Hi everyone,

First of all I must apologise for not updating in so long but everything has been such a whirlwind over the last couple of months. Finally though, things are starting to settle down and we are getting into a routine.

Harry is doing really well - he is sitting unaided and is now rolling both ways. He is even weight bearing on his right hand when he is on his front and has attempted bum shuffling bless him.

He has had his eye sight tested and his hearing tested and everything was fine. He has also got his new peadro boots and his standing frame and also his new bath seat.

We have been riding with donkies which was fab. We have started theraplay and also portage which are both going really well. We have a place in September at the Hawthorn Centre also.

I have gone back to work 2 mornings a week so Harry has started nursery (mainstream) which he loves, it is bringing him on loads.

So all in all after a daunting start on our journey, we are making excellent progress so much so that at Harry's 3 month review his consultant said that she didn't need to see him for another 6 months......she also said that his speech is at a level of an 18 month old.

We are also looking forward to a holiday at the Daisy Chain Project in October half term which is a charity in Blackpool that provides holidays for children with special needs.

If anyone wants further info on any of the above please do not hesitate to email me.

I promise the next post will not be so long in coming!

Shell, Paul, Grace & Harry x

Hello!

Well it's been a while since my last post but lots to report!

Harry had his assessment 2 weeks ago where we met his team.

Unfortunately the speech and language therapist was not able to attend the assessment so she came to the house to do a seperate assessment a couple of days before. She thought that Harry was where he should be for his age and in some things actually ahead so we were delighted at this outcome (we always knew in our own minds that this was the case anyway).

At the actual assessment, Harry first met his occupational health therapist and his physiotherapist. It was basically a play session for Harry which he loved and managed to charm the professionals who were all female! Afterwards  his consultant and the psychologist took a turn.

After this we had a break where we were given Harry's MRI results. The damage to his brain was minimal and affecting his movement and we were told that they think the damage occurred during pregnancy. We weren't actually shown anything, the consultant just verbally told us and drew us a diagram of Harry's brain.

After the break we all met up again and discussed what will happen going forward. Harry starts a course of physiotherapy and occupational health therapy which they are doing jointly at home. The course is for 6 weeks. Harry also has to have an eye test and a hearing test. He does not need to see the speech therapist for 6 months. We have also got a few appointments with the health visitor and his specialist health visitor/psychologist.

So we have made lots of progress since my last post and Harry's first physio is on his first birthday 14th April bless him.

We now have the lovely task of filling in his DLA form but luckily our specialist health visitor is going to help us with that as it is a little bit daunting to say the least!

Anyway, will update again next  week after his first physio and his first birthday as no doubt there will be loads to report.

Bye for now x

Hello! Well, we survived today after weeks of worrying........ I am going to try and remember everything that happened and get it down so anyone reading that has to go through it still will know what to expect. For those of you that know me well I will be totally honest too!

We all got up at 6am this morning and by 7.45 were parked at the hospital. We got up to the ward for just before 8am as we had been asked to do. We were in a day ward in a room with 6 beds all of which were filled by just after 8am. Harry was the youngest, there was a little girl at 16 months, 2 little boys of about 6, a girl of about 11 and a young lad who was about 14.

Firstly we were allocated a nurse who did loads of paperwork with us and put Harry's wristbands on. Another nurse then came and put some magic cream onto the back of Harry's hands just in case he needed a canula fitting. The anaethesist then came round to explain what would happen and issue consent forms. She told us that 2 of the other patients would be going first as they were having CT scans not MRIs. We then had to wait.....and wait.....and wait!!! After copius amounts of GMTV, Jeremy Kyle, This Morning and Judge Judy, Paul went to see what was happening. There had been 2 emergency admissions which had delayed everything but we were told that we would definitely be going down. The little girl at 16 months got sent home as there was not enough time to do her - this was heartbreaking to see as her Mum and Grandma were extremely distraught as you would expect (I know I would have been after weeks of worrying).

Finally at about 12.30 they came to fetch us. We were allocated a health care assistant who took us down to the MRI department and stayed with us. Once down there we didn't wait long. Only 1 of us were allowed in to the room with Harry. I went with him. I had to hold him in my arms whilst they put the gas mask onto his face. It wasn't pleasant but he was soon asleep. I managed not to go to pieces completely. The worse bit was leaving him on the trolley and walking away.

We were told to go and get a coffee and come back in half an hour. I am glad we followed their advice. Half an hour soon passed. Back in the waiting room we got told that he would soon be coming round. Paul was distraught to hear Harry crying knowing we weren't with him but secretly I was just glad to hear him crying as it meant he was ok. They then fetched us into the room - he was a  bit groggy and disorientated but he soon managed one of his special smiles for Mummy and Daddy. I got to ride back upstairs on a trolley as I was holding Harry who weighs a ton at the best of times.

Once back on the ward we were allowed to give Harry a bottle and some weetabix - that was soon devoured, he was starving bless him. After that, they came to check his temperature and his pulse and after an hour or so we were told we could go home. We were given an after care leaflet and a letter to take to our doctor. We were told that the results would be sent to Harry's consultant and that she will contact us from there.

So there, that's where we are up to. We are all shattered to say the least but glad that today is over and gearing up for the next instalment.

Shell x

Well it's been over a week since I updated the blog which I feel a bit guilty about but it's been a hectic week (just for a change!).

We had another hospital visit last Sunday but for Grace not Harry. She had an accident and fell face down onto a stone floor, teeth through lip etc etc. Lots of tears but better after cuddles and kisses. She started to be sick, however, later in the day and NHS Direct told us to take her to A & E to be checked for concussion.......4 hours later we were back home and she was fine. Kids are a constant worry bless them.

The rest of the week has been busy with every day things and now we are suddenly at Sunday night with only 3 full days to go before Harry's MRI. We got a letter the other day outlining where to go, at what time and how to "fast" Harry. He will not be happy about not being able to eat his full weetabix and 8 oz bottle!!!! It feels like planning a military operation - Grace is being packed off the night before to stay at her "boyfriends" house much to her delight and we will have to set off at 7am to negotiate traffic into Leeds and attempt to get parked at the LGI (which is notoriously bad for parking for those of you who don't know). Grace is getting picked up from school by Harry's Godmum so we are having a practise run at that on Wednesday - see what I mean about military operation yet lol?

Anyway, think we have crossed the "Ts" and dotted the "Is", well hopefully!! I am sure it will all be fine on the day, I just want it over and done with now so we can get some kind of line drawn under it and move on with his treatment.

Michelle x