A few more pictures

We haven’t written much in quite a long time, but just to keep you up to date we thought we’d share a few photos and give you just some very brief details of what has been happening in the Hope-Mason household in the last couple of months. On the subject of cot sides for Max, we have been turned down for cot sides as these are not available in the NHS catalogue. This has provoked some bitter arguments especially as these would cost less than £200, but we have agreed to try Max in a more child friendly bed and see if we can teach him to climb in and out of it safely. Various issues are a problem, the most serious of which is the fact that he is attached to a monitor at night and we have visions of him trying to get out of bed dragging the saturation monitor behind him by his big toe; secondly his gastrostomy does sometimes get caught getting out of bed or off the sofa, and if this happens it pops out, which Max happily ignores and really needs immediate attention and lastly if he does get into trouble it is very difficult for him to make enough noise to alert us. Anyway with things up in the air as far as the extension is concerned and where we will be during the works, things are rather on hold. We are going to try the low bed and see how we get on.

As far as the school is concerned, Max is going to Red Balloon Nursery three afternoons a week, Tuesday to Thursday which includes ballet on Wednesdays! He is thoroughly enjoying himself. Max’s walking is coming along in leaps and bounds and although he isn’t steady enough to walk without support he is learning to get his balance. As far as climbing up the stairs is concerned he goes up so fast that he beats Luca every time!

I have been interviewed by Red magazine and the article may be appearing in the August issue. This was organised by The Children’s Trust PR department and hopefully the nurses will get a mention. However, this website will be featured along with a picture of me with either Max or both Max and Luca.

We are all off on holiday now: Max has gone to Christopher’s where we are sure he will be spoilt rotten; Luca is going to Granny’s where we are sure he will also be spoilt rotten; the dogs have gone to J’s aunt and Justin and I are off for a week in Dorset. The forecast says it will rain every day, but never mind!