Christmas is coming!

Christmas is coming and I'm not ready! I've been very disorganised this year, not writing lists or keeping note of what I've bought and what I need to get.  I have tons and tons of wrapping today, but I'm spending this evening, doing a very quick blog and just chilling watching House episodes.

Had a really busy day today.  I didn't actually get up til 8am and Ellis and Oscar were both sound asleep for another 20 minutes.  I managed to wake them up and get them ready to go out but poor Oscar is quite poorly with a head cold that is going around the family.  Ellis had it first but seems to be doing much better and Leo did start coughing tonight, so he might be next.

Ellis is totally shattered.  School has been busy sorting out the Christmas play and he has been suffering with Night Terrors for a few weeks now.  He's actually only had 3 nights of sleeping through in about a month, one of them being last night.

There is so much to catch up on but I just haven't got the time or energy.

Rob has broken his arm.  He bought a new bike, where the shoes clip into the pedals, and when he got home from his first ride, he forgot he couldn't take his feet off easily and just fell over, putting his arm out to break his fall.  He ended up snapping the radius off from the elbow joint .  Nasty.

Here are a few random pictures from my phone.

Shower and bed for me.  Hope the boys sleep through again.

Mini Panic

Not blogging really pains me.  I sometimes have mini panics about it as I know that I love looking back at the blog, quite regularly, and there will be huge gaps!  Some important things have happened, like Ellis going to school for the first time and I haven't even blogged about it.

I can't say that the extra time in the evenings has been used for anything else productive really.  I'm basically just too tired to think.

Things are going well here.  Rob is in a new job which he seems happier with, for now, Ellis is busy, busy busy and has finally settled into year 1.  Leo is a bundle of energy, sweetness and attention seeking, which is hard sometimes and Oscar is pretty much following in Leo's footsteps.

There has been lots going on I suppose.  I've been regularly attending netball training, yoga, netball matches and fitting in at least one run a week, and a few social events too.  I go to the local pub sometimes with some Mums from Ellis' class and I've been to the cinema too.

Rob has also been quite busy.  He is running and cycling regularly in his lunch breaks, he is doing amazing with his swimming lessons and is diving in now and can swim lots of lengths.  He is also growing a moustache for Movember, which I've got used to surprisingly quickly.

Ellis pretty much does something every day after school and he his a muscle machine!  He is getting on much better at school as the first term wasn't very good.  I'm very proud of him, and tell him so all the time.

I've started helping out at the school, only once every 2 weeks for 2 hours but I know I'm going to love it.  I just want to do more but I can't for now.  I still can't believe that my little Leo will be starting in September!  I'm trying to make the most of my time with him.

Oscar is a noisy little so and so.  He screams, a lot, and shouts at me all the time.  It can be quite draining, but he is a fun bundle to have around.  He has huge feet too, size 6 1/2 G!

That's it for now as my eyes are drying shut.  I'm going to post a picture entry soon.

BOURNSTREAM

PRACTICE RUN

PRACTICE RUN

The Lion King

Oops! I accidentally e-mailed the last entry to everyone in my gmail account, and I had 78 hits in one day.  That's a lot for this blog.

Well, what an amazing day yesterday!  I took my Ellis to see The Lion King at the theatre.  I tried to get him to watch the film in the morning so he would have an idea what it was about, but he turned it off after a couple of minutes.

We had lunch and then I drove into town and parked in a multistory behind the theatre (bad idea).  We usually park a bit away and walk to it but Ellis wasn't up for walking and he had been up in the night complaining about a bad tummy so I thought it would be better for him to be closer.

We waited outside for Nanny, Auntie Katie, Auntie Karen, Cousins Chloe and Charley and I took a picture of him by the sign.

He was really excited and bouncing all over the place.  We played eye spy until everyone arrived and we went in to use the toilet before finding our seats.

We were in the stalls, right next to the aisle, which was perfect!  I was really looking forward to it but I think I sat a bit too far away from Ellis as I would have liked to have seen and heard his reaction to it.   I know he had fun though, sat by Cousin Chloe, he had sweets, glow sticks and a brand new Batman t-shirt, so what else could he ask for!?

