tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79773462079350340112024-03-13T12:01:03.004-07:00DisABLEd Positive parentDisabled parents,sharing tips on every day parenting tasks eg,brands of nappies with easiest fastenings,to popper free clothes,to high street baby equipment reviews with accessibility for a disabled parent in mind.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977346207935034011.post-4129152354827582032014-02-06T02:17:00.001-08:002014-02-06T02:48:29.097-08:00In Loving MemoryHello to all readers of Caroline's blog. This is her husband Mark writing.<br />
It is with deepest sadness that I must say that my beautiful wife Caroline passed away on Christmas day 2013. She was only 36 years of age.<br />
<br />
Myself and Christopher (who turned 3 years old at the end of December) now have to continue through life on our own, which at the moment seems like an impossible task.<br />
Anyone who met Caroline could not help but fall for her warm, sunny, bubbly nature. She gave her time selflessly to numerous charities and was known internationally for this blog.<br />
Caroline was an absolutely wonderful mother. She loved Christopher more than anything else in the world and would have done anything for him. Any time that she had, she would spend with him reading, playing, doing crafts and cooking with him. She was even teaching him French!<br />
Caroline was the most beautiful, amazing wife that a man could ever wish for. Her never-ending support and patience for everything that I did often surpassed my own.<br />
The love and friendship that we shared is something that I will cherish for the rest of my life.<br />
<br />
I wrote a poem for Caroline, which I read at her funeral. I had so many things that I wanted to say about this wonderful person that I had the privilege of being married to, I thought it was best summed up in a poem.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><u>For Caroline</u></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><u></u></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My life was most times empty<br />
And often dark as night<br />
Until the day you stole my heart<br />
And filled my world with light.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Your happiness infected me<br />
Your grace taught me to share<br />
Your presence filled my life with love<br />
And joy beyond compare.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Anyone whose life you touched<br />
Loved you from the start<br />
Your sunshine personality<br />
Your warm and caring heart.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You brought so much to those you met<br />
Your strength, your light, your hope<br />
Your courage in what life dealt you<br />
Inspired us all to cope.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You gave your time so selflessly<br />
To anyone in need<br />
You made their pain more bearable<br />
And paid your own no heed.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Your life has been a testament<br />
To how we all should live<br />
To see the good in all around<br />
To smile, to strive, to give.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You gave more than you’ll ever know<br />
Especially to me<br />
Your life lives on in our wonderful child<br />
And all that he will be.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If I could give my life for yours<br />
For you to be here still<br />
I would, for you deserve to live<br />
More than I ever will.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It breaks my heart to say farewell<br />
To you, my darling wife<br />
I love you, and I always will<br />
My one true love, my life.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9wAVhciyNZGU6zoAbI4jeCTumd1MA66g-ia8DgsEvkoMfLa6-rkzxXq6U6tHAfWT-bnfe8Kodu_5OTDQFyTV0sxAlYU6FqEaEtZtNuK1W65UfA28y8cORrSC8y6RjYWwfICraa1w/s1600/FuneralServiceCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9wAVhciyNZGU6zoAbI4jeCTumd1MA66g-ia8DgsEvkoMfLa6-rkzxXq6U6tHAfWT-bnfe8Kodu_5OTDQFyTV0sxAlYU6FqEaEtZtNuK1W65UfA28y8cORrSC8y6RjYWwfICraa1w/s1600/FuneralServiceCover.jpg" height="400" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1977 - 2013</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977346207935034011.post-17189295063292738482013-04-06T00:56:00.001-07:002013-04-06T00:56:21.009-07:00Smart trikes- get your engineering hats on ladies! We have spent hours perusing good,solid,easy to push smart trikes for toddlers. Our son has sat in at least six models and then started forming a protest by refusing to exit the push around red mini in the store! After much deliberation we went with the "Smart trike GB" available at Toys R Us in UK stores but there is a close runner up available online so keep reading.<br/><br/><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Wiv9Yaxxx3g/UV_U5VcNXVI/AAAAAAAACVg/CkN8X7ySyQo/s346/Photo%2525206%252520Apr%2525202013%25252008%25253A22.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Wiv9Yaxxx3g/UV_U5VcNXVI/AAAAAAAACVg/CkN8X7ySyQo/s346/Photo%2525206%252520Apr%2525202013%25252008%25253A22.jpg" id="blogsy-1365234979814.6423" class="aligncenter" width="346" height="346" alt=""></a></div> <br/><br/>One mother warned me that the more a trike has the more it goes wrong,steering is difficult and heavy for both parent and a child independently riding. Therefore we did not want activity centres attached to handle bars or any other unnecessary entertainment that bulked the product up after all going for a walk in a trike should be the only required fun! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Our son is quite tall so we needed something he has a chance of actually still using when he reaches aged three and the seat on this GB trike is quite far back so there is room for leg growth for when he can actually independently cycle the trike, at the moment we just push it using the handle. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>We discarded the stupid,flimsy sun shade on the trike, the same shade type inflicts most models and are pointless, any suggestion of wind and the thing will break or flop right into your child's face! By two I feel a child no longer needs the side white bars encasing the seat as there is a simple strap that goes across the bike saddle and having the white rails seems a bit over dramatic when a child reaches two but if you were using this for a one and a half year old then probably they are great. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>This is how the bike arrives! Time to get reading the instructions and men you do need to read the instructions as there are places where if you have not done something right then the whole bike needs to be taken apart again. <br/><br/><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OCzuYTPwkcE/UV_VG6zYfYI/AAAAAAAACVo/wSjDxemDz0o/s1530/Photo%25252028%252520Mar%2525202013%25252015%25253A41.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OCzuYTPwkcE/UV_VG6zYfYI/AAAAAAAACVo/wSjDxemDz0o/s500/Photo%25252028%252520Mar%2525202013%25252015%25253A41.jpg" id="blogsy-1365234979793.5125" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></div> It only took my arthritic husband forty minuets, he has pincer hands and weak grip and push etc so if he can do this in forty minuets then it would be fairly easy to assemble for those without dexterity issues. <br/><br/>The strap across the saddle is so easy to operate no adaptation had to be done for me to be able to do and undo the buckle. It is one of those pinch both sides of a black plastic buckle and it will release and open. <br/><br/>Steers beautifully, very light weight, handle for the parent to use which is adjustable for a tall person and a short ,child like ,height ,lady like me. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>The downside of this trike is the ridiculous position of the peddles, there are foot plates that flap out for a child to rest feet on when being pushed by the adult but they are too far back on the trike and my son ended up trailing his feet around so we had to add the black bars to the front of the trike, see picture, which can be removed when he starts peddling but also do not restrict the bikes movement in any way. However this is great if you have an engineer type husband around, if you do not then your child will have to do what I got my son to do before his ride was pimped, put both feet up on the front wheel protector, the blue bit over the wheel. This worked but it is so much easier with the adaptation in terms of keeping our sons feet safe and comfy. If you need this adaptation done to a smart trike because the trike is lighter and easier to push a child around in as opposed to a buggy, then contact REMAP, an organisation of volunteer old boy engineers who are amazing at pimping anything to suit anyone be it disabled parent or disabled child. They do not charge for the adaptations but obviously you need to have brought an item that fits most of your needs and your child's and these guys can tinker with the item to make it perfect rather than just manageable. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>The runner up model is the "Smart Trike Cookie" again available from Toys R Us online and in store. It is also retailing at £49 as opposed to the GB trike which is £79. For me this was my first choice trike, it was very light, very receptive to my poor steering skills, my son and I went around the isles of the store happily and even up the dreaded arts and crafts area where plastic dinosaurs are just itching to be crashed into by a toddler. I liked the simplicity of this, I liked that the saddle was a little higher so easier for me to put my son on, not by much but still a tad easier. However we didn't go for it because the wheels are a bit smaller and cheaper than the GB model and stability was a major must when we set out to buy one of these, boys do go a bit manic eventually on these things and sturdiness was important for when this time comes. <br/><br/><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jYi0eQ8NVFo/UV_VIf9eUhI/AAAAAAAACVw/R87EZYJ50NE/s346/Photo%2525206%252520Apr%2525202013%25252008%25253A42.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jYi0eQ8NVFo/UV_VIf9eUhI/AAAAAAAACVw/R87EZYJ50NE/s346/Photo%2525206%252520Apr%2525202013%25252008%25253A42.jpg" id="blogsy-1365234979809.7634" class="aligncenter" width="346" height="346" alt=""></a></div> <br/><br/>I would say though that if you are looking for a buggy substitute that you can push easily, load your child into easily if you have poor reach and dexterity then this is the model for you but when your child grows you may have to think about buying a proper trike or a more sturdy and expensive smart trike. I also would like to point out I feel that the foot rests are in a better location than the GB model and perhaps therefore less of a palaver in terms of someone coming out to adapt a model for you.<br/><br/> <br/><br/>Remember less is more, do not feel tempted by the £90 items, that was great advice from another mother. Having tried these more expensive trikes they are quite a bit heavier and so much more of a fuss to try and get a child into the saddle when dexterity and reach are major issues. Go for the cheaper models, don't think the trikes are going to last years but see them as a needed mobility aid expense to enable you to get your son or daughter out a bit, even into the back garden or street! The parenting handle acts as one of the few stick aids I can use because I can post my arms through the handle and rest and push at the same time. Enjoy one of these trikes,they are rapidly becoming one of my top ten essential must have items for a disabled parent and their toddler. I have done the must have items for baby care and will soon be compiling the toddler list. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>X<br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977346207935034011.post-31034876072137727822013-03-31T05:44:00.001-07:002013-03-31T05:44:47.126-07:00DO NOT BIN UMBILICAL CORDS,SAVE LIVES INSTEAD!<div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="500" height="305" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/doxVFKXKcPw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div> <br/><br/>There is one simple choice to make as soon to be parents, disabled or not! Do you cut your babies umbilical cord ,rich in stem cells and throw it in the bin or ask for it to be preserved and donated to potentially save many lives where you live? <br><br/><br/> <br/><br/>I am writing to ask if there is just one person reading this blog who is expecting or who knows someone who is, to get them to tell their gynaecologist that they would like to donate their new born's umbilical cord blood to the NHS cord bank. The doctors will sort it out from there and you need do no more except for pushing your wish at appointments! There is no paying for donation involved unless you are asking a bank to store stem cells for your specific purposes! There will be similar schemes running all over the world, google it,facebook it, or leave it up to the doctor to do but let them know your intentions in good time and not at the time of birth as the cord needs to be frozen immediately and rushed to the cord bank. It really is such a simple statement to make at your next anti natal visit and it could save potentially hundreds of lives!<br/><br/>I have taken the facts on donation from<br/><br/> <a href="http://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/cordblood/" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="link" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" target="_blank" title="">http://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/cordblood/</a><br/><br/>Cord blood fundamentally has the potential to help treat children and adults suffering with:<br/><br/>Lukeamia and other cancer malignancies such as lymphoma<br/><br/>Sickle cell disease and other diseases of blood cells.<br/><br/>Immunodeficiancies- where the auto immune system is faulty such as it is in childhood systemic Juvenile arthritis, JIA which ,as I keep saying, is nothing like old persons arthritis which is wear and tear of a few joints over many years of use, JIA is where the auto immune system turns on itself and eats the owners joints and sometimes organs in a matter of days. <br/><br/>Metabolic disorders- Where the body can not get rid of waste products. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>There is a lot research going on in the use of stem cells, some scientists believe there is real potential to grow new bone matter and make natural bone joints so as long as the stem cell product matches the recipients then the need for plastic hips at my young age of eleven years old, could be a thing of the past. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Few scientists are interested in is cloning sheep and humans! I would doubt that there is a massively funded market for anyone planning on researching cloning of humans ! I therefore struggle to understand the religious argument against stem cell research.This is not a case of man playing God, this is simply medical science helping to save lives and enhance modern society productivity as many diseases could potentially be eradicated with stem cell transplanting. As a child with JIA I have had to undergo trial drugs that involve extensive, painful, tests to see if the medication worked. I was a human guinea pig because I was so very ill and my parents, out of sheer desperation, had to try something but they also had to watch me go through the pain of the trial. Those drugs are now used today as a first port of call in treating young children with JIA, many children and adults now live normal lives, they play football,can run around and have grown normally. I was and still am treated with steroids along side the modern medications but it is too late for me, I have not grown properly, I have short limbs and the effectiveness of steroids over the seventies and eighties has not had much effect on protecting my joints from permenant degeneration. I am thrilled that others have been helped through me and my friends going through trials but what we went through was invasive in order to get treatment updated for the modern generation.Stem cell/umbilical cord donation could transform lives without anyone needing to go through pain in the future. Where is donating something that has to be cut off the baby anyway, ungodly, the bin gets given more stem cells than humans in our hospitals! