It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Ahh the smell of Christmas is almost upon us. I've been super organised this year and already done most of the Christmas Shopping. My little bubby is all sorted and Mr P-T and I have just sat together and wrapped most of them! *exciting!* I can't wait to see his little face on Christmas morning!

I had some trouble this year though. I couldn't think of a gift that Father Christmas could bring him. See in our house, FC brings one present to each child and all the other presents one recieves are from people that love us very much. I finally settled on a treasure box, so he can fill it with his special things. He currently has a box he stole from his papi at the moment(still full of Mr P-T runes) and he loves it. I looked everywhere for a reasonably priced one and just couldn't find what I was looking for!

So I eventually decided to take the plunge and make him one. One box, several coats of paint, lots of fiddling with Fimo and a glue gun and we have this:

I'm actually quite proud of it, the fimo is glow in the dark so should look amazing in his bedroom when the lights go out :o) I just need to fill it with some little treasures for him ready for the big day!

Whilst I'm on the subject of Christmas and Fimo, I also made this years tree decoration. Here at Pixie Towers we get a new decoration for the tree every year, it's something we've done for each Christmas we've been married. I like the idea of putting the tree up when we're old(er) and having a lots of different decorations on there telling the story of our lives. This is what I made:

Three baubles, three family members

How are your Christmas plans coming on? Are you a last minute shopper or super organised?
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Family Wellbeing

I recently started a family wellbeing course at my local sure start centre. At the start it was mainly to have some adult time without Kal-El if I'm honest! But now I go because I genuinely find it interesting. It's run by a tutor from the local adult college who guides the topic of conversation gently, but other than that it's about different mamas coming together, sharing their stories about parenting and offering advice to others if they need it.

At the beginning we were asked 'what one thing would you change with your child?' After quite some time pondering this question I finally settled on something. As it was meant to be something relatively small that we could tackle over time, I chose to tackle holding hands whilst out. I didn't want to be too strict about it as I'm not a very strict person (Mr P-T and I often talk about how we breed 'free range' babies) and we also live in a place where there is no traffic going through the streets, so it's pretty safe. I decided with the guidance of my tutor to explain to Kal-El that whilst walking through the square's "it's ok not to hold hands as there is no traffic, but once we get to the end of the lane you must hold my hand as it's a busy road and very dangerous." Explaining that he had two options(depending on what we were doing). If we HAD to be somewhere then he either held my hand or had to go back in his pram. If we were walking to the park for example, I simply explained that he either held my hand or we would go straight back home.

This may sound like a simple thing to some, but it's one thing I've never got round to tackling as he's never been much of a walker, I mean he loves walking and is good at it, but he's been more of a 'walk a short distance, then want in the pram' kinda boy. That coupled with the fact that anytime I tried to get him to hold my hand was followed by a blood curdling scream whilst he recoiled away in horror that I would DARE try to hold his hand!

So I decided on my plan of action and started putting it into play. At first he was not happy about the choices I placed before him. But I followed through on the consequences that I set out for him and he soon began to understand. We had a breakthrough one day when we got to the end of the lane. I asked him to stop(as usual), came down to his level(as usual) and explained(as usual) That he could hold mamas hand or go in the pram. He looked very sullen at this, so I repeated it to him. He looked at the ground, then at me, then the pram and made his decision "Pram mummy". He knew he didn't want to hold my hand, so didn't even try to see if he could get away with it. Since then it just got better, to the point where he would hold my hand in places where he didn't 'need' to!

So I tackled my first task and achieved my goal with a happy son.

Since then we have had a few more tasks set(that we always have to decide on for ourselves). The most fun one I have done was the most recent. Whilst I 'm in class, my son is down the hall in the creche(which he ADORES!). The task this week was to make a memory box together, so off we went for the last 30 mins of creche to make our boxes. We had soo much fun decorating it together and working as a team to decide what colours to use and where to place things. It was fab, especially as both myself and Kal-El enjoy crafting.

And here is the finished product:

If you have a sure start centre near you I would definitely recommend popping down and seeing what courses they have available for you. The don't cost a thing, though I do believe they are starting to charge for the creche from January. But I believe it's only going to be £2.50 per session, which is fantastic value when you consider how much nursery costs! And the creche groups are much smaller so they get more attention.