The seating went, Ellis, Chloe, Charley, Katie, Karen, Me and then Mum, who did amazing seeing as she only had her hip replaced 17 days before.  I tried to protect her as best I could til we got to our seat and she sat with her leg tucked in from the aisle.  She got a bit stiff at times but overall did well.

I took pictures before the show started and Chloe was being really funny posing like a lion.

 
The show started and it was instant goosebumps!   People wearing huge costumes of an elephant, including baby elephant, rhino, giraffes, zebras, cheetah, antelope, lions and birds all came down the aisles up on to the stage with amazing music being played and incredible singing.

I really don't have a bad thing to say about the show.  It was just amazing.  Ellis loved it too and I watched his reactions a lot.  He was so good too, just sat there watching, only chatting a bit about the show and he danced a couple of times too.

The show continued with brilliant music, singing, dancing, scenes, sets, costumes, comedy, colours, movement, and anything else that would describe a feast of entertainment.

Even the start after the interlude was different.  The fire screen didn't just go up and the show carried on, it started very suddenly and unexpectedly with about 20 or so, colourfully dressed people, running down the aisles swinging poles around with paper birds on the end.  They swung them right over the audience and were dotted around the theatre, singing loudly.  It was brilliant and built up the excitement straight away.

After clapping and clapping until my hands could clap no more, we packed up to leave.  We didn't leave straight away as I was faffing with Ellis' shoes, which he keeps taking off, and answering some texts.  When we looked up, the theatre had emptied pretty fast which was good as Mum didn't have to get out with too many people in the way.

We got outside and agreed to meet at Pizza Hut for some food, so they wandered off to get picked up by Dad and Ellis and I went back to the car park.

It was very, very slow progress.  We had to walk up to level 5 then I had to line up to pay for our ticket and by the time I pulled out of our space, there was a queue to get out.  I phoned Mum to say I might be a while and she said she was already at the restaurant!

Half hour later we exited the car park, playing eye spy the whole time, and met up with everyone else reasonably quickly.

We had a lovely meal and chat with everyone about the show and our plans for Christmas!  I always hate that conversation.  I wish everyone would sort out what they want to do and let me know so I can work out what I want to do. ;o)  Last year everyone came to ours and stayed all afternoon, evening and night.  It was brilliant and I loved it.  This year though, Katie will have a new baby so wants to stay at home which is understandable.  I'm sure it will all get sorted, it usually does.

While we were out, Rob had Oscar and Leo to himself and he took them to a soft play party, gave them dinner, bathed them and got them to bed before we got back.  He seemed to manage really well and I know the boys had a lovely time at the party, thank you Charlotte x

I wasn't surprised when Ellis slept in this morning, even with Leo shaking him, shouting at him that it was morning!  They really do need their own rooms.

Today went so fast!  Oscar was a bit off colour and very needy.  He was hugging everyone at Sing and Sign, which they all loved, and then he would flop on me with his thumb in.  He did nearly fall asleep in the car on the way home which is unusual too.

I put him to bed when I got home and he slept for 2 hours and only picked at his lunch.  He actually sat and watched TV today too, which he never does so I know he isn't 100%.

Rob went for his induction day at his new job, which he said went well, then he met up with some old, (1 week old) work colleagues for lunch before coming home and going out again to look at a car he would like to buy, but didn't as the boot was full of water!

Ellis did okay at his swimming lesson today.  I haven't been for ages, especially with all 3 kiddies but it worked out alright.  The main trouble I had was getting the kids out of the car! The spaces are narrow so I had to get them out through the boot!

There were no free seats in the viewing area, so I stood and the boys sat on the floor.  They were very well behaved.

Once home Ellis and Leo had more to eat and I put Oscar to bed and put on my running clothes.   Even in the drizzle I still wanted to go.  I planned a route in my head, checked it was okay to go with Rob, kissed the boys and went.  I don't think I'm actually enjoying it as such, but I am happy that I'm doing it, if that makes sense.  I felt good when I got home, and the boys were still up for me to have kiss cuddles.

It's the personal trainer again on Wednesday!  PLEASE HELP ME!