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>I want to share with you the story of little Charlie Harris-Beard, a ten month old who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia.I want to thank Charlie's parents for allowing me to use his story, it is a very emotional story,please take a few minuets to think about this and if I can make any difference please get the message out to others,friends,family expecting babies. Go on the links at the bottom of this blog post, find out more about making a change.Charilie was just ten months old when he got diagnosed with acute Myeloid Leukameia. As a baby he was given four rounds of chemotherapy which did not work and left him incredibly sick. Charlie was given three months left to live,doctors suggested his only way of survival was through a bone marrow transplant which is effectively a stem cell transplant. Can you imagine the terror in his parents as they wondered whether or not their child would find a match in time? Lets face facts, few adults volunteer to go through the pain of bone marrow donation and it takes special, saintly people who do,yet no one need go through that pain if every mother in the UK donated their new borns umbilical cord, rich in stem cell blood! Fortunately Charlie's parents had the good sense to do all they could and they appealed for donations through their <strong>Facebook</strong> <strong>page</strong>- <strong>Cords4Life:Charlie's Legacy</strong> ,which was set up to raise awareness of cord donation and not only help Charlie but thousands like him.Charlie's parents found a match!! This little chap went from a gravely ill child, sick, weak, unable to walk ,yet upon receiving the transplant ,he took his first ever steps at Birmingham Childrens hospital! Things started to look up, Charlie had energy and was enjoying life up until he sadly relapsed a few months later. Back at the old chemotherapy, there seemed to be a glimmer of hope,he seemed well enough to undergo another stem cell transplant but unfortunately he got very sick and too ill to undergo it. His parents were told that Charlie had weeks left and there was no more that could be done for him in the UK, a story so often heard by so many of us who have severe illness. His parents ,still fighting for Charlie who was fighting for his life, went to seek international help and knowledge, they found out about a trial but before he could have the treatment their baby had to go through painful and invasive tests to see if he could be a candidate. He was able to be administered the treatment but the drug failed. Never quitting, his parents and Charlie returned home and continued to look in every corner of the world to find help, they found another experimental treatment. Meanwhile their Facebook page soared through many readers hearts all of whom had read about Charlie's plight and all were desperate to know how and where they could donate their baby's umbilical cord. Sadly Charlie got Pneumonia and became too ill to start the new medication, his parents kept on fighting and sent out a petition to the UK government to ask that awareness and availability of umbilical cord donation be improved. The same day the petition was approved, 8th of Feb 2012, Charlie sadly passed away.<br/><br/> <br/><br/>I know his parents would want to get Charlie's legacy out there, to make others aware of umbilical cord donation, to give countless children in the UK today, who are waiting for a bone marrow donation and a match, a chance at life. The only way medics can be sure matches are found in time is by having countless donations available. This is not just about saving ill children, if we want to get down to nitty gritty politics or someone is feeling all a bit Tory and wondering how much cord donation costs the tax payer, well lets imagine a world where disabilities and illness is irradiated! All those suffering become treated with powerful stem cell replacements and able to be employed in any job, no restrictions, no permanently deformed joints or failing organs ,no "limited capacity to work groups" nonsense etc. A world where illness and disability no longer exists and there is no need to fight for equality,a world where tax payers money no longer has to support those not able to work. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Charlie's story is particularly close to me not just because I have been an ill child and am a physically disabled woman but because I am a mother. I never thought I could be a parent after having had chemo meds all my life and not grown properly,most of me bionic etc. I am proud to say I am a mother to a healthy two year old who I never take his health for granted. At any moment our children can get seriously ill.I got JIA aged 15 months through chicken pox that sparked my immune system to turn against me, the same happened to Max Cliffords (News of the World editor) daughter, children absolutely healthy can suddenly turn eight and get leukaemia like Garry Liniker's daughter, athletic people in their twenties can drop down with heart failure. Scientists are working on making new organic matter hearts using stem cells,they are building new joints with stem cells so severe physical limitation may be a thing of the past but above all stem cell transplants are giving the dying a chance at living. There are hundreds of thousands of reasons why umbilical cord donation must happen now! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Ask yourself, can you so certain that severe illness will not hit your family to not be bothered by this issue? Illness happens to millionaires children and the average Joes parents. What if one day your son needs a bone marrow transplant and sadly there just are not enough donations available to get the right match in time?<br/><br/>For more information about the issues covered in this blog post or to find out more about donation please go to the following links. <br/><br/> <strong><u>Web</u></strong> <strong><u>sites</u></strong>:<br/><br/><a href="http://www.charlieharrisbeard.com/" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="link" x-apple-data-detectors-result="1" target="_blank" title="">http://www.charlieharrisbeard.com/</a><br/><br/><a href="http://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/cordblood/" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="link" x-apple-data-detectors-result="2" target="_blank" title="">http://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/cordblood/</a> <br/><br/><strong><u>Facebook</u></strong> <strong><u>Pages</u></strong>:<br/><br/>Cords4Life:Charlie's Legacy<br/><br/>Raising awareness of umbilical cord donations. <br/><br/> Anthony Nolan (blood cancer charity).<br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Many thanks x<br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977346207935034011.post-54472921075849662672013-03-26T12:55:00.001-07:002013-03-26T12:55:16.219-07:00Survival Guide to the Waiting Room! We both have severe arthritis, I since I was a baby and my husband since his early twenties. We are both requiring extensive surgery and our forms of arthritis are auto immune faulty programming rather than age degeneration. Our immune systems wake up, feel a bit bored and go and munch on a knee sometimes a heart,kidney or spleen. Age related arthritis is a slower process of healthy over use of joints, perhaps through pounding in the gym during your youth has caused wear and tear over several years in a knee or ankle. Age arthritis is predictable, you pretty much know which joint will hurt,for how long and its intensity, auto immune arthritis like to surprise you sometimes daily sometimes hourly but as a parent, whatever your disability or illness throws you have to stick it aside, down some morphine and get on with the duty of giving your child a good childhood and future. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Auto immune arthritis is a hefty beast to tame. In actual fact it rarely is tamed but we and our medical teams do our best to make it take annual leave. We can have mini flares in the morning or afternoon where one feels like we have done an extensive pub crawl, headaches, flu and our bodies become as stiff as a stick of rock! I actually have to be manoeuvred, like a lump of steel, out of bed by my husband in the morning as I do not bend in the middle, meanwhile my husband also does not bend in the middle but has long arms to haul me with,occasionally my assistant dog is called on to help, I feel like the enormous turnip! It is amusing game of statues getting dressed for the day in our bedroom at 6am! My best party game was always musical statues, I always won it as a child, I can understand now why! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>We both have a nuclear war drawer of medication of stashed away meds for a rainy day! We have at least sixteen boxes of Tramadol between us, eight boxes of two different kinds of oral steroids, Prednisolone and Deflazacourt, umpteen packets of codeine phosphate and its accompanying friend Ducolax! Somewhere also lurks Trimethroprin as my arthritis has attacked my kidneys since I was aged six, Omeprazole for the anti inflammatory ,Indomethacin, that occasionally eats my stomach lining. Amoxocillin is there too because my husband and I both take anti tnf and as soon as our son gets a sniffle my husband gets a full blown hospitalising chest infection. We also all have surgical masks to wear all day when someone in our household is ill! Three bottles of Calpol, a box of teething granules,several hand,neck,ankle and knee splints that I should wear but don't because they are impractical with a child who wants to paint, needs a nappy changed or wants to squash blue play doh into the interesting looking plastic pattern of a gauntlet.If there is ever a nuclear war we have the best Pharmacist right at home! <br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ma7L373zCUk/UVH9Fv18hjI/AAAAAAAACVI/fEo_m8eSjdY/s2048/Photo%25252023%252520Feb%2525202013%25252010%25253A01.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ma7L373zCUk/UVH9Fv18hjI/AAAAAAAACVI/fEo_m8eSjdY/s500/Photo%25252023%252520Feb%2525202013%25252010%25253A01.jpg" id="blogsy-1364327710463.8179" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="373" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My drug drawer! </td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/>On a serious note we stock up all these medications because frankly going out regularly to a chemist to get yet another prescription is a huge military exercise for my family. I am the only driver in the household as my husbands bones in his feet have collapsed which sends his right leg numb. I can only walk a couple of steps so my husband has to come along to push me in my wheelchair as there are rarely blue badge spaces available these days.I have not grown properly due to steroid treatment since 15 months old and am fairy like so I can not drive an electric wheelchair as the size of car that would be required for me to take such a beast and my helper dog and my son,would be huge and I know I would struggle.This means my son also has to come along which means balancing him on my lap and my poor husband with his awful shoulders pushing us both! My husband is looking like Popeye these days. Having lots of medication in means far less of this hassle,planning ahead for busy festive times means even less hassle, no one with arthritis should be venturing out in ice and snow. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Hospital appointments are a saga! Having grown up with hospital visits and long stays as an in patient I am the Survival guide to the waiting room.We keep a bag packed with toddler and adult items for such trips, many of my appointments are miles away at out of county specialist centres so if a bag is packed in the evening it is one less thing to do in the general caous of getting every one ready to go out. The bag contains:<br/><br/>3 Nappies<br/><br/>3 nappy bags<br/><br/>1 small packet of travel wipes as we have to keep the bag as light as possible for us.<br/><br/>1 charged Kindle Fire HD with "Not Now Bernard" book (sons favourite) on it along with some Nick Sharatt favourite stories. Some toddler games- "Duck Duck Moose" make some fantastic toddler apps for apple and android. To entertain mummy and daddy we have Chicken Ninja (only on android) and Temple Run app on apple and android, don't knock it till you have tried it people! I can not stress enough how important these gadgets are to a disabled parent that has regular hospital appointments in his or her life or indeed for a disabled child. To have an entertainment system that sits in a small changing bag is a godsend! When I was a child my mother had to lug in a small suitcase of books and toys to look at whilst we waited to see doctors, occupational therapists, leg brace guy, some bloke who tried to get mum to accept I needed a wheelchair where she politely told him his advice was potentially damaging to children with juvenile arthritis and we marched rather quickly out again at a rate my legs were struggling to keep up but it was exercise! <br/><br/>1 Pepper Pig colouring kit from The Range, a perfect pocket sized colouring book with small crayons. <br/><br/>1 blank note pad for free drawing for my son<br/><br/>1 small blanket to lay out on the car back seat to make an easy height changing table for me and husband to change son in. <br/><br/>1 sippy cup, a basics one from Sainsburys as I can rip the lid of using my mouth, tommie tippie is great when they are learning to use a sippy cup but good luck trying to get the lid unscrewed of those, I just couldn't with my child size, poor grip and dexterity hands. So I preferred to use the basics cup and just sit with my son and teach him how to use it, explaining that shaking it around was not a sensible idea. Heck if the 1970s had these basic cups and managed why can't we!?!<br/><br/>1 fruit shoot, yes we know sugary drinks are naughty but they are accessible. You can pull the lid off the bottle with teeth, pull the sports cap up with teeth and placing the bottle on lap,better still a table or chair arm,and zippy cup underneath bottle cap you can push with elbow on the bottle and juice will flow into the cup, I know you could take the whole top off but my hands can not do this. Another alternative is to fill up a basics zippy cup with water or juice at home and carry it in your cup holder in your car. <br/><br/>3 Humzingers- soft sticks of awesomeness, all made of pure fruit so we are not giving him rubbish but the wrappers are tricky to open with poor dexterity so don't forget some scissors in the bag too. <br/><br/>1 packet of tuc cheese biscuits<br/><br/>2 packets of Organics carrot stick crisps.<br/><br/>1 banana<br/><br/>It is a hospital visit, we don't try and stick with healthy eating on these rubbish days, if my son won't eat lettuce sandwiches at home he will kick up a fuss in a waiting room full of people.<br/><br/> 1 Bumble bee back pack and harness system so my son can walk if needed but be kept safe! Only used in a waiting room in moments of desperation. <br/><br/>That list all sounds similar to The Hungary Catterpillar- effectively toddlers are like this! They need a lot of everything. Don't over load the bag because if you have to lug it around or hold on the back of a buggy or wheelchair and orchestrate a child safely around the premises you need to have every last bit of your physical capacity available. <br/><br/>Do not take toys, other patients are in pain and do not need a child zooming around their feet.If like me you can not bend down to pick a child up from the floor then don't have things that encourage them to be on the floor. <br/><br/> Hospitals are new for little children to explore, it is vital we get seated quickly with entertainment and snacks quickly offered, if I was two I am sure I would find a nurse buzzer exciting and an old ladies tapestry bag fascinating. <br/><br/>Today is another hospital visit to see my rheumatologist. Since having Christopher some of my joints need a lot of attention and I seem to be in a flare. However with a child all these things pale into insignificance, just a daily chore that one has to adapt to and work around, we have no choice. Parents with disabilities have to go out shopping as soon as milk or nappies run low, it doesn't matter how ill we feel! If the blue badge spaces are taken up, we just have to go and face the consequences on our joints later. If we wake up feeling awful it doesn't matter, there is a small person needing you and who didn't ask to be born so should never have to suffer just because you are, however ill we are, whatever is going on we have to get up, do painting with them which takes ten minuets to set up and an hour to clean up,read countless books,sing many songs with loads of actions to the lyrics. <br/><br/> <br/><br/> I want normality for my family, myself but most of all my child. I need help, I accept that, I am seeking direct payments to become an employer and choose the care I need but this will be a slow process in terms of being awarded them in this financially strapped climate.