My course should finish at the begining of December and I'm already looking forward to starting another in January. I'm thinking of doing the empowering parents course, which teaches about curriculum vitaes for those looking to get back into work, I believe it's also got first aid in there as well as other things. At the end of which will mean I will be qualified to become a volunteer at my Sure Start centre(including working in the creche). Thus meaning they can then give me a reference for when I eventually apply to a school to be a Teaching Assistant.


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Hallowe'en happenings

So we had a square party today (square because we live on a square instead of a street). The children absolutely loved it! Kal-El started off the event as a devil, but quickly decided that his costume inhibited his playing performance! So he transformed into 'daddy'- with face painted beard and glasses!

Cue muchos pictures:

Getting ready

Running around like a little devil!

With two of his many cousins

I adore this picture!

some of the decorations

handing me his rubbish..how thoughtful

more decorations, I quite like this picture

..and this one too

Preparing the square for the party

Thirsty work all this having fun malarky

With another cousin

My friend Sasha and Kal-El...she's one of his most favourite people.

I just love how his hair is whipping around in this!

Nom time!

*shifty eyes*

eating buddies

What's that?

Shaking his groove thing

Stop!!

The creepy grotto where we put the food to keep it fry if the heavens decided to open

Busting some epic moves!

This rainbow appeared right at the end, wonderful ending to a happy day

 

 

I recorded Kal-El playing at game at the end of the party too, he looks soo cute!

 

Busting cool moves! 8 Seconds in Kal-El is shouting excitedly to my mum "Grandma, I'm dancing!!!!"

 

Spinning is the name of the game

I had fun, especially as Sasha came and we always have silly fun together(and did I mention that Kal-El ADORES her?) I'm looking forward to the next one, which should be at Christmas. I think we're going to make the tent into a grotto and see if Father Christmas can spare some time in his busy schedule to come and visit us :o)

I also had some fancy dress fun for Hallowe'en. A friend had a fancy dress party at hers, so whilst my lovely hubby stayed home with Kage(no babysitter) I got zombied up and attended.

Sailor zombie after a fair few drinks

Zombie sailor ahoy!

The party was awesome, there was a cereal killer, another zombie, vamps, raver, inky(ghost from pacman), batgirl to name but a few. I may have been somewhat inebriated...my face started to go a little numb! lol! But it was a FAB party!! fun, fun, fun!!!

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DVDs vs Lads Mags

I've recently been pondering the way DVDs are displayed in shops. In particular horror films. It just strikes me as odd that they're allowed to show such graphic horrid images on the front covers that are undoubtedly going to be seen by children when shopping with their parents. It's not as if they're put up high out of their line of sight either!

Why do mens magazines have to be kept on the top shelf with a slip of paper covering womens breasts? I may be the odd one out here, but I'd rather my child see a pair of tits than some of the things I've seen on DVD covers.

For starters even I can't look at them without the image sticking in my mind and giving me nightmares (I can't watch horror films as they have a really bad effect on me...think crying, tensing up, hyperventilating...full on freaking out basically. Then my brain stores what I've seen picture perfect in my mind until such times as when the lights go out or I close my eyes to try to sleep.) So what are they going to do to the impressionable minds of babes?

Surely if the film is classified as an 18, then it's been so for a reason. Thus the images on the cover(which are undoubtedly images/characters from the film) should be sheilded from the view of minors...and those like me who don't want to see them? Now I know some will say "It's simple, just don't go into that section". But it's not as easy as that, some stores don't have their films set out by genre. I was in poundland the other day and was greeted by a display of horror DVDs(like Hellraiser etc)! Not what you expect from a shop like that, that's never had anything like that in before.

I guess my main point is: Why are these ghastly and horrid images ok to be seen by minors when a simple pair of breasts are not?

And we wonder why some people are ashamed of breastfeeding!?
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Schedules

I think I need to work out some sort of schedule/time table thing for my household. Even if it's not to be stuck to rigidly, just something I can look at and go "ahh, yes let's do that with Kal-El today", or "this job needs doing round the house today". Then I can work out when's best for me time to refill my Jar in the way I find most redeeming.