Ellis' Ears

Back at the end of May, Ellis was sent home with a slip in his book bag saying he had received an unsatisfactory hearing test and I was told to let his teachers know.  I told them and they said not to worry because a lot of children had had the same result.

I knew there would be a retest in 6 weeks but I lost track of time and it wasn't until I received a letter in his book bag saying he had failed the second test and needed a referral that I started to be a little concerned.

I booked the appointment and I was told there was quite a wait, but for some reason it didn't take that long and I took him to his appointment at a local clinic.

I'm not sure if I have written about his ears at all yet on the blog (I'm so confused where I am on here) so apologies if I'm duplicating myself.

We saw a lovely lady who looked in his ears, put different head sets on and asked him to put little people in and out of a boat if he heard a beep etc, and by the end she handed me a leaflet and said he has Glue Ear.  I was told to come back in 4 months for a retest but that it was very important to let teachers/instructors/family/friends know that his hearing is quite impaired and to make special allowances for it!  Bit of a shock really because he manages so well.  She said he has adapted well and does lip read.  He did really well bless him and he took it all in his stride.

After 4 months, if the test was still bad, she said there was a potential he would need temporary hearing aids, and then maybe surgery if it didn't clear on its own.  EEEK!

I took the leaflet and we started to walk out of the clinic when Ellis grabbed my hand, looked up at me, and said, "do you still love me Mummy?".  I choked back the tears, got on my knees, gave him the biggest hug, tons of kisses and told him of course I did and I'll always love him.  I carried him back to the car as I just didn't want to let go of him!

We phoned Daddy in the car and told him the news, and I explained about the hearing aids, but that we might struggle with funding for them as he was doing so well at school.  It was then that we thought it might be a good idea to use the private healthcare cover that Rob had with his job.

Over the next few days, several of us, tested him.  I mean we would try and catch him out to see if he was faking his own hearing test! Very silly really.  The private appointment soon arrived, and we were sat in a waiting room, waiting for Daddy to join us.

The consultant arrived slightly early so Ellis and I went in without Daddy but he didn't miss much and was soon sat with Ellis on his lap.

It took the consultant all of 3 seconds to say that he had glue ear and sent us to the next room to get his hearing checked.

A lovely lady got him doing the same things as the previous doctor, but with flashier machines and she confirmed also that his hearing was quite impaired and we were sent back to the consultant to discuss the options.

We were told that as it hadn't cleared on its own in the 3 months it had been since the first failed test, that it wouldn't clear on its own and he would need grommets fitted! What no hearing aids first?  Nope.  He said that the sound he actually hears is like having your head under water, or cotton wool stuffed in your ears whilst in a busy pub.  So having hearing aids would only make the distorted sound louder and not any clearer.  The only way to make it better is to put the grommets in, clear the sticky goo behind the ear drum, and maybe take his adenoids out too, depending on their size.  It was a lot to take in, but it all made sense and we were given a provisional date of the 19th September which was 3 weeks away.  It also happened to be the same day as my mums replacement hip surgery! Typical.

The date was later changed to the 12th September, only 2 weeks away, and we took time to explain it all properly to Ellis.  Rob showed him some videos on the computer and we talked him through it.  I'm sure it bothered him, especially the needle in the hand thing but at least I knew he was prepared for it all and there would be no surprises, only good ones, like sweets!

Click for - The Operation

Following the operation, Ellis was very tired and up and down with his emotions, one minute angry, then crying, then running around happy.  It's taken a good 2 weeks for him to be better and I must admit I was expecting there to be quite a difference with his hearing but it's actually been quite subtle, and he has only recently started to say that his ears are better and fixed.

Today we went for his check-up.  Mum and Dad came over and I made sure I put Oscar down for a late nap so they only had Leo to worry about, and I think he sat just with the iPad so Mum was safe from being jumped on.

I picked Ellis up from his classroom, and he was looking rather tired.  He was also sad that the football trophy he took to school this morning, was now broken.  He moaned that he was missing Golden Hour too, which turned out to be an hour on a Friday where they get to choose what they want to do.

We got to the hospital on time and the consultant was only a few minutes late.  He looked in Ellis' ears, and let Rob and I look at the fitted grommets too which was strange.  They were magnified and just looked like Polos in his ears.

