Rosa's World: May 2011

I'm back!

Yes it's been AGES since I last wrote an entry - sorry about that. As you will know from my sis's blog we have all been very busy what with looking for houses and medical appointments and so on. So I thought you might like a little mezze of delights from the last 6 weeks so you can see how I've been growing up!

This weekend I went for my first ever swim. Yes I know that sounds mental - I am 19 months old, but it has been very difficult to organise a swim when my big sis had a tracheostomy, and thanks to the people at Shooting Stars we all went as a family this weekend.

What, you want me to go in there...?!

Oh....ok then!

I was like a duck to water - absolutely loved it and can't wait to go again! The weather was lovely this weekend, so decided to go for a spin in the Shooting Stars garden....

System up with the top down (sort of)...

And I'm picking my nose as often as my big sis these days (daddy's fault)

When Nadia stays at Shooting Stars I get lots of mummy and daddy time AND I get to play with all the things there...

There is a big swing which is ace

But as it's somewhere different I am a bit of a nightmare going to sleep. Normally I am like clockwork and as soon as my head hits the pillow at 7.30pm at home I am asleep. Last night I only went to sleep at 10.10pm after several attempts as I didn't like the fact I was being put down to sleep in a room I didn't know. So I just dossed around in the Family Room at Shooting Stars whilst mummy and daddy tried to watch a dvd.

On the roundabout at Shooting Stars

Today we went shopping in Kingston and of course had to stop for a spot of lunch in the sunshine. I didn't eat much (I never do when I'm out, although I think the pigeons were grateful for my cast offs), but I enjoyed throwing my hat on the floor every couple of minutes and watching mummy or daddy have to pick it up off the floor.

You really want me to wear this?

Back at Shooting Stars I was doing my favourite trick of babbling and squeaking...

Babbling and squeaking

There's been a lot of focus in the last 6 weeks on my development. Once Nadia's operation was out of the way mummy and daddy started to worry more and more about my movement and particularly the way I stand on my feet (I'm still only cruising by the way as I can't stand unaided).

As you will probably know already I was told ages ago at the clinic to wear special boots to stop me turning my ankles when I pulled myself up and I was given special exercises to improve how I stand. However it was clear that none of this has had an effect as it still looks really awkward when I pull myself up (standing practically on the side of my ankles and always having my toes curled in).

Mummy and daddy decided to take me to a private specialist to get a second opinion and the lady confirmed that I had low muscle tone (floppy limbs to you and me) and also that I had something called hypermobility which basically means my joints are a bit wobbly most probably caused by my prematurity, and it's also linked to being quite anxious (hence why I often circle my feet and hands when I'm eating). The lady said that I had to get much better shoes than what I had been wearing (which are already pretty meaty looking) and that I needed proper orthotics or casts that I could wear inside shoes.

Not wanting costs to escalate, we finally had a NHS appointment where mummy explained this second opinion and whilst they were reluctant to refer me to the orthotics people as I was too young (under 2) they said they would as they knew we were worried, so I have an appointment later this month.

We're all hoping that things will be able to improve soon, but I will definitely need some proper support for my feet before things can progress. In the meantime here are some more highlights from the last 6 weeks...

Reunited with Grandma Moira when we went up north over the late Bank Holiday - it was so great to see her again after she had looked after me when big sis was in hospital