<br/><br/> <br/><br/>Disabled parents, where there is a will there is always a way. So many of us never thought we would ever be well enough, able enough to have a baby, yet here we are! Hospital appointments become a breeze but always have a bag packed the night before because if you are anything like us it takes us an hour to dress ourselves, husband helps me but it takes him a good forty minuets to get himself ready to help. It then takes another thirty minuets to get your child changed and dressed and the NHS have a habit of making hospital appointments for severely disabled people at 8am in the morning for out of county appointments, ahhhh British infrastructure, there to give us a challenge which we all rise to regularly! <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">On a last note, we brought a deal from Groupon for three Mess around sessions for our little man.I will let parents know how it went but it promises every thing I want, my little chap having physical play and a messy happy time with compost,water,sand and goo, above all he will be with others his age and there will be no setting up and more to the point cleaning up these activities at home,happy days! Take a look at Mess around site for more information:</span><br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-eTVH9ZXNVc8/UVH9HKnA4tI/AAAAAAAACVQ/N41nX7iT56w/s1000/Photo%25252026%252520Mar%2525202013%25252019%25253A43.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-eTVH9ZXNVc8/UVH9HKnA4tI/AAAAAAAACVQ/N41nX7iT56w/s500/Photo%25252026%252520Mar%2525202013%25252019%25253A43.jpg" id="blogsy-1364327710406.9385" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="100" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">www.mess-around.co.uk/</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">www.mess-around.co.uk/</td></tr></tbody></table>Keep strong, keep being brilliant, keep laughing with your little ones x<br/><br/> <br/><br/><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977346207935034011.post-85889861777217514002013-03-25T08:03:00.001-07:002013-03-25T13:22:29.605-07:00All parents have it tough in 2013!How much time should one spend with your child?<br />
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This is a question we have been asking for months now and the following article sparked us into thinking again: <br />
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We don't want to be helicopter parents because I know independent play is vital to a child's development. Equally leaving him for too long is wrong,modern society puts way too much pressure on modern parents! My mother used to give us an hour in the morning and two in the afternoon, the rest of the time we played on our own, this was just how life ran, no Cebeebies,Nickelodeon ,just toys to entertain us. <br />
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I then started to consider what a modern parent was in the UK in 2013.Womens roles have vastly changed since the fifties and sixties. Women now are all things to all people, we are expected to be bread winners, primary care givers, the maker of lunch boxes,the entertainer, the school and play co ordinator, the educator to our child,the dutiful wife, the caring wife who nods ones head in sympathy to various household members and friends woes whilst juggling shopping lists and diaries of appointments. Men ,meanwhile ,do not know what their role is anymore,women have taken it all on and expected to do so by our bra burning predecessors! Men feel de-masculinated, modern women expect men to do things that frankly they struggle with and which they would not have been expected to do when a woman stayed at home. Men entertaining a toddler is not always the easiest combination,men doing grocery shopping come back with an arm full of beef jerky and cakes rather than milk and nappies. Modern weekends appear to comprise of household arguments ,world over,all available to view on Facebook!Status updates of "feeling exasperated" from both men and women.<br />
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What happened to it being ok for mothers to stay at home !?! The sixties generation happened, a movement of women thinking the grass would be greener if they could be out the home and working,sit coms like "Butterflies" showing a bored and frustrated housewife (see the show below) reflecting the new mood.The same generation of women who had no idea what pressures their actions and protests were about to invite onto their daughters and sons. The same generation who had time to teach their children to read prior to school and who scoff at their working daughters not able to teach their Pre school child to read, a generation who didn't have to be skint paying out money on nursery care because few children went to nursery. <br />
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Unfortunately or fortunately depending on how sucked in by the Tory machine you are, I am rather ill and need a lot of surgery.I am at home with my son and not a day goes by where I do not feel grateful on one hand to have the luxury of time with him yet I also feel hated by other envious,healthy,working women. Although I am not sure any of them would want to have to say goodbye to their child whilst they left for specialist major surgery,located hours away from home and potentially not seeing their child for a month each time.Serious illness, childhood disability has meant this is a lot of my life, I make the most of it when I am home! I make the most of it when I can work, I was always first in the office and being thrown out last, I loved work, the buzz of helping others into employment, listening and supporting the "difficult to reach groups" of disengaged youngsters into training and a positive career. I try hard to not begrudge any one in any situation,work,life,education and parenthood has taught me this lesson. <br />
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How much time is too much time with a toddler? It goes on parents instinct. I do not need to read articles written by those who write to condone actions of not being around their child much, who make it easier for two working parents to swallow the tough pill that their child going into nursery every day is a good thing and having to ask their child to get on whilst washing, ironing and shopping is caught up with at weekends is ok too. Modern women and men have no choice but to both work full working hours,this is really sad and I society has failed modern parents and their children. With housing costs sky high no one can afford to not work, dear reader it is a horrendous struggle when one is not working, no one should feel bad but equally don't turn grief of personal situation into envy towards parents who can not work unless you have actual knowledge of their difficulties. I often wonder if workers feel that if they didn't have to be employed they could live it up? Perhaps they think they could go to the spa,the gym, engage in retail therapy,learn a new hobby. they could have hundreds of activities planned a day for their child, they would feel looked after and be looking after, life would he sweet. This view is misguided, in todays society you are likely to not be working if you are redundant,very ill or very disabled. If ill and disabled you have to leave your child for months whilst having major surgery, you have to drag your child and husband to hospital appointments every week, you have a far smaller amount of money than those who are on basic minimal wage and hence the nice side of life does not exist. Money is used to keep a roof over your head,pay bills and eat, which is fair, we are not working and money should be tighter but there are no trips to the spa! <br />
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I have felt so angry during spells of working,having jammed in umpteen morphine liquid cups to get through a busy day, sat in meetings feeling flu like then coming home going straight to bed,switching on the news to find people claiming Disability benefits who are dancing on tables, playing golf or rugby! These people are rare in the UK though, thank god. Most people with disability are genuine and we can not go anywhere because one is so physically disabled and one needs a lot of help to get out. Therefore it is up to me as a parent to provide a whole day of entertainment at home for my son,day in,day out, with the only reprieve coming from a friend, family member or hospital appointment to get us out. This is the reality experienced by many physically disabled parents in 2013 which is why a healthy parent will rarely see a disabled parent out shopping, you will hardly think about disabled parents and their children as a group because you won't come across us at baby and parent groups either. Disabled children have become the new buzz word to inclusion, if a child in a chair wants to rock climb there is a resource for that but able bodied children to disabled parents are a forgotten group. <br />
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Then there are those with disabilities that are not obvious. Disabilities such as cancer, mental health difficulties which actually I think are the worst kind of disability. People in the UK still have some understanding of a struggle that physical disability must be especially for a parent but for mentally ill people, they feel even more isolated,hated and misunderstood. They have no useful visual aid, no wonky body, no sticks, no assistant dog just a terribly sad time going on for them, perhaps in the form of clinical depression, Post Natal depression, perhaps OCD etc. I can not imagine how it must feel in this political climate to have a mental illness, at least I can think "meh you berks" but people who already feel frightened and judged are now actually being judged by a hostile UK. Their children will be as left out as those children with physically disabled parents. Who wants to go ,feeling absolutely rotten about themselves, to a group where normality is expected? <br />
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Modern world of parenthood, in the UK ,is a tough world. There is no group who has it easier, well unless you are Mrs Glaxo Kline Smith, maybe she does quite well,equally maybe she is sick of Mr Smith coming home and moaning about the new NICE drug laws when she has had a dispiriting day of her washing machine giving up mid cycle,their child has drawn on the walls with crayons again, who knows! We all have our own struggles however they look to the observer. I still put single parents on a pedestal, I do not know how you guys do it and as for a disabled single parent.....wow.... they are the X Men of parenthood! Rather than hitting out at one another maybe we can listen and learn and take what inspires us from different parents and apply it to our lives. All parents are doing their best in these hard times and although parenting is exhausting and often intense it is also the best thing in life, the happiest and the luckiest thing to happen to us :) x<br />
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I shall go now and play bathing toys, a task I can do easily sat at the table with a plastic ice cream tub of water, bubbles , lots of toys and one happy child. Followed by playing bubbles in our dining room whilst my assistant dog and he run around popping the bubbles, all can be done sat in a wheelchair or chair and all entails laughter and fun especially watching the dogs face as she eats the bubbles! Then I shall read to my son, my husband will come and cook a meal for us and then we will all eat, child will sleep and it will all start again in the afternoon and the next day,the day after that,day after that with hospital appointments making up our time out of the house. My little boy has played on his own for a good hour. Time to be with him now, cuddle him, laugh with him and chat over life, Mr Tumble, 64 Zoo Lane and Peter and Janes "Pat the dog". <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977346207935034011.post-68996967464788625152013-03-24T02:43:00.001-07:002013-03-24T02:43:49.443-07:002 year old update. It has been a while, I must try to be more regular in my blog posts but frankly with a to year old and two parents with physical disabilities time rarely a friend. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>My son is now two! Lets level here, yes he walks on his own so no more lugging him about the house. However he is still too small to independently climb stairs, he can not climb into his child seat yet and he is of course heavier now and almost my height worryingly! I must invest in platform shoes! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Yes he understands the word "no"now so I can control his actions with my voice but in order for toddlers to listen they need not feel got at all the time. I always let small details go, if he sticks his hand in my face cream this is not worth telling him off about, if he comes in with mud everywhere or sticks sticker book stickers on the walls this is a nightmare to clear up, especially in pain but not worth telling him off for. When he is about to start annoying our dog when she is eating then I tell him off, although my dog is a gentle lab she is a dog and it is in their instinct to be possessive over food. If my son is climbing on the sofa he gets told off, he will fall and I can't move quick enough to stop it or pick him up from the floor when he is hurt. <br/><br/>Some aspects have got a lot easier and so much more fun. He can count to eleven, never stops talking, knows his letters and some words. He is perceptive, he brings me things that I drop, he knows I hurt and is so gentle. He is learning French at the moment and his speed at taking in words of objects in two languages is so amazing! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Some aspects are harder but no harder than a well parent has it, you can not leave a child for more than a minuet, they are always up to something. The hard part of disability is the energy every small activity takes from going to the loo, dressing and when you have another little person dependent on you to change him, entertain him etc that is draining. Hence the toy shops and libraries get hit more! I am currently on the hunt for an easy to push and steer trike with a handle. It is between these two models, these are available in the UK, just as usual Americans are more ahead at actually road testing these things. Why oh why do we not have a Top Gear type show for baby equipment in the UK! <br/><br/> <br/><br/><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="500" height="305" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/g2O_03MWWjI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="500" height="305" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7qltgQuIK10" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div> <br/><br/> <br/><br/>We also brought little man a sand pit table. These are great as parents are needed to show child how to play with sand initially, the table we have is one for sand and water. My lovely parents, god bless them, brought me a ground level plastic turtle pit, so kind of them but they forget I am not longer that child that could be lifted down onto the ground, I am a full blown woman! I can not sit down on the floor to play in a ground pit. There are some stunning sand tables but be warned, a two year old has the attention span of an ant! Do not go paying out £70 for a stunning sand table if the reality is your child will only ever play with it for a few weeks. I have plans for my sons table to be my potting table when he gets bored of it! However we only spent £25 on it so it doesn't matter if he doesn't give it a load of time. <br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jaNDz3xVnX4/UU7Kt6nfqJI/AAAAAAAACTw/BmT_FIosou4/s346/Photo%25252024%252520Mar%2525202013%25252009%25253A07.