We were then sent to the next room for his hearing test.

He started off doing the usual people in the boat thing but there was so much outside noise that he was moved into the sound proof box and had to press a button instead.  He messed around a little bit but it was fun and she said he did really well.

We were shown the results and there was a huge difference to his left ear, and his right ear was taken into the realms of normal hearing.  That's great!

Another check-up in 9 months time and we will have to keep going back until they come out and hopefully the ear drums grows back.  1 in 100 have to have the ear drum patched up.  There is also the possibility that the glue ear comes back and he might need more grommets fitted!

Rob and Ellis went to get the car while I booked the next appointment and very shortly into the car journey I turned round to see my baba like this.  Bless him, he was shattered!

We took over from Mum and Dad and they went straight home.  The rest of the afternoon was lush, just chilling out together.

After dinner we all, even Oscar, sat around the table doing arts and crafts and learning phonics out of the boys magazines that I had bought them for a treat.  I love moments like that, it's so special.

Admitting Defeat

It is with a heavy heart and sad regret that I have to finally admit defeat.  I am unable to maintain this blog to the standard that I would like, and have therefore decided that the time has come for a change.

Since Oscar arrived, I have found it increasingly difficult to have the time, and energy, to stay on top of blogging about every day.  Weeks tick by and I haven't done one entry and it's then a losing battle for me.  I love my blog, I love doing my blog, but I don't love the time it takes to sort out pictures and videos.  There are also too many distractions for me.  I have quite a lot of stuff that I like to watch, and at the end of a long day, sometimes having to engage my brain is just too much effort.

Recently I've started exercising again, and I've joined a netball club.  I've also started going back to a yoga class, and I aim to go out for a jog at least once a week too.  This takes 2 and a bit evenings and then if I have any social events that takes up more evenings and I'm just going to get too far behind.

So, what I have decided to do, if I can, is to just blog an entry about something that's going on, bothering me, interesting me, updates on the kiddies, big days out etc etc and just include some of my favourite pictures that I have taken recently.  To be honest, my picture and video taking has diminished a lot too which I'm not happy about at all.  I will be doing something about that.

Some of my posts will just be writing and I may even just do a video entry, which is easy to do.

That's my plan.  Not sure where I go from here really but I'll work it out.

The Operation

The day of the surgery.

I hardly slept as I was woken up by creaky windows and Leo and then I just couldn't go back off.

My alarm went at 6:10am and I was up and dressed in 30 seconds.  Leo was already awake so he went downstairs and then Ellis got up shortly after.  I changed him into his new pyjamas and got him snugly and warm.

Mum and Dad arrived right on 6:30am and I showed Mum everything I had got ready for Leo and Oscar.  Oscar was still snoozing. (I later found out that I forgot to get Leo's packed lunch out the fridge so I had to phone the preschool to ask them to feed him!) Bad Mummy!

We said goodbye and left.

Rob zoomed us to the hospital and we arrived on time.  Ellis showed off his new pyjamas. We had a 2 minute wait in the main reception before going in the lift to level 4, where we were met by a nurse who showed us to Ellis' room, number 402.

Everyone kept getting his name wrong! It was wrong on his door, then the nurse was calling him George and then the anesthetist called him George too.  He came in saying "Hi George, I'm Steve" he said sorry for using the wrong name and I told Ellis to say "that's alright Fred" :o)

He had all the checks done, height, weight, thing on his finger and they put magic cream on the back of both of his hands. He said it was really itchy but did really well. Ellis' rabbit, Stringy had the same treatment which was really cute. 

We saw the nurse, the anesthetist, the consultant and the recovery nurse who was slighty nuts! The consultant pretty much said that he would take his adenoids out too, unless they were really small.  Rob and I took that as though it was definitely going to be done.

We then just had to wait around.  Ellis used some of the things that Sophie had kindly bought for him, watched cbbc, played with the electric bed controls and played on the iPad.

View from our room.

At 9:15am a porter and the nurse came in and he was wheeled down on the bed to the operating theatre.  There was a little room just outside the main operating area and we stopped in there for him to have his cannula fitted.  He was really really brave.  They held his hand out of sight and he held my hand and we all talked about school and all his sports that he does.  He jumped when the needle went in and he went all red and hot but he didn't complain and then once they had put the teddy stickers on he said it didn't sting.  He then asked if they could take it out!