I need to get my creative mojo back. I need to get rid of my damned writers block, I need to start making art and crafting. I need to fill my soul with more than just my family.
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Halloween

Mr Pixie's Tale and I are currently in talks about what to do for halloween. Do we stay at home with Kal-El, have a little party, or take him trick or treating?

So what to do? I'd like to take him trick or treating, but not to strangers houses like last year(we went with my sisters). I'm thinking only houses of those that we know, so a few of the neighbours, then up to grandmas and grandpas, down to an old family friend, with my friend L being the last stop, so we can stay a while and have a little (soft) drink.

Then there's the decision of what to dress as. It needs to be something that can go over his coat as he needs to stay warm. I have a few ideas sitting in my watch list on a certain auction site, I'll have to show them to Mr PT when he gets home so we can get something ordered before the 'rush'.

What are you doing for Halloween?
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Peri-orbital Cellulitis

As those of you that are on my facebook will know, my son had peri-orbital cellulitis in September. This post is just for our reference of how/when/what happened. It is very long and photo heavy.

Sunday 11th September

Around 6:30pm I noticed a slight swelling to your right eye. I thought nothing of it and presumed you must have knocked it at some point earlier in the day.


Monday 12th September

Midnight: you climb into bed with papi and I and fall asleep until 7am. A clear indicator that something is wrong(you only sleep with us when you're ill)

7am:We see your right eyelid is now swollen soo much you can't open your eye at all.

8am: Drs appointment is made for 10am, which is the earliest they have available.

10am: Dr says it's most likely an allergic reaction. She prescribes a double dose of antihistamines and says she'll ring this afternoon to see how the swelling is.

11:30am: We arrive back home and I post on MamaPacks forum to ask their advice. My heart tells me it's not an allergic reaction due to it coming on too slowly and being localised to one small area. Toots responds by saying she thinks it looks like peri-orbital cellulitis and a quick Google search provides me with images that match how your eye looks.

1pm: I call the doctor to say the swelling has got bigger. She says to give it more time. I'm not really happy with this, so prepare a bag ready for hospital just in case.

2pm: Dr rings back, I say it's really not got any better. She says to wait until this evening as she is sure it's just an allergic reaction. I tell her I'm taking you to casualty now.

2:30pm: Arrive at casualty

3:30pm: Dr takes one glance at you and says he doesn't need to examine you as he can see clearly that you have peri-orbital cellulitis. He tells us that you'll need to be admitted to hospital for IV antibiotics for 2 days. My heart sinks, but not as much as it could have due to preparing myself for it being P-O C.

4pm: Admitted to childrens ward(assesment unit)

5pm: Cream put on both your hands to numb them in preparation for the cannula.

5:30pm: Papi arrives

6:45pm: You're getting very tired, grumpy and keep asking to go home. You have the mother of all meltdowns. I ask for some food for you because they haven't given you any tea! They bring you beans and toast with a spoon and a fork. You're soo hungry you use both utensil simultaneously to shovel beans into your little mouth. All whilst shaking profusely.

7:30pm: Drs attempt to put a cannula in. They try twice in your left hand, once in your right. All of which failed. The noise you make whilst trying to fit the cannula is heartbreaking and I break down in tears. It's a good job papi is here to hold you. We're told to go and have a little break to give you(and me) chance to calm down.

8:30pm: Nurse finally comes to put cream on your feet.

8:50pm: A nurse tells us that if the cannula isn't put in by 9pm then it won't get done until 10pm due to the shift change. We silently wish it gets done before 9pm. We're all tired, especially you as you've been up since 7am and haven't had a nap.

10:30pm: A cannula is finally placed in your right foot. flucloxacillin and benzopenicillin are administered.

11pm: Finally you're allowed to sleep.

11:30pm: I quietly cry myself to sleep. It's been one hell of an emotional day!

Tuesday 13th September

Papi took the day off work to be with you.
7am: You woke up when the nurse started to administer IV meds.
We spent most of the day in the play room.

Midday: IVs administered.

2pm: ENT visit and prescribe nasal drops and steriods to help speed up the reduction of the swelling. We then push you in a hospital pram(which you loved) to your opthalmist appointment. He says your eye is clear(huge releif!) and makes a follow up appointment for the following Tuesday.