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jaNDz3xVnX4/UU7Kt6nfqJI/AAAAAAAACTw/BmT_FIosou4/s346/Photo%25252024%252520Mar%2525202013%25252009%25253A07.jpg" id="blogsy-1364118229675.4404" class="aligncenter" width="346" height="346" alt="Sizzling hot table from Toys R Us"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Retails in Toys R Us for £25</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ow_wZiiZQUY/UU7KvJqaslI/AAAAAAAACT4/QM2tB1Q3740/s400/Photo%25252024%252520Mar%2525202013%25252009%25253A11.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ow_wZiiZQUY/UU7KvJqaslI/AAAAAAAACT4/QM2tB1Q3740/s400/Photo%25252024%252520Mar%2525202013%25252009%25253A11.jpg" id="blogsy-1364118229679.4707" class="aligncenter" width="250" height="250" alt="Stunning Plum sand table, comes with a wooden matching lid when sand not needed,"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Available at www.wickentoys.co.uk retails on there for £75</td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> We are struggling for entertainment ideas, our son still enjoys reading, enjoys letter learning time but he won't tolerate endless books all day like he used to so we have to get more creative and except use or little bit of energy entirely on him and the dog in the day, not worrying about anything else. We do various art activities at the table: <br/><br/> <br/><br/>1.Painting using a kitchen pan sponge and kids paints and a large roll of paper from IKEA spread on the table so no need to worry about table! We also have a plastic table cloth so our son can do his worse and it doesn't matter!<br/><br/> <br/><br/>2. Mr Maker kits- fantastic things- every thing you need in a mini kit and a make that can be done in a minuet! Great for a two year old attention, with a mother and father with awful hands the make takes ten minuets but we all get there together! Here are some fabulous kits available from John Lewis,Amazon and Hobbycraft.<br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-IiqK_abxfIM/UU7KwMAWZ7I/AAAAAAAACUA/OwjNflhTK04/s220/Photo%25252024%252520Mar%2525202013%25252009%25253A17.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-IiqK_abxfIM/UU7KwMAWZ7I/AAAAAAAACUA/OwjNflhTK04/s220/Photo%25252024%252520Mar%2525202013%25252009%25253A17.jpg" id="blogsy-1364118229723.5164" class="aligncenter" width="220" height="220" alt="A massive two year old boys favourite make! "></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The alien saucer is a little difficult to do up with poor dexterity! </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PmkXQyCfqHo/UU7KxEYJBxI/AAAAAAAACUI/X5jFSbDYsQU/s220/Photo%25252024%252520Mar%2525202013%25252009%25253A18.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PmkXQyCfqHo/UU7KxEYJBxI/AAAAAAAACUI/X5jFSbDYsQU/s220/Photo%25252024%252520Mar%2525202013%25252009%25253A18.jpg" id="blogsy-1364118229690.1104" class="" width="220" height="220" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P7jwYtrDHSA/UU7Kx6P11mI/AAAAAAAACUQ/tIYcmH2whBA/s220/Photo%25252024%252520Mar%2525202013%25252009%25253A18.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P7jwYtrDHSA/UU7Kx6P11mI/AAAAAAAACUQ/tIYcmH2whBA/s220/Photo%25252024%252520Mar%2525202013%25252009%25253A18.jpg" id="blogsy-1364118229763.389" class="aligncenter" width="220" height="220" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FK_8iSNbS_A/UU7KzOGCErI/AAAAAAAACUY/E7Z0cfI0kb8/s220/Photo%25252024%252520Mar%2525202013%25252009%25253A18.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FK_8iSNbS_A/UU7KzOGCErI/AAAAAAAACUY/E7Z0cfI0kb8/s220/Photo%25252024%252520Mar%2525202013%25252009%25253A18.jpg" id="blogsy-1364118229673.664" class="aligncenter" width="220" height="220" alt="Easiest make for parents with poor dexterity!"></a></div> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> We are venturing into the world of direct payments, a sad day for me! I hate needing help from others but I have to start accepting I need help to get out with my son, if I am in charge and effectively an employer I would at least feel I have dignity and choice. I am looking into Play schools as frankly the process of applying for direct payments is slow in the UK! You go through an extensive care needs assessment and then it is put to the finance board etc. Probably by the time they are awarded I will have placed my son in Playschool and he will be getting out enough! Still all avenues need exploring for my sons sakes. A tip for future parents to be, if you think you will need help getting your child out and about then for gods sakes get applying for direct payments now! They take months to approve because understandably the system is in chaos, too many chancers taking money from those of us who really need it, thank god for this new government we have in power sorting the wood from the chaff! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Finally since 2009 I have been needing adaptations on my home, when I was working I was climbing upstairs on my hands and knees because no stair lift had been put in, husband with awful shoulders was having to lift me into the bath as we had no walk in shower, as for getting out we have no ramp and I still need lifting out the house! The ramp has been designed at last, its just a case of some random bods discussing monies to instal it! Yes it has taken 4 years to adapt my house! Not great really especially as this has impacted on my child's life. I have to say there are hundreds of difficulties for healthy parents of disabled children but there are services and clubs, help and inclusion available. To the healthy child of two disabled parents there is no help, little inclusion chances and they are left out. Hence I am fighting for change! When I put my mind to changing social policy it usually happens.<br/><br/> <br/><br/>Sorry it has been a while, we really have a lot of surgery on our plate,strong medication, trying to juggle happy normality for our son, we don't want him knowing about our illnesses much, he doesn't need to live our difficulties. He is well, I want him to make everything of his health, he has endless chances, choice and I will do everything to make sure he accesses it! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Will be back soon x<br/><br/><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Ok8fCnn6TVY/UU7K0dbCemI/AAAAAAAACUg/W7quYPznWME/s480/Photo%25252014%252520Mar%2525202013%25252010%25253A05.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Ok8fCnn6TVY/UU7K0dbCemI/AAAAAAAACUg/W7quYPznWME/s480/Photo%25252014%252520Mar%2525202013%25252010%25253A05.jpg" id="blogsy-1364118229707.7822" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt="Photo taken by my son!"></a></div> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977346207935034011.post-21486036691700108752012-12-09T03:15:00.001-08:002012-12-12T01:21:07.748-08:00The things I do for treats.Written for the Pets Win Praises competition with MoneySupermarket.com<br/><br/>Please check out this link <br/><br/><span style="font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><a href="http://www.moneysupermarket.com/c/pet-insurance/pets-win-praises/" target="_blank" title="">http://www.moneysupermarket.com/c/pet-insurance/pets-win-praises/</a></span><br/><br/> <br/><br/>I am a yellow Labrador assistant dog and have PHd level training from a charity called Canine Partners. I have taken my mistresses blog over for a day to tell you the things I do for treats!<br/><br/>I was trained as a pup at Canine Partners, a charity that trains dogs like to a very high level to help and care for a disabled person, the world class trainers,puppy parents and a whole army of humans goes into making a dog like me pass with a PHd in caring! I had a lovely puppy mistress and master where they would show me as a young pup the human world and told me how to go about being an outstanding doggy.I would be rewarded every time I sat, went to my toilet and only in my toilet area to do my business, behaved well in town and my puppy parents taught me all about small humans in a pack and I loved them! I would get biscuit treats for small tasks as a pup. Eventually my education went on as I grew, I was being taught to unload and load the washing machine, open doors and pick up all kinds of objects from floors and supermarket shelves. Every time I completed each task I would get what Canine Partners call "a jackpot" of treats, as a dog I call it funny humans throwing me tasty bites everywhere, its such fun! I was no longer a pup, I packed my doggy suitcase, sadly said goodbye to my puppy family and told them I would make them proud. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>I lived at Canine Partners, I loved the trainers but I am a busy dog and when we finished play and training I had to go settle down, I was not amused, all the treats in the world didn't stop me moaning! Eventually CP invited this tiny adult human along to trial us dogs with her and I knew I had found the right human for me, she looked a positive and busy human,her eyes smiled. My human mistress has been ill all her life, she was 15 months old when she got Juvenile arthritis which is nothing like old human arthritis, this is a disease that involves the immune system attacking everything in the body from bones to organs. It can be lethal and works over night eating a knee joint. Mistress tried to live in her own kennel independently but her mum and dad had to come over every day to help,she couldn't pick the mail up from the floor so urgent appointments were going unanswered,she couldn't get up from the floor if she fell over, needed help dressing etc etc. That is where I came in! We trained with Canine Partners together,mistress was taught how to treat me with higher levels of treat if I do something complex and normal treats for smaller tasks which to Mr Average dog would be a huge event! Before I came along mistress was having to call her parents if she dropped her car keys when she was out, even if she was an hour away she had to call because no one would help her get the keys, she lost confidence in going out because of this and if it wasnt for her funny human external pack friends she wouldn't have seen many humans. Now I go out with her and she no longer has to worry and neither do her parents and my tummy doesn't worry because I get lots of treats out and about!<br/><br/> <br/><br/>I have been with my mistress for 7 years. I have been there at parties,there to clear up after parties.I have been there when she fell in love with master who also has youth arthritis, I was there when he proposed with a sparkly ring that I checked out to make sure it was an adequate purchase by sniffing it! I have been into work with her and met interesting humans all who wanted to stroke me which is a naughty person! I was there at mistress and masters wedding with a purple organza bow around me, I felt smart and enjoyed the treats down the aisle! I was there when they went away one night, unexpectedly, I wondered what the deal was, I worried! My mistress was looking like a fun beach ball and then she went away and had a small human pup with her! I sniffed him to ensure he was part of the pack and he met my high standards of pack membership, he did, he is my best friend! I wag my tail at his puppy antics, I find him so much fun that he now says my commands and I help him open doors which has got us both into trouble, we both sit on the naughty step then! Although he means a lot more work for my pack I wouldn't change him for the world.<br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XZktuo344Bc/UMcGqnCP7CI/AAAAAAAACKo/A3nJdmvSmnQ/s540/Photo%2525207%252520Aug%2525202012%25252020%25253A49.jpg" target="_blank" style=" " title=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XZktuo344Bc/UMcGqnCP7CI/AAAAAAAACKo/A3nJdmvSmnQ/s500/Photo%2525207%252520Aug%2525202012%25252020%25253A49.jpg" id="blogsy-1355304047551.6223" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="350" height="467"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am checking out the new pack member and instructing him on my high standards of membership! </td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/>My work varies, sometimes every thing goes as smooth as a labs coat and other times it doesn't. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>One of my main jobs that gives me high job satisfaction and lots of Kibble treats is helping mistress get on the floor to play with the small human. Mistress has been unable to get on the floor since she was 4 years old but now I sit right up against her, she puts her arm around my neck and I lower her to the floor slowly. If I jar her one of her joints is likely to break or dislocate so this is a job only for the smartest dogs! I get lots of cuddles and treats, she is thrilled to be able to play on the floor with her son. I am so proud I can help her and small human. <br/><br/> <br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8LDh6oidNOM/UMcGuS58NII/AAAAAAAACKw/kEhKfoDbC_8/s1536/Photo%2525204%252520Aug%2525202012%25252016%25253A35.jpg" target="_blank" style=" " title=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8LDh6oidNOM/UMcGuS58NII/AAAAAAAACKw/kEhKfoDbC_8/s500/Photo%2525204%252520Aug%2525202012%25252016%25253A35.jpg" id="blogsy-1355304047586.8481" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mistress being helped on the floor by me.</td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/>My next job is smelling small pup boys smelly nappy and going of to get the change bag and bring back to mistress. My nose goes wild and I am glad the frenzy nose calms down once the smell is removed! This is an easy job for me so here I get a base of my tail scratch which I love, food treats are used for complex tasks after all I have to watch my waist line! <br/><br/><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-gW9cI9yx5n0/UMcGyZBNnYI/AAAAAAAACK4/MvNpUOfmq5o/s2048/Photo%25252026%252520May%2525202011%25252015%25253A51.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-gW9cI9yx5n0/UMcGyZBNnYI/AAAAAAAACK4/MvNpUOfmq5o/s500/Photo%25252026%252520May%2525202011%25252015%25253A51.jpg" id="blogsy-1355304047556.1062" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div> <br/><br/>When mistress is on the floor she can not move so I have to get every thing for her and boy pup. If the phone rings I go and get that and bring it to her, if she has left the remote control on the sofa and needs it I go fetch that for her. I bring books for pup boy for mistress to read, I go off to the shelf and bring back my favourite books which are "Green Eggs and Ham" and "Some dogs do" ! I do get treats for these things but to me they are simple tasks like brushing teeth is to healthy humans so I get huge cuddles and a mini log bone treat.<br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AQfvMMWvnds/UMcG1q8VRFI/AAAAAAAACLA/NYkwcwVDab0/s1536/Photo%2525204%252520Aug%2525202012%25252014%25253A46.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AQfvMMWvnds/UMcG1q8VRFI/AAAAAAAACLA/NYkwcwVDab0/s500/Photo%2525204%252520Aug%2525202012%25252014%25253A46.jpg" id="blogsy-1355304047575.4697" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="250" height="187"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am getting the remote. </td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Small humans nap time comes and we collapse in a heap! I have a walk and then we all zonk out! Mistress has a drink and collapses on the sofa, I feel when she is in pain, I try to help and lick her bad bones but there is not much I can do but be there when she is crying and fed up of having a body that doesn't work well, she tells me she wants the best life for small human pup, I tell her I am here to ensure that happens. She gives me a treat for being with her , I give her a paw and a lick and a cuddle ,we fall asleep. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>In the afternoon it is more of the same, I will load up the washing machine and get treats. I will get mistress back on the floor to be with her son. They will get every toy out which I put away in the drawers at the end of the day, small pup boy watches me and I am slowly training him now to tidy up after himself, not sure what treat small humans like so just give him a lick. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>I love treats, gosh I am a lab, paws up any lab that doesnt love a bit of cheese or crunchy kibble!?? I love my bond with my pack more, I am proud of mistress and master, of my friend the small human and of me. Life is great for my pack, we make it great together no matter how hard things get for mistress and master who are both currently on chemo and strong pain killers. To my puppy parents, I told you I would make you proud and change someone's life for the better, mistress has been through a lot and I have been there lending a paw and am excited about the future fun we will all have. I am off for my evening walk now, cats are great news for me because I do get a treat if I ignore one which I always do because a treat is far more entertaining than a boring old cat. It has been nice talking to you all and Merry Christmas x<br/><br/> <br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zPPvsSrjuVM/UMRyvJCABZI/AAAAAAAACJ8/Z7l2kSVt8Ls/s720/Photo%2525207%252520Aug%2525202012%25252021%25253A11.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zPPvsSrjuVM/UMRyvJCABZI/AAAAAAAACJ8/Z7l2kSVt8Ls/s500/Photo%2525207%252520Aug%2525202012%25252021%25253A11.jpg" id="blogsy-1355304047516.4878" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="350" height="298"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My lovely pack having fun! </td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977346207935034011.post-88390435905396045252012-11-29T05:52:00.001-08:002012-11-29T05:52:23.560-08:00Toddler mayhem!It has been a while since I have properly blogged about what I have found useful in caring for my ,now walking,son as a disabled parent. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>The truth is make the most of baby hood because when your little one hits toddler doom it really is madness! I and all my family wished and wished Christopher would get walking, my mum was over here trying to encourage him to get up right, even the dog demonstrated walking for the little mans benefit! Now he is walking I wonder why we were all so desperate for him to do it!?! I guess for my mum the urge for him to walk was because fundamentally we all want a great life for Christopher and the fact is having any disability as a child then later an adult can ,at times ,make life quite hard, not a bad life, but a tougher life. I am relieved Christopher is a healthy child and can do all the things I never could, even play in the garden, other hand wow it's a mega manic household! <br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong><u>First of all the equipment required for creakies to enable a child to practice standing and taking a step:</u></strong><br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-CqPTDvkAv40/ULdohZexIsI/AAAAAAAACIM/rxSi2mhPNiY/s1536/Photo%25252027%252520Aug%2525202012%25252013%25253A58.jpg" target="_blank" style=" " title=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-CqPTDvkAv40/ULdohZexIsI/AAAAAAAACIM/rxSi2mhPNiY/s500/Photo%25252027%252520Aug%2525202012%25252013%25253A58.jpg" id="blogsy-1354197142673.123" class="aligncenter" width="250" height="188" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My son just learning to stand unaided, he was around 20 months here.</td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/>It depends on the wheelchair you use, I found an NHS one with arm rests and gaps under the rests was useful as you could stick a garden cane through the arm rests so the pole sits across the width of your chair. Enough pole needs to stick out either side of the arm rests or it will pop out and hurt baby or you or both! Most babies already coasting around sofas will happily want to hold onto a handy pole. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>A motorised wheelchair often doesn't have arm rests with gaps so as long as your knees do not scream pain when someone touches them, your child will of their own back use your lap to pull themselves into a standing position to face you. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>A baby walker- my health visitor who isn't supposed to recommend them said there are times and places where a walker is clearly a useful tool. The walker allows a child to get walking practice and build up muscles ready for walking. The best walker that holds child upright, we found, was a Babylo walker for Toys R Us and we tried at least three of the darn things before finding this one which was the only one that held him in standing position rather than in a superman position! <br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VXpp4p32U-w/ULdoiqURAYI/AAAAAAAACIU/Iv8uKUu9BDQ/s346/Photo%25252029%252520Nov%2525202012%25252010%25253A22.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VXpp4p32U-w/ULdoiqURAYI/AAAAAAAACIU/Iv8uKUu9BDQ/s346/Photo%25252029%252520Nov%2525202012%25252010%25253A22.jpg" id="blogsy-1354197142650.7935" class="aligncenter" width="250" height="250" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Toys R Us a Babylo Busy bee walker for £29.99</td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/>A baby bouncer right from six months old will actually start to give your child an early idea of how it feels to be vertical and start using their quad muscles. We found baby walkers absolutely awful for our hands to try and do and undo but the best one we found that was just about manageable was a Tommy Tippitoes bouncer. Otherwise you may need to take a bouncer to REMAP (see early remap blog) who can adapt one for you. <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong><u>Once the child is confidently toddling:</u></strong><br/><br/><strong><br></strong><br/><br/>This is the difficult stage for those of us who really are very immobile but like every thing where there is a determination to succeed there is always a way! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Camping stores are great for a choice of baby items including reins, they offer half price fleece onesies, plastic feeding items, baby slings, baby back pack carriers and reins compared to baby high street stores. The other disabled parent bonus is a camping store is full of older people who enjoy a ramble on a Sunday rather than a horde of children zooming around on plastic cars and in walkers ready to knock into you and your toddle! We got a bumble bee rein from Atwools but they are also available at Go Outdoors. The bee goes on as a back pack and the mechanism buckle is relatively easy to do and undo even with hands that do not have strength or great dexterity. The bee has a strap attached to the back with a loop that goes around a forearm so as to not break my hand or fingers if he falls. <br/><br/><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9fcLjqrXmFE/ULdoj_CIdaI/AAAAAAAACIc/hOEmuHpt6-E/s320/Photo%25252029%252520Nov%2525202012%25252010%25253A27.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9fcLjqrXmFE/ULdoj_CIdaI/AAAAAAAACIc/hOEmuHpt6-E/s320/Photo%25252029%252520Nov%2525202012%25252010%25253A27.jpg" id="blogsy-1354197142632.5278" class="aligncenter" width="320" height="240" alt=""></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ecSRCZp1e7Y/ULdokxkcgHI/AAAAAAAACIk/tV0DOUnEypU/s325/Photo%25252029%252520Nov%2525202012%25252010%25253A17.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ecSRCZp1e7Y/ULdokxkcgHI/AAAAAAAACIk/tV0DOUnEypU/s325/Photo%25252029%252520Nov%2525202012%25252010%25253A17.jpg" id="blogsy-1354197142639.5017" class="aligncenter" width="250" height="258" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bumble bee reins from Go Outdoors uk £16.99, pls go and try reins out because you need ones suitable to your needs. </td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> I don't let him walk where I can not control the environment, he could walk in our lovely, quiet library safely but he would end up getting all the books out, reading them and throwing them on the floor, then my dog would have to spend a good twenty minuets clearing up after him by which time my son would be getting fed up and wanting to go home and making a fuss! No physically ill parent can easily pull a child or pick a child up screaming, kicking and having a tantrum so I don't invite him to get like that by restricting where he goes and when.<br/><br/> <br/><br/>Above all the ridiculous pressure put on every one in society to full on entertain a child is a load of dog poo! Our son enjoys a toddle around our garden or his grandparents garden just as much as if we took him to a park. Until I am confident he will walk ok anywhere else he will strictly be garden exploring! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Christopher is at the stage where he loves nothing more than running around the house. Water play keeps him still for twenty minuets,filling a washing bowl tub up with some water and bathing his toys. He enjoys pretend cooking using a small cup of flour, a small cup of coco powder,dry pasta and a pan. Reading is still a big favourite and his speech is amazing, he counts to eleven, he knows his colours, he says words clearly and must say a good three hundred words now. He even enjoys puzzles, I have never known any child like puzzles, I hated them! He is a chatty, patient and bright boy, a little serious at times, I tell him to not fret about every thing, his favourite expressions seem to be "oh no" and "oh dear"! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>The down side is he is nearly two, he whines when he wants something and then if he doesn't get it starts hitting us which actually leaves us breathless with pain, he may as well be stabbing us with a knife ,a small hit hurts so bad! We are having to get strict with him, stick him in his bedroom with the gate closed and leave him because we just can not have a child that is aggressive, it will hospitalise us! Mark and I are on very strong medications now to control our constant fatigue and pain, we are on chemo meds which leave us feeling sick and dizzy but we get through it together, we take shifts in caring during the day so the other can sit and rest limbs. It is difficult ,we are all having to muddle through especially as my ankle replacement has failed and likely needs re doing, the prospect of another three months in plaster is miserable but we do not dwell on it, we get on with each day, up before daylight and stopping at 8pm, we entertain one another, chat,laugh and we are all looking forward to Christmassy times with family and friends. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Finally the Department of Works and Pensions was sent a letter from us, declaring mark is going to start writing and illustrating children's books on Kindle which will go on sale on the first of December. The letter was basic so as to not be too difficult for the officials, simply declaring an intention and to ask to whom we should write to to send Marks accounts in etc. The letter went out first class two weeks ago,the first of December is on Saturday, it is now Thursday the 29th of November 2012 and we have heard nothing! Goverment agency at its worst!<br/><br/> <br/><br/>Enjoy your weekend every one, Christmas is not far now, get your baby and toddlers Christmas book by Mark Jephcott, on Amazon, on the first of December, how exciting x :D <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977346207935034011.post-65065356332713176022012-11-17T08:45:00.001-08:002012-11-17T08:45:42.810-08:00Entertaining a nearly two yr old when one is creaky! Life does exist free from goverment organisation battles or as I call them head banging on brick walls. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Onto real life. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>When children get older they come with new challenges, you spend your whole time as a disabled parent thinking oh please get walking because then I won't have a difficulty getting you around the house and we might be able to do and see so much more, hmmmm ,this is just not the case so don't wish the non walking time away! <br/><br/>Christopher can now walk to my stair lift which means I only need to pick him up to put him on my lap to go downstairs or upstairs on my lift but he also chooses at times to not walk to my stair lift and go anywhere else but in a direction I could do with him going! His pastimes include chasing my assistant dog around,working with my assistant dog to get up to mischief (yes my son knows her commands now eeeek) walking into our kitchen to lock our washing machine, to sneak into the dining room to eat the dogs chocolate buttons, to pull 1950s and 60s antiques off shelves, to throw things around like a disc thrower which scares me incase he hits one of Marks or my joints and sometimes a tap can leave the joint damaged or useless for days. Hence when a child is walking and one is creaky you need to get thinking like a toy shop owner in Manhattan at Christmas, you need to be fun,sell your fun to your young listener,be full of ideas to entertain just to keep the little so and so static for a while. <br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong><u>Our list of fun fun fun includes:</u></strong><br/><br/> <span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU START KEEPING AN ARTY DRAWER,YOU ARE GOING TO NEED LOADS OF ARTY BITS ,THINGS TO MAKE AND DO WITH A CHILD FOR WHEN YOUR CHILD GETS ACTIVE NEEDS MORE ENTERTAINMENT. We keep old yogurt pots, toilet roll tubes, wrapping paper, spiral pasta shapes, stickers, paints, glue, brushes,sticky back felt shapes,card etc. </span><br/><br/><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><strong><u>Retro</u></strong> <strong><u>fun</u>, <u>arty</u>,</strong> <strong><u>ideas</u></strong>. </span><br/><br/><u>Aqua Doodle Matt is a Must buy! </u><br/><br/>The matt comes with a pen that you fill with water, the water reacts with the matt to produce a blue ink but when the pen is used on the wall your walls are just covered with water rather than ink! A great bit of kit for disabled parents, you can put the mat on a double bed and use to draw on, wash toys in a washing up tub (my son loves bathing his toys). The matt is waterproof underneath so it fully protects a table or bed. This mat would be a must buy for any creaky parent.<br><br/><br/> <br/><br/><u>Saucepan drum kit</u><br/><br/>Saucepans make great drums, cheese grater and chopstick, spoon make a great scraping sound. This activity can be done from a sofa, a floor or a bed.<br/><br/> <br/><br/><u><strong>Painting</strong>,<strong>drawing</strong>, <strong>getting</strong> <strong>messy</strong>.</u><br/><br/> <br/><br/><u>Painting</u>.<br/><br/>A great big IKEA roll of cheap drawing paper found in the children's area of IKEA,children's paints and a roll of waterproof table matt found in party shops for a bargain price of £1. We sit at our dining table, place a waterproof tablecloth underneath,roll the paper out, get armed with paint, hands,paint brushes and we get messy! Paint goes on me, on Christopher, on Mark and on the dog but it is fun and it washes off.<br><br/><br/> <br/><br/><u>Funny face paper plates. </u><br/><br/>Making Pumpkin face plates for Halloween but I am loving the Cookie Monster plate idea! <br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8X8UnjxGDcA/UKe_KsOBzvI/AAAAAAAACHM/dSk-Q52f7Z0/s456/Photo%25252017%252520Nov%2525202012%25252015%25253A24.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8X8UnjxGDcA/UKe_KsOBzvI/AAAAAAAACHM/dSk-Q52f7Z0/s456/Photo%25252017%252520Nov%2525202012%25252015%25253A24.jpg" id="blogsy-1353170741405.3926" class="aligncenter" width="456" height="369" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cookie Monster plate idea from http://kiboomukidscrafts.com</td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/><u>Make a tight snake.</u><br/><br/><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Making a tight Snake or as my friend calls it a tight worm as my tights are obviously small. We simply brought some children's star sparkly tights from a supermarket for £1, cut off one leg and filled it with polystyrene filling but you could use newspaper, old magazines. In our make it drawer we have sticky back felt spots which our son stuck along his snake and Daddy put two big button eyes and a felt tongue on to finish it off. We tied the end of the tight, don't fuss about with elastic bands if your hands are not good at fine dexterity. </span><br/><br/><u> Spooky spiders.