They injected the medicine in and I managed to film his response. He went to sleep with a big snore.  I was surprisingly okay with it all, although once I got back to the room it hit me a little bit.

Rob and I had a cuppa and a chat while we waited.

About an hour later the nurse came to get me and I went to see him in recovery.  He was wriggling around quite upset and kicking lots.  I was told to get in the bed with him as they don't have sides to the bed and they didn't want him to fall out. I had to be really careful that he didn't head butt me or fall off the other side, it was hard work.

His nose was really itchy from the pain killers and he was rubbing it lots and there was a bit of blood, which was normal apparently.

We got back to his room and Rob helped to stop him rolling one way, I got out and stopped him getting out the other.  This left him with lots more space to move around in, even changing ends.  He just didn't know what to do with himself.  His eyes were red and glazed and he couldn't focus on anything.  Very gradually over half an hour he started to settle down.  I thought he would have a sleep but he wanted to sit up and use the iPad. 

Bit brighter.

Brighter still.

Ellis' temperature was checked as he was quite hot and we had to persuade him to take his pyjamas off, which we did eventually.

He was really hungry so we ordered our lunch which arrived about half an hour later. It was yummy!

Rob went out for some food as they only provide food for one parent.  We all ate together and just chilled out.

He was given Tramadol and lots of paracetamol and told to rest.  We tried to get him to sleep but he wouldn't.

He said his ears didn't feel any different and nothing sounded louder or anything so I was a bit worried about whether it was worth it or not.  The consultant came round and said that there was a lot of goo behind the ear drums and that it was well worth doing.  We have to come back in one month and then every 9 months until the grommets are gone.

We waited around, eating sweets, colouring and watching TV until we could go home.

We did regular updates to everyone and Mum and Dad seemed to be coping well with Leo and Oscar.  They took Leo to preschool in the morning then took Oscar home with them for a nap and some lunch.

Nicky's back! Yay!  She's starting back regularly so hopefully we will have a clean and tidy house again soon.

The discharge nurse came to see us and gave Ellis a new toy, which we named Elizabeth, a badge and a bravery certificate, which I have to laminate.

The pharmacist came to see us with a bag full of drugs to keep him topped up with and we were told we could soon go home.

The discharge nurse checked the drugs that we were given and didn't agree with what we had been told so we had to wait around for them to sort that out between them.

We left a little later than expected at 4:40pm and arrived home just after 5pm.

I think the others were rather excited to see us and it all just kicked off!  The noise!  Oscar was screaming, Leo was crying about stuff and it was just chaos.  I managed to thank Mum and Dad and they stayed long enough for Dad to have a cuppa.

They bought Ellis a fab Lego present which we can sit and do with him this weekend.  Auntie Katie bought him a car and trailer set which I'm sure will be used by all 3.

After they left, it was instant calm.  No one was crying and it was quiet.  I bathed Oscar and spent some time with him.

Rob sat and played a board game with Leo, which he loves doing and Rob said he really enjoyed it too.

I then bathed Leo and got him to bed, followed by a quick wash of Ellis.  We gave Ellis his drugs for the evening and he went to bed.

I sorted out some of the bags and sat blogging and sorting out photographs.  I found in Leo's book bag from school today, a lovely card that he had created with the help of the staff.  He was trying to tell me about it in the bath but I thought it was just a picture he had done at school.  He said he wrote Ellis, even doing the dots, (dots on top of the i) even doing the eyes I thought he said.  He said something about a book in his bag and I thought I would check later for a reading book, which I did and found the card.  I love it! I'll get Leo to give it to Ellis in the morning.

Ellis is zonked but Leo and Oscar have been rather unsettled.  Oscar has been downstairs twice, once for some milk, and then again for some water and good burp.  Leo had a toilet break, bad leg, wanted to do drawing and was then hungry.

I'm zonked myself so I'm off for a shower and bed before it all starts again!  Phew what a day.  I couldn't have got through it without my husband, Mum and Dad, my great kiddies and good friends.  Thank you everyone xxx