheer him up.  I'm waiting in the very long telephone triage queue to speak to the GP about his legs as the antihistamines don't seem to be working.  He managed a whole week at school last week, although he spent most of Friday in his wheelchair.

Jeremiah had a visit from the tooth fairy this week and now has another wobbly tooth.  He's looking very grown up these days and unlike Malachi he seems to be growing at an alarming rate.  Still, it will be good news for Isaac when he gets a whole load of barely worn hand me downs!

It's been a while

We've just been plodding along as usual, counting down the days until half term.  I phoned school transport and was told that Isaac is not disabled enough to qualify for free school transport but if I send them letters from Simon's employer (saying he is at work at school run time), my GP (saying that I can't walk 9 miles a day pushing Isaac in the wheelchair and carrying Malachi) and Isaac's paediatrician (saying that he can't walk to school) along with copies of the DLA award and blue badge then they would consider it.  I'm not sure if it's worth it to be honest.  But it's only a few letters and a bit of photocopying says the lady from the school transport office.  Yes, added to the other "only's" that I have to do whenever Isaac needs anything.  So far I have phoned the paediatrician who is on holiday and made an appointment to see the health visitor which we had to cancel because Isaac was poorly.

In the meantime we found out that breakfast club is only 70p per day so now Simon is taking Jeremiah to that every morning and I am taking Isaac on the days he is in and collecting both of them.  So now one of my children is always on time for school.  Isaac now has ear defenders for school to try and block out some of the noise.  He took them to school for the first time today so hopefully he will have a better morning than he has done.

Isaac was in the local paper this week.  A photographer went round to all the reception classes in Somerset and took a photo.  So here it is, 15 happy smiling children, and Isaac in a strop.

http://somerset.newsprints.co.uk/view/22486829/st_johns_wellington_recepti_jpg

And Jeremiah's one from 2 years ago, because I'm having a nostalgic moment

http://somerset.newsprints.co.uk/view/16075019/stjohnsreceptionsgwk41_jpg

15th October marked the end of baby loss awareness week and as is tradition we lit Eleanor's candle at 7pm for the international wave of light.  I dithered about whether to light 2 candles this year but I couldn't find one or think of an idea to make one that felt right for Elisha so we just lit the one that we usually light.

Isaac finally told me why he didn't like school.  Apparantly it's too noisy so he is now the proud owner of some ear defenders.  So now he is happy although the teacher is having trouble getting him to take them off when she wants to talk to him.  And he is even more unwilling to play with the other children in his class.  According to him, Jeremiah is his best friend and he doesn't need anyone else.  Not sure what Jeremiah thinks about that!

Malachi is at that in between stage, more toddler than baby now and cruising round the furniture.  He has a cold so he is back on his inhaler again.  He has also learnt to take apart disposable nappies so he is back in cloth nappies for the forseeable future.  He doesn't really have the right shape for cloth nappies as he is very short and rather chubby so finding nappies that fit under his trousers is a challenge.  His 9-12 month trousers are a bit long anyway so we can't get away with moving up a size to accomodate his nappy.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.