</u><br/><br/><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JJD-YH0QVxc/UKe_MK9n3fI/AAAAAAAACHU/pN23WC1DFws/s300/Photo%25252017%252520Nov%2525202012%25252015%25253A58.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JJD-YH0QVxc/UKe_MK9n3fI/AAAAAAAACHU/pN23WC1DFws/s300/Photo%25252017%252520Nov%2525202012%25252015%25253A58.jpg" id="blogsy-1353170741474.7673" class="alignnone" width="300" height="183" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halloween spider instructions found at www.allkidsnetwork.com</td></tr></tbody></table> Our spiders we made are just not worth showing you as we were so ill as both our illnesses were raging, mark was throwing up with pain and migraines from spurs growing on his neck, I was burning in my knees, ankles, elbows and we just blindly were trying to entertain Christopher and sat on a sofa making these things. However it goes to show you can make these things even when you can not move and in between throwing up.<br/><br/> <br/><br/>You may find piercing holes for the pipe cleaners, in the egg cup, difficult as we did with our rubbish hands. You can swap pipe cleaners for black wool, cut eight same length strands and stick the legs to the underside of the cup, you can use tape or glue. <br/><br/> <br/><br/><u>Retro</u> <u>Playdoh</u>.<br/><br/>Playdoh is a great toy played at a table, when am bed bound we have tried playing it on the bed and have yellow playdoh stained duvet covers, not a great place to play with dough! <br/><br/> <br/><br/><u>Pretend</u> <u>cooking</u><br/><br/>Simply using a bowl, throw in some dry spaghetti, a small cup of flour, raisins, anything not disastrous if it is thrown about and just mix. Do this at a table, a bed is not a great idea! <br/><br/> <br/><br/><u>Bread</u> <u>cutting.</u><br/><br/>You can buy children's cookie cutting sets from Hobbycraft or online. Taking slices of bread, simply take a cutter and push into a slice to cut different shapes ,then stick on lashings of chocolate spread on top and tuck in!<br/><br/> <br/><br/>This is so far my list of entertainment, it seems a lot when I write it but actually our son probably will entertain one activity for ten minuets if we are lucky and then gets back this favourite past times. Thank goodness Father Christmas is coming soon because we are rapidly needing more things to look at and do! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>It is difficult when you can't sling a child in a car seat and go out on your own to parent and child groups, it can get very isolating at times and days feel long. I thank god I have my best friend here who not only helps me but makes me laugh and feel loved,my husband is my best friend, like any friend he can annoy me and I annoy him but we are very together and strong, not only do we deal with our individual body failings and pain but we nurture one another and our son.<br/><br/> <br/><br/>I hope our son doesn't see our pain or difficulties we have every day because we don't want him acknowledging that his parents are hugely different. A child should have a childhood and not be condemned to a life of disability and understanding all aspects of disability just because he has parents who are disabled. My childhood was full of disability, endless hospital appointments, stays in hospital for a year at times, isolation due to not being able to get out from traction which rendered me in bed all day and night. Life can be fun and I want my sons to be even better. I very much enjoy seeing my friends and family because that is time for Mark and I to be adults and enjoy adults chat but my little man has brought so much joy into our lives as well, really life is very happy and I will wheel over hot coals to ensure he has the happiest childhood possible :) <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Enjoy your weekend all lovely people out there x<br/><br/> <br/><br/><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977346207935034011.post-28871250010752770982012-10-28T08:28:00.001-07:002012-10-28T08:28:29.591-07:00First shoes! It is difficult to explain how this felt to me. I watch my son bouncing from the sofa tumbling to the floor and I gasp for air thinking oh god is he going to be hurt? Is he ok? Oh of course he is, he is well, happy and healthy. It is hard to watch your child do things every child does through the eyes of someone who had rubbish joints from baby hood, no bounce, no working ligaments and on strike cartilage. When I was a child and I put my little hand on a door handle to open it too quickly in my excitement on Christmas day it hurt the whole day and swelled. So I look at Christopher waddling his first steps around our home, stumbling, hitting his foot on a chair when rolling around, bending himself in half to take an upside down look at his bottom and never does he ever get up looking in pain, just grins and gets on with another important task on his manic to do list for the day! <br/><br/>Like every child, I owned a first pair of shoes, but my shoes were huge compared to my siblings footwear! Of course the reason was I walked very very late, although I was stumbling early I only took three steps which didn't warrant shoes and then sadly walking became obsolete for a while.Then I didn't really do walking till I was aged two and a half. My son walked late at 21 months and yet he was younger than I was and speedier and so first shoes were called for. For any parent getting a child's first shoes is a major development marker but for a parent who has been disabled through all of life to have such a moment with your child who is fortunate enough to be happy and very healthy, this is a mega moment of pride, joy,excitement,almost like giving birth again!<br/><br/> <br/><br/>Christopher loved the whole shoe shopping experience, we didn't trail around shoe shops, I and husband are not well or able enough to do that, we looked for an out of town,disabled parking outside shop,good old Mothercare store with Clarks in store. We chose some light blue dinosaur cruiser shoes because my son is a little unstable still in walking and these were recommended. We looked for Velcro straps as Christopher's parents already take too long in dressing sir and fiddling with shoes as well would have made for a grumpy chops! My little boy sat on Daddy's lap whilst the feet were measured and he studied the assistant carrying out her job, he laughed when she put his shoes on his feet and stood up in his new footwear, waddled over to a disgruntled three yr old customer,whilst cheering "yeayyyyy " as he walked. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>The whole process took ten minuets, once you eliminate all shoes you struggle to get on and off a child's feet with rubbish hands and fingers, chosen one of three shoe colours and got feet measured etc it was in,measure,shoe,quick snap for the first shoe package Clarks do for free, little action shot of child in new shoes and we were out the store. In fact Christopher only cried when we got out and it was time to head home! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>First shoes, not just my little boy growing up making me emotional but the fact that I can see the world is going to be my child's Oyster, Christopher you have nothing to stop those feet of yours go where they want to go. You can bet mummy and daddy will be watching and cheering and supporting you and your feet every step you take in your great life x<br/><br/> <br/><br/><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977346207935034011.post-6284817637224502042012-09-28T02:37:00.001-07:002012-09-28T02:37:06.616-07:00Holidays,colds, de-cluttering! We got back from our four days away in Windsor on Monday. <br/><br/>We have roughed it on vacations in the past,staying in caravans etc but we found self catering, with a baby and just our small family, along with being in damp old Britain with minimal heat sources in a caravan a difficult and painful experience. So we learnt that in future we needed to upgrade our holidays. Staying in hotels with all amenities but just for a shorter time so we could afford it. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>We stayed at the Beamount hotel in Windsor. It is dubbed a four star hotel, it maybe was back in the 1970s but the decor was literally retro, looked like something from The Overlook Hotel in the Shining. However decor is not an important aspect for two disabled parents and one healthy toddler, we were interested in the hotel amenities. These were just about adequate! The breakfast buffet of cereal, toast, pastries, fry up was lovely, really worth the forty minuet shuffle from your room to the restaurant. Although the walk killed me, I sweated in agony trying to get down to breakfast before my morphine and steroids had set in but it was worth the scrumptious offerings. Even the disabled parking was located a good ten minuet walk away from our room. Our room was a family room although I should have probably booked a disabled room and asked for a cot to be put in there as I can not get in a bath but in the family room we were in no one could have a bath as the shower glass screen was actually glued to the bath so neither I or daddy could access the bath taps! Really we brought an over priced Premier Inn hotel, we have lived and learnt and decided to stick with a Premier Inn which doesn't pretend to be more than it is, a modern ,well looked after room abode, a restaurant on site and every thing in close proximity. However the holiday was not about just the hotel facilities. <br/><br/><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ecG7geeiWvQ/UGVva2LikoI/AAAAAAAACE8/72RYV-em_SU/s1536/Photo%25252021%252520Sep%2525202012%25252015%25253A16.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ecG7geeiWvQ/UGVva2LikoI/AAAAAAAACE8/72RYV-em_SU/s500/Photo%25252021%252520Sep%2525202012%25252015%25253A16.jpg" id="blogsy-1348825025842.2761" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div>Legoland in Windsor was well laid out, accessibility is excellent as are changing facilities for a baby or toddler. The staff try hard to help. We ate in a Pizza and Pasta buffet and the waiter couldn't have been kinder or more thoughtful, knew I would need to be at a table near the food so didn't have far to walk, he was very good! The Duplo train offered entertainment for our son as did the buggy wash where you push your child around in a complex of water falls etc. You can get a carer in for free and a child under four also gets in for free. With Miniland where Buckingham Palace through to NASA station is all made up in Lego with working engines etc we spent just an hour wondering through Miniland, looking at the little Lego soldiers marching, black cabs racing through Coventry Garden. Great time and worth the money to get in! <br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9pr2t01g9Mo/UGVvhwWOJvI/AAAAAAAACFE/CeN2-QZBCwo/s2048/Photo%25252021%252520Sep%2525202012%25252012%25253A23.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9pr2t01g9Mo/UGVvhwWOJvI/AAAAAAAACFE/CeN2-QZBCwo/s500/Photo%25252021%252520Sep%2525202012%25252012%25253A23.jpg" id="blogsy-1348825025770.6648" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miniland at Lego land</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gAlq29FMzac/UGVvpu1nbII/AAAAAAAACFM/ZddLThH1xFQ/s2048/Photo%25252021%252520Sep%2525202012%25252013%25253A32.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gAlq29FMzac/UGVvpu1nbII/AAAAAAAACFM/ZddLThH1xFQ/s500/Photo%25252021%252520Sep%2525202012%25252013%25253A32.jpg" id="blogsy-1348825025790.1863" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My chaps in Legoland Pizza,pasta buffet</td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/>Windsor is an odd place, parking is a bit bonkers, we thought and planned to the nth degree prior to this holiday. We took down postcodes for all disabled parking streets and the best parking spot for shops and castle is definitely Victoria Street, by the library. Other car parks are way too far out from Windsor Castle and centre, the town planners were having a laugh! The shopping is great, we saw the Queens train, we went around the castle outside as I currently am reliant on a scooter and they don't allow electric scooters in the castle itself. Once in Windsor it is an easy place to get around, everything is located in a small area. It is like Bath City without the need for a massive hike. Historical, well looked after and glitzy ! <br/><br/><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-HqW6T5pPLWo/UGVvvPlznBI/AAAAAAAACFU/jtSQJ-E0yd8/s1536/Photo%25252023%252520Sep%2525202012%25252010%25253A59.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-HqW6T5pPLWo/UGVvvPlznBI/AAAAAAAACFU/jtSQJ-E0yd8/s500/Photo%25252023%252520Sep%2525202012%25252010%25253A59.jpg" id="blogsy-1348825025808.6006" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div> <br/><br/>We have all come back with massive colds but we have some good memories, for me memories are so important, happy times we can look back on and smile at. It's not about the hotel really it is about what we do as a family or with friends. It makes sense to stick with a Premier Inn as a disabled parent and save money for making real memories. <br/><br/>Next year I will hopefully be able to go with my boys to Normandy, my husband has never seen all the World War two sites and although I have seen them god knows how many times it is about time as a family, sharing sights,laughter etc. We will stay in a hotel on Sword Beach where I know the hotel is modern, clean ,has its own hydrotherapy pool,great breakfasts and surrounded by yummy Crepe cafes. Heck if we can't get to Normandy either because of my knee re replacements or mark needing a new ankle, there are always friends to visit, places to see and experiences and memories to be made in good old UK. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>It's time to get our home ready for winter, clear out the old and unused items, make way for the toffee and spiced apple scented candles, get our logs out ready for our log fires at weekends in front of some great Christmassy films. I love Autumn and winter, going out as a family with my lovely dog for winter air and walks (wheel) in parks, a real time to be together as a family. Ooo definitely time to snuggle down and just enjoy being with one another. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Wishing every one happy, warm times and you can't beat a bit of Dr Who on our television on a Saturday night with a large piece of pâté on toast! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>X <br/><br/> <br/><br/><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977346207935034011.post-40594086269869644262012-09-19T11:34:00.001-07:002012-09-19T11:34:46.063-07:00One vacation,one family, two disabled parents! Going on holiday has always been something of a military operation throughout my life.Rarely did my parents show stress about anything but going on holiday with one wheelchair bound, huge steroidal child and three other healthy children including an eight month old baby,two children requiring active past times, other two, youngest brother and I, needing more sedate times,it must have been stressful yet we never saw a moment of my parents losing it! I do not know how they did it but they always pulled off great vacations full of loads of happy memories that we all shared together. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>I more recently have appreciated the lengths my folks went to during my own bookings for holidays with friends, it certainly takes the zing out of holiday searching when you have to go through every place you want to visit with a fine tooth comb! You have to study small print about accessibility in every hotel and for every tourist attraction nearby. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Most people who are able bodied, stick a pin in a map and go, they can get a guide to what is on in the area and not wonder if they will be able to get to it, get in it or get with it! Able people can take up late deals because they do not need specific hotel rooms which cater for special needs. If a physically disabled person goes away one can not take up late deals because a venue /location needs to be check out that it will be something that is going to be doable and fun.<br/><br/> <br/><br/> It was a military operation back then with friends but now with a family comprising of one healthy toddler and two physically disabled parents the mission just reached epic NASA levels people!<br/><br/><h2> We settled on Windsor! </h2>5,4,3,2,1! Yesssss we have found somewhere that sounds promising, it only took me a good five months to find something but by jove I think I have it, it really feels like a Eureka moment at times! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>We plan to go and visit the Queens Cribb at Windsor Castle, ride a Lego train at Legoland Windsor, jolly around Hampton Court which famously was home to our Tudor King, King Henry the eighth. <br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-dRMzQKNcv2o/UFoQLayYZbI/AAAAAAAACD0/sFWK7lc27ZI/s460/Photo%25252019%252520Sep%2525202012%25252010%25253A18.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-dRMzQKNcv2o/UFoQLayYZbI/AAAAAAAACD0/sFWK7lc27ZI/s460/Photo%25252019%252520Sep%2525202012%25252010%25253A18.jpg" id="blogsy-1348079686376.2805" class="aligncenter" width="460" height="296" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Windsor Castle, the Queens favourite home.</td></tr></tbody></table><h2> For Windsor castle accessibility information please go to this site:</h2><a href="http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/windsorcastle/plan-your-visit/access" target="_self" title="">http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/windsorcastle/plan-your-visit/access</a><br><br/><br/>We will stay in a hotel in Windsor, with accessibility ,I am told by the hotel proprietors, there is also a restaurant and a swimming pool. My son has not been swimming yet because public swimming pools are not accessible unless some embarrassing display is made of hanging around at pool side, waiting for an adolescent member of staff who aspires to being David Hasslehoff, who sticks you in a giant nappy sling, then doesn't know how to work it ,leaving you and a child suspended in air in this nappy chair, stared at by public then finally lowered in a pool by his mate, it is safe to say the UK is not great at inclusivity yet! God help you if you want to get out the pool quickly with a toddler turning red and filling its swim nappy! So with my husband around at the hotel, he can give me a shove off the side of the pool and lower my son in to me etc, far more dignified all round!<br/><br/> <br/><br/><h2> For Hampton Court accessibility go to this site:</h2><a href="http://www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/planyourvisit/disabledaccess" target="_self" title="">http://www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/planyourvisit/disabledaccess</a><br><br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jkidLA_1RdQ/UFoQNcXZNxI/AAAAAAAACD8/dlCC0iyeia0/s791/Photo%25252019%252520Sep%2525202012%25252011%25253A19.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jkidLA_1RdQ/UFoQNcXZNxI/AAAAAAAACD8/dlCC0iyeia0/s500/Photo%25252019%252520Sep%2525202012%25252011%25253A19.jpg" id="blogsy-1348079686400.6318" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="324" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hampton Court</td></tr></tbody></table>I have read all the small print of all attractions, I have studied the disabled Parking locations in Windsor, I have found where the nearest Shopmobility scheme is in Windsor, all necessary sat nav postcodes for attractions, parking bays are on my phone,we have a cot booked for the room so there is less for husband to carry. My scooter is charged and raring to go etc.<br/><br/> <br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZN7j5cyE5cA/UFoQOjkfjII/AAAAAAAACEE/tm5JTu4QqK4/s448/Photo%25252019%252520Sep%2525202012%25252010%25253A16.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZN7j5cyE5cA/UFoQOjkfjII/AAAAAAAACEE/tm5JTu4QqK4/s448/Photo%25252019%252520Sep%2525202012%25252010%25253A16.jpg" id="blogsy-1348079686314.1716" class="aligncenter" width="350" height="294" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from virtualvagabond.com</td></tr></tbody></table>I have high hopes for Legoland as they have produced an entire accessibility booklet on their site for disabled access and it sounds well thought out and is raved about by other parents with disabled children etc on the Legoland Facebook page. Apparently King George had appalling asthma and so the steps to Hampton Court are very shallow and access relatively good, Henry was a large man so I guess wide doorways were dignified. I therefore hope I can at least see a fair portion of this, I appreciate I may not be able to see all of it by heck, to me seeing something different is a great day and I don't get down on what I can't do. <br/><br/><h2>For Legoland information for guests with disabilities please click on this site:</h2><a href="http://www.legoland.co.uk/Plan/Guests-With-Disabilities/" target="_self" title="">http://www.legoland.co.uk/Plan/Guests-With-Disabilities/</a><br><br/><br/> <a href="http://www.legoland.co.uk/Plan/Guests-With-Disabilities/" target="_self" title=""></a><br/><br/> <br/><br/><h2>One last word of advice to disabled visitors planning on coming to UK, if you access the following site:</h2><a href="http://www.accessibleguide.co.uk/home.php" target="_self" title="">http://www.accessibleguide.co.uk/home.php</a><br><br/><br/>Here you will find a free "Disabled visitor Rough Guide to Accessible Britain" book available to download. It is FREE! Very useful and cuts out some of the guess work on whether something may or may not be accessible. <br/><br/><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2OkvLxxPOqk/UFoQQFDveMI/AAAAAAAACEM/LpnjseWTOg0/s289/Photo%25252019%252520Sep%2525202012%25252010%25253A21.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2OkvLxxPOqk/UFoQQFDveMI/AAAAAAAACEM/LpnjseWTOg0/s289/Photo%25252019%252520Sep%2525202012%25252010%25253A21.jpg" id="blogsy-1348079686392.1926" class="aligncenter" width="289" height="382" alt=""></a></div> <br/><br/> <br/><br/>X<br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977346207935034011.post-41087599997973558072012-09-15T08:38:00.001-07:002012-09-15T08:38:57.493-07:00Dave Cameron's Big Society in action! This week I have mostly been learning to walk a little again. This is not my only mammoth task although is the task I have to have the most patience with and I tend to lack patience where my illness is concerned. <br/><br/> <br/><br/><h1>Disabled Parents- Pass it on.</h1> <br/><br/><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qY0IdsQupOs/UFShA1Y9bvI/AAAAAAAACC4/6l81du6qIQQ/s1500/Photo%25252015%252520Sep%2525202012%25252015%25253A38.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qY0IdsQupOs/UFShA1Y9bvI/AAAAAAAACC4/6l81du6qIQQ/s500/Photo%25252015%252520Sep%2525202012%25252015%25253A38.jpg" id="blogsy-1347723537298.5107" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a></div>I created this new ,voluntarily run ,Facebook group page ran for disabled parents, disabled children or disabled parents with a well child. The group involves parents uploading a photo of any item they found outstandingly useful for independent parenting but no longer need. Not charging anymore than postage for the item so that another disabled parent or disabled child, healthy child can get a better quality of life just for the price of posting the item. Many disabled parents spend money they can ill afford, on baby equipment or baby clothes that they hope will be an accessible solution to helping them with a daily parenting task, only to find when they get something home, it is definately not accessible. I brought three car seats just praying one of them would actually enable going out with my son without a carer. I spent hours in shops trying their models but of course these display models had been worked so much by other customers, the harness buckle was a breeze to undo and do up etc. When I got the seat ordered and home I realised the new buckle was impossible, I realised I had neglected to look at various aspects of the seats which rendered it totally awful. I must have ended up spending two hundred pounds in my desperate car seat pursuit.<br/><br/> <br/><br/> This group should eliminate expense and randomness of whether something will work for a disabled parent. The person wanting an item on the page will only need to pay for postage or courier to the person passing an item on. If the item is not working for the receiver they simply pass it back on to the group page and charge for shipping only. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>I know Freecycle exists in the UK but very few disabled people find it very easy to jump in a car,drive into the back of beyond to try and pick something up without the need for a carer to go with them, to potentially jump out the car, run up a flight of stairs, negotiate a busy road to get to a property and lift a heavier item back to the car. Posting is often the only way disabled parents can get hold of anything easily. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>So any disabled parents, with healthy or disabled children want to check out the group, contribute towards it by passing on anything etc please do come on by,I will be very glad to see you. <br/><br/> <br/><br/><h1>Photo shoot for the Sunday Telegraph Stella magazine. </h1>I am to be in the Sunday Telegraph because well that is just the way I roll baby. A brilliant journalist , Eleanor Tucker, felt inspired to write about me, my determination I share with many parents to just be a good mother despite my severe physical limitations. To write about my blog and not forgetting my Canine Partner assistance dog. I expect this article to not be out until the end of October but will let every one know shamelessly. I also have a photographer for the ST coming over, that will be exciting as we have no professional photographs of my son and family as no photo studios in Gloucestershire are wheelchair or buggy friendly, nor can we afford hundreds of pounds worth of photos! I am collecting useful resources, blogs, organisations, Facebook groups that support disabled parents so when the article is out there ,there will be a well timed post of a wealth of information and support available to new visitors to my blog. <br/><br/> <br/><br/><h1>Small talk.</h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-LkOu3Zc4SMg/UFShCFzxN-I/AAAAAAAACDA/zzarC7IzbH0/s175/Photo%25252015%252520Sep%2525202012%25252016%25253A33.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-LkOu3Zc4SMg/UFShCFzxN-I/AAAAAAAACDA/zzarC7IzbH0/s175/Photo%25252015%252520Sep%2525202012%25252016%25253A33.jpg" id="blogsy-1347723537335.52" class="aligncenter" width="175" height="141" alt=""></a></div>I have been involved with a Linguist researchers work,a chap named Ben Aldridge, at Liverpool University , in his quest to write a book on children's communication in the early years. This really interests me as is a subject close to my heart. At the moment his reasearch involves answering questionnaires on Christopher's first words, word sequences etc. Mr Aldridge is a modern chap and aware that not all of us can travel their house let alone the country and will be conducting interviews via skype, I expect Christopher will do his usual by just shouting "iPad" at the man!<br/><br/> <br/><br/><h1>Popping by saying hi to the guys off The Greedy Crow app.</h1> <br/><br/><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OHdV1wKWTow/UFShDdzQAJI/AAAAAAAACDI/5PhP1sKmenI/s144/Photo%25252015%252520Sep%2525202012%25252016%25253A31.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OHdV1wKWTow/UFShDdzQAJI/AAAAAAAACDI/5PhP1sKmenI/s144/Photo%25252015%252520Sep%2525202012%25252016%25253A31.jpg" id="blogsy-1347723537340.5073" class="aligncenter" width="144" height="157" alt=""></a></div>I would like to mention this great online book that has kept my son entertained so I could get emails done, exercises, setting up of a Facebook group, arguing with Occupational Therapists for still not getting the ramp in our house to help me get out yet somehow expected to attend at least eleven hospital appointments in the next month! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>The book is called "The Greedy Crow" by Jason Harris, it is an interactive app book so don't make the mistake of trying to find it in iBooks, it is actually located in the app store.<br/><br/> <br/><br/> I am always sceptical about animated books, too often the book loses a story line because too much emphasis is put on animation, a bit like watching a block buster special effects film. With "The Greedy Crow" I was pleasently surprised. The story is like a modern version of Mr Greedy from the Mr Men, a crow flys down for a good old worm feast, eats and eats and eat, ignores warnings of his over eating which will result in an inability to fly etc, eats some more and then a fox arrives, the rest I will leave it up to you to find out what happens. With easy pictures of a bird for toddler to poke at to make move, sounds and the bright flat colour of illustrations this book kept my son entertained for a good five minuets which is a lengthy time for Christopher. Thank you Greedy Crow author and producers. <br/><br/> <br/><br/><h1>Grumpy father.</h1> <br/><br/>My dad, a great seventy year old, has had enough of his kids having finally all moved out but their stuff still remaining in what my parents now fondly nickname their "Big Yellow Storage garage". Latest whine is about a light weight kick out stroller that we gave to my mum for using with her grandchildren but the reality is the grandchildren are never taken out in it. So as both my sister and I have been asked to stop abandoning junk over there, it may be time to actually go over and review our wears and argue with one another as to who should have what, usual sibling stuff. If neither of us can store the stroller then I will "Pass it on". Someone potentially is going to get a lightweight, very easy to kick out and fold up buggy for the cost of shipping, not a bad deal considering it cost a fair bit! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>X<br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977346207935034011.post-20760676095256519222012-09-11T08:28:00.001-07:002012-09-11T08:28:54.981-07:00"iPad mummy",great apps for kids and parents! It's a total turn up for the books when one of your child's first words is "iPad"! Every morning my husband brings our son upstairs so my child can be with me, every morning I get "iPad mummy".<br/><br/> <br/><br/>I can not fault these tablets for accessibility for any disabled person, the lightweight design, the quick Internet access, the world at your fingertips without having to lug a heavy laptop out. As I physically can not lift my laptop, nor even get it out from a low drawer where it is housed this iPad has been invaluable! It has been a major source of keeping up with friends and family on Facebook, the ability to download a game is excellent.I can rattle of blogs on the iPad now thanks to "Blogsy" app, access emails, fire of letters of complaint to services that are failing my husband and I at a time of most need. I know I could do all this on a laptop but the whole process is bulky, slow, difficult and always more complicated than it need be.<br/><br/> <br/><br/>I totally struggle to get books to read to my child at the moment, try holding several books and crutches whilst ballancing on one weak leg then holding books in mouth and trying to get over to a chair to read to little person, it is a mega mission and difficult ! Praise the lord for geeks who made tablets,ebooks, apps and Kindles! There are hundreds of books, many free, at your finger tips in one light weight bit of kit.<br/><br/> <br/><br/>I don't want every activity ,done with my son ,to be academic based. I question whether children who are constantly pushed to be academic end up rebelling and exhaust of learning too early. Therefore I need games at my finger tips as well. <br/><br/>If my son insists on iPad every day then an app has to work for its money, it has to keep me interested enough to load it up and do it with him! According to an article in Gurgle magazine ( the best down to earth parent magazine, in my opinion), studies suggest that technology is not all doom and gloom for a child's development as long as an adult is with the child discussing with him or her about what they are looking at and doing etc. So Mr Apple or in daddy's case Mr Android, your apps are well and truely being put to the test in this house!<br/><br/><h1>Here are some of our favourite apps and ebooks for very young children:</h1><h2>Itsy Bitsy Spider- by Duck,Duck,Moose-£1.49 iTunes app store.Also on Android.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0yReYGc6_As/UE9YfnCqoEI/AAAAAAAACA4/lUxQ1UeRVJU/s225/Photo%25252011%252520Sep%2525202012%25252014%25253A36.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0yReYGc6_As/UE9YfnCqoEI/AAAAAAAACA4/lUxQ1UeRVJU/s225/Photo%25252011%252520Sep%2525202012%25252014%25253A36.jpg" id="blogsy-1347377333174.8142" class="aligncenter" width="115" height="115" alt=""></a></div>Amazing app, basically involves the song being sung in the background whilst your youngster prods the spider and every thing else on screen to make move, jump, talk, squawk, hide, fly etc. There is an egg hunt and really big images that allow a child with less definite movements to prod and poke at every thing on the screen and make it do something. Totally worth paying for app for a boy or girl, my son and I spend a good eight minuets playing this every day! <br/><br/> <br/><br/><h2>Wheels on the Bus-Duck,duck,moose-£1.49 from ITunes app store.Also on Android.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CCheReiyjeE/UE9Yg8tmaFI/AAAAAAAACBA/46dz8Q_RUAE/s225/Photo%25252011%252520Sep%2525202012%25252014%25253A38.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CCheReiyjeE/UE9Yg8tmaFI/AAAAAAAACBA/46dz8Q_RUAE/s225/Photo%25252011%252520Sep%2525202012%25252014%25253A38.jpg" id="blogsy-1347377333177.613" class="aligncenter" width="115" height="115" alt=""></a></div> <br/><br/>Personally I am not so keen on this app as it seems a little less involved than Itsy Bitsy, however my son loves it, you move the bus along by swiping ,prod things in a picture to get them to move and all whilst the song plays opperaticaly in the back ground.<br/><br/> <br/><br/><h2>A day at the circus. £1.99 in I apps store and android, no "in game" purchases required,basically £1.99 covers it all </h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qsg98LXrtGI/UE9Yh2pesII/AAAAAAAACBI/H2iigwmId3s/s140/Photo%25252011%252520Sep%2525202012%25252014%25253A55.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qsg98LXrtGI/UE9Yh2pesII/AAAAAAAACBI/H2iigwmId3s/s140/Photo%25252011%252520Sep%2525202012%25252014%25253A55.jpg" id="blogsy-1347377333196.8813" class="aligncenter" width="140" height="140" alt=""></a></div> <br/><br/>20 mini games including:<br/><br/>Play with the clowns instruments. <br/><br/>Feed circus elephants and lions.<br/><br/>Juggle balls.<br/><br/>Read of have a short story read to little one.<br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/><h2>Old McDonalds Farm-Kids Games club.Free on apps store for iPad. </h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DbFCdfSN1UQ/UE9YjEIv5ZI/AAAAAAAACBQ/899O9gzR-CI/s140/Photo%2525208%252520Sep%2525202012%25252012%25253A01.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DbFCdfSN1UQ/UE9YjEIv5ZI/AAAAAAAACBQ/899O9gzR-CI/s140/Photo%2525208%252520Sep%2525202012%25252012%25253A01.jpg" id="blogsy-1347377333260.1772" class="aligncenter" width="115" height="115" alt=""></a></div>There are several games to play with an infant here.<br/><br/>1. Tap the animal (three animals shown and you are asked to find a pig for example).<br><br/><br/>2.Who is hiding in the barn.<br/><br/>3.Old McDonald song<br/><br/>4.Puzzles<br/><br/> <br/><br/>Keeps my son entertained for quite a while and most of the game is free so there is nothing to loose! <br/><br/> <br/><br/><h2>Dino Hospital-Doctor Game for kids Lite. Free from apple app store.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SV0ySnEMtI8/UE9Ykdu9fqI/AAAAAAAACBY/wim2Rsgjqv0/s225/Photo%2525208%252520Sep%2525202012%25252012%25253A00.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SV0ySnEMtI8/UE9Ykdu9fqI/AAAAAAAACBY/wim2Rsgjqv0/s225/Photo%2525208%252520Sep%2525202012%25252012%25253A00.jpg" id="blogsy-1347377333235.6528" class="aligncenter" width="115" height="115" alt=""></a></div>You get three poorly dinosaurs for free, if you want to branch out in your medical skills then you need to get in more pooly patients and buy them in, bit like the UK NHS, without us poorly patients the doctors, Physiotherapists,Radiographers etc ex would be up a smelly creak without a paddle! <br/><br/>You treat these dinosaurs, send them for X-rays, give them medicines, a very cute game really, the aim is to make the creature feel better. <br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong>Ebooks</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>story</strong> <strong>apps</strong>. <br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong>On</strong> <strong>Kindle</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Kindle</strong> <strong>Fire</strong>:<br/><br/>Hairy Scary Spider by Paula McBride. £1.95 <br/><br/><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IJCsZ1Baus4/UE9YlCe-dBI/AAAAAAAACBg/F5_h-FRDIBU/s115/Photo%25252011%252520Sep%2525202012%25252015%25253A03.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IJCsZ1Baus4/UE9YlCe-dBI/AAAAAAAACBg/F5_h-FRDIBU/s115/Photo%25252011%252520Sep%2525202012%25252015%25253A03.jpg" id="blogsy-1347377333209.9292" class="alignnone" width="115" height="115" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hairy Scary spider from www.amazon.co.uk</td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Silly monsters ABC by Gerald Hawksley - £1.92 from www.amazon.co.uk<br/><br/><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j9ScZXpY3Zo/UE9YmVemjgI/AAAAAAAACBo/ajdytbZIuxM/s115/Photo%25252011%252520Sep%2525202012%25252015%25253A11.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j9ScZXpY3Zo/UE9YmVemjgI/AAAAAAAACBo/ajdytbZIuxM/s115/Photo%25252011%252520Sep%2525202012%25252015%25253A11.jpg" id="blogsy-1347377333180.285" class="alignnone" width="115" height="115" alt=""></a></div> Great rhyming, simply and beautifully illustrated children's book. If your child likes Dr Sueuss this will go down well. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Pedro,The ugliest dog in the world by Papa G. 0.77p from www.amazon.co.uk<br/><br/><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-gqnnTKJJe3Y/UE9Yn6oKzPI/AAAAAAAACBw/ikUZKurUI_E/s115/Photo%25252011%252520Sep%2525202012%25252015%25253A16.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-gqnnTKJJe3Y/UE9Yn6oKzPI/AAAAAAAACBw/ikUZKurUI_E/s115/Photo%25252011%252520Sep%2525202012%25252015%25253A16.jpg" id="blogsy-1347377333249.2234" class="alignnone" width="115" height="115" alt=""></a></div> Perhaps a book for a little older child as the books uses words like poo, snot and fart and a child of three and four can't get enough of these words where as a two year old and younger probably won't get the cheek of it all.<br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong>Tablet</strong>,<strong>phone</strong> <strong>story</strong> <strong>apps</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>iBooks</strong> <strong>stories</strong>.<br/><br/><strong>Read</strong> <strong>me</strong> <strong>stories</strong>. Free app in app store on iPad, iPhone and android. However there are only a few books in app you will need to purchase more for £1.49 once you have read the freebie books if you so wish. <br/><br/><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jeYfgIABOGI/UE9YpA9ovgI/AAAAAAAACB4/zjYIl1TJn9M/s160/Photo%25252011%252520Sep%2525202012%25252015%25253A35.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jeYfgIABOGI/UE9YpA9ovgI/AAAAAAAACB4/zjYIl1TJn9M/s160/Photo%25252011%252520Sep%2525202012%25252015%25253A35.jpg" id="blogsy-1347377333244.8367" class="alignnone" width="160" height="160" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Read me stories" app icon</td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/>I would say the majority of free books on offer in this app are for the older child, aged four to six, however the animal based stories are more geared up to a younger reader of aged 1 upwards. <br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong> Magic</strong> <strong>town</strong>-Apple app only. App is free and you get a few free books but will have to subscribe if you want more.<br/><br/><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="500" height="305" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tPJ7G_VDt_U" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div> <br/><br/>A lovely cheerful app, please watch the you tube official video to get a taste of what the app offers. Personally I feel Magic Town offers more well known children's books from well known authors than Read me stories offers. However Magic town charges £7.49 a subscription a month where as with Read me stories you will expect to pay £1.49 for a series of five books and that is a one of cost, no subscription. This is where disabled parents have to weigh up their child's needs with extra cost, prehaps the monthly subscription is worth it as getting to a library or book store for our children is not always accessible.If you think about well known childrens books such as Elmer the Elephant, this book alone costs £4.49 on iBook store, so £7.49 for a lot of access to a huge number of books a month seems good value. <br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong>iBook</strong> <strong>store</strong> <strong>free</strong> <strong>books</strong>.<br/><br/> <br/><br/>For 6-24 month old child:<br/><br/> <br/><br/>The Animal Book by Monica Dinh.<br/><br/><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-DRg5ju__SfU/UE9YqKoKAkI/AAAAAAAACCA/kv-Vg2i-SP4/s180/Photo%25252011%252520Sep%2525202012%25252015%25253A51.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-DRg5ju__SfU/UE9YqKoKAkI/AAAAAAAACCA/kv-Vg2i-SP4/s180/Photo%25252011%252520Sep%2525202012%25252015%25253A51.jpg" id="blogsy-1347377333253.033" class="alignnone" width="180" height="180" alt=""></a></div>Very big picture of an animal and in simple big letters, the word of the animal is written underneath. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Out and about-by Salem and Agnes De Bezenac. <br/><br/><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ovEqHn9GE5g/UE9YrekeY6I/AAAAAAAACCI/LfBAndaLUXc/s259/Photo%25252011%252520Sep%2525202012%25252015%25253A55.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ovEqHn9GE5g/UE9YrekeY6I/AAAAAAAACCI/LfBAndaLUXc/s259/Photo%25252011%252520Sep%2525202012%25252015%25253A55.jpg" id="blogsy-1347377333235.461" class="alignnone" width="259" height="194" alt=""></a></div> Lovely story, illustrated with simple, sweet pictures of a daddy with his shy little boy going out for a walk together.<br/><br/> <br/><br/> Garbage, Monster, Burp-by Tom Watson.<br/><br/><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nMEl9fEpAtw/UE9YsqDm5UI/AAAAAAAACCQ/qrx_gy4xlTw/s180/Photo%25252011%252520Sep%2525202012%25252015%25253A57.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nMEl9fEpAtw/UE9YsqDm5UI/AAAAAAAACCQ/qrx_gy4xlTw/s180/Photo%25252011%252520Sep%2525202012%25252015%25253A57.jpg" id="blogsy-1347377333218.2932" class="alignnone" width="180" height="240" alt=""></a></div> <br/><br/>For an older child aged 4-8 I would say as the story is a little longer than those books that keep the attention of a younger age range. About a friendly monster, with some hero children, working together to save their town. <br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong>Games</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>parents</strong> <strong>when</strong> <strong>stuck</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>hospital</strong>!<br/><br/> <br/><br/>We can't forget ourselves now can we! <br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong>Angry</strong> <strong>Birds</strong> have a new Halloween version coming out very soon for apple and android, we all love a bit of Angry Birds. <br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong>Where's</strong> <strong>Wally </strong>on the iPad, or Where is Waldo on the android phone is rather addictive and has the same theme and point to it as the legendary "Where's Wally" books.<br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong>Bag</strong> <strong>It</strong> <strong>lite on iPhone,iPad and android.</strong> is just so cool and free! It sounds a dull game where you have to stack groceries in a bag so as to not break groceries or the bag, all in a time constraint, a more clever tettris game where you have to think of weight as well as shape. <br/><br/><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="500" height="305" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JA7ueowxmt8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/>The tablet or smart phone is a totally justifiable great piece of kit for any parent and child. It is worth the rather costly price of tablets so go out and get yourself one if you don't already own one. It is difficult for those with deteriorating conditions and pain to feel physically able to go out with your little ones every week, so put aside those in your life that feel they can have a say in what you own as a disabled person, yes we all know some of these idiots, and go buy the best! x <br/><br/> <br/><br/><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977346207935034011.post-75640775089926834452012-09-09T12:56:00.001-07:002012-09-09T12:56:19.770-07:00Goodbye Paralympic games. Thank you to the UK channel 4, I have felt totally part of something so exciting. We have come third in the medal tables and we left with 120 medals! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Truely inspirational to watch and as one of the Channel 4 presenters said today, "today disabled people can walk a bit taller and able bodied people be in awe". We say good bye to the Olympics and Paralympics once and for all in a few minuets. We will watch Coldplay perform along side a festival of fire. It will be all singing and dancing and so it should be for all those athletes, an amazing games organisational team , volunteers who have proved with thinking about accessibility, dynamic thought, a can do attitude and communial support, all our world atheletes can be in an environment where they can compete and strive to be better than the next person! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>However as we say good bye to the British games, disabled people are left wondering how long the new positive ,public opinion of disabled people will last? Previously there have been reports of hate crimes soaring towards disabled people in the UK, fuled by various poor journalistic articles flooding our newspapers, it would appear the games have lessened these feelings. However perhaps the darker side comes from those that should know better, should be more intelligent than just lumping ALL Disabled people as scroungers, we expect the tabloid journalists and readers to come out with ill considered statements but those employed to work for the people,we expect better things! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Our welfare system is out dated, it needs modernisation, there is not a genuinely disabled person who would not agree with this. We all know that work needs to change so work works for disabled people, whether we need help wiping our bottoms , feeding, washing,protection from self harm or have regular major surgery, I know of no actual disabled person who does not wish to work, oh sure there are lazy itis people ,as there is in able bodied groups, who you can bet had a poor work ethic before and and we're anxious to gain a disability label for the smallest of problems just so they would be absolved from needing to be anyone to anyone, perhaps a welfare shake up will shake them out because they embarrass genuine claimants. They are the black sheep of our disability culture. We are as angry about these people as our able bodied friends. However at the moment what is happening is a shake up of welfare with no infrastructure in place to actually get those deemed fit for work ,with severe disability,a job! What welfare shake up seems to be doing is giving some civil servant (rarely a disabled person is employed to be a disability assessor with DWP or ATOS) a basic job of ticking a few boxes and stating if the assesee is capable of work or is a bag of spanners and needs to be stuck in a dark corner of society, not allowed out their houses and definitely no smiling or laughing allowed from them