Christmas Crafts

Phoebe and I spent the past 2 nights crafting away at felt Christmas trees.  Ahhh so cute.

Speech and Language

Joshua had his first appointment with the SALT today.  I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting, not a lot to be honest.  I thought they may come up with other suggestions or methods.

We have been trying Josh with many different bottles, Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature, Avent.  Not too mention training cups.  But he point blank refuses to try.  Now whether this is because of texture, warmth, his visual impairment, stubbornness, inability to learn how to suckle from the bottle; I just don't know.

The SALT suggested we could try the Haberman Feeder, apparently many babies with special needs take to this bottle.  Definitely worth a try.

They also suggested the Medela feeding cup.  I'm a little concerned that if he could master this he would lap the milk, this is something we've been trying to discourage as it can lead to dental problems.

Worst case scenario we were told that if we need him to come off the breast (which is becoming more important as my arthritis is now chronic) he may have to be tube fed.  We don't want this.  The ability to eat is so important.  The SALT explained that if this route were taken Josh would also be seen by a dietitian.  Plus we would have to spend a couple of days in hospital learning how to administer the milk.

So in a bid to avoid this I've found an online retailer who stocks the Medela range.
http://www.expressyourselfmums.co.uk/products.asp/subcatID/26/breast-milk-cups-and-feeders

Hopefully Joshua will not be stubborn and will take one of these!

Some of the Photos are Ready!

Louisa sent me an email with a couple of the photos all finished.  I can't wait to get the disk. Here's a sneaky peek.

The Big Shop

All done and home again.  Lakeside was heaving.  Much busier than previous years.  I thought the country was in financial ruin?  Or perhaps people just don't care?

Anyway, for obvious reasons I can't post here what was bought.  But having arrived home exhausted but completed Joshua managed a few minutes in his Squiggles chair.

I don't think we've over done it this year, it's hard having 5.  I'm glad we made a start earlier in the year.

I did buy some cute decorations.  I'm planning on putting the decorations up on the first Sunday of Advent, the 27th November.

A Visitor for BenBen

Our Lovely Liz and SamSam came to visit today, for our Ben's birthday.  We had a lovely day.  Ben received Woody, who he just loves.  The boys played together.

Liz is perfectly glowing, with just 7 weeks until Buzz arrives.

We all settled down in the evening to watch Toy Story, the boys had pop corn.

Ben is 3!

Ah my little BenBen, the Wild Child.  He is 3 today.  He got to open his presents before going to school and have a little play.  But because it is a school day we just need to get on with things, sorry kid!

He did have his Godparents, Mike and Cath pop round on Saturday, we had a lovely curry.  And his Auntie Liz and SamSam will be coming to see him this Saturday.  We'll have a little tea party and play some games.

Bottle Feeding / Breast Feeding Nightmare

So I was feeling really strong, really positive, really... and then... he just wasn't drinking anything.  I offered expressed breast milk, formula milk, baby juice, cooled boiled water, I offered them in bottles with varying lids and beakers, sippy cups and a sports bottle.  Well he took 4 oz on Saturday but that was it.  By Sunday morning his nappies were bone dry.  He even stopped eating foods, now our Joshua loves his breakfast.  By early Sunday afternoon I was beginning to panic.  So... yep, I breastfeed him.  I know that I broke my resolve, but seriously was I supposed to let him become ill?  I can't feel guilty for feeding him, but I have to work out how we are going to resolve this.  I need to take some medication for this miserable arthritis.