3pm: I ask a nurse to bring you some food as you were never brought lunch!

4pm: Steroids administered

6pm: Next dose of IVs due. Cannula has failed and needs to be redone. We're promised it will be done before 9pm.

7pm: Cream administered to hands and feet.

7:30pm: We notice your eye is starting to open!

9pm: We're told the switchover will only take 10 minutes.

10:15pm: Drs are ready to try fitting another cannula. Tried again in your hand, failed. Finally got one in left foot. IVs and steroids given.

10:30pm: Bedtime at last!



Wednesday 14th September

1am: Meds administered. You woke up, cried but went back to sleep swiftly.

7am: More meds administered. Then playing in the playroom. Your eye is open almost half way and you can now see out of it.

9:30am: Drs rounds. He says we're not allowed to go home today. I'm soo upset I struggle not to cry. Practically everyone said we would be home on Wednesday.
We spend the day playing, mainly with you in the pram being 'a baby, mummy' and me walking around with you so you can go 'light spotting' and point out the lights the don't work.


Grandma visited again with a little present(as she did yesterday), but you sleep through it(again!)
As Grandma is leaving you wake up, then Nana arrives. She brings you ribena as always.

8pm: We attempt to put you to bed at a reasonable time....You don't fall to sleep until 9:30pm!!
Mummy and Daddy go and eat KFC in the parents room whilst you sleep. Then papi goes home.

Thursday 15th September

1am: Time for meds. You scream and thrash more than usual. The nurse checks your cannula-it's fine but she asks me if I think you're in pain. I do. She goes to ask the Dr if she can remove the cannula and start oral antibiotics as you've had the stated 48hrs of IV meds(anything extra is a bonus). She doesn't put the bandange back on your foot(or your sock) therefore you scream like a banshee and hurl abuse at me. (You hate seeing it and are only calm when it's covered up with your sock)You start pointing your finger at me screaming 'NO!' and other words I can't understand but they clearly contain malice and contempt for me. You start screaming for daddy because you're no longer my friend. After what feels like an aeon they send a different nurse in to remover the cannula whilst the previous nurse gets your oral meds ready. As soon as the cannula is out you're silent.
I give you the oral meds(with relative ease) and you try to go to sleep. You don't want me to touch you because you're still upset with me for holding you down so you couldn't pull the cannula out.

7am: You're eye is almost fully open!! You're much happier today(presumably due to no IV meds)



More playroom time.

9:30am: The Dr says we can go home! But we need to wait for your prescription(which could be some time). Your blood cultures come back negative.

10:30am: You ask to go home(again), so I go to see how long we'll have to wait. The prescription still isn't ready but the nurse says you can have your next dose of meds at 11am then go home. All we have to do is go back to collect you prescription when it's ready. They'll ring us when it's ready.

11:30am: We're home!!!!

12:00pm I put you to bed for a nap as you're shattered. You sleep until 4:55pm!!!!

4:50pm: Hospital ring to say your prescription is ready for collection.

4:55pm: You wake up. We wait until daddy gets home at 5:30pm so we can all walk together to collect your meds. As you needs feeding and changing before setting off.

We get to the hospital and they tell us you need 6.5mls of flucloxacillin and 3.5mls of phenoxymethly penicillin four times a day for the next 8 days. You also need nasal drops twice a day for the next three days.

Monday 19th September

Dr B rings to see how you are as she's recieved your discharge notes. I tell her you're doing ok and that we didn't get out of hospital until Thursday. She tells me it was a 'good spot' with your eye and 'well done for taking him to hospital'. All the time I'm thinking- 'if you'd done your job properly he could have started treatment sooner!'

How she failed to see what Toots saw from a mere photo(and Charlotte for that matter) is beyond me. But thanks to me for knowing in my heart that it was more than just a mere allergic reaction, the lovely ladies on MamaPacks and Charlotte, you got the treatment you so desperately needed. I dread to think what could have happened if I listened to the GP.

Tuesday 20th September

Follow up appointment with the opthalmist. He declares your eye completely clear and discharges you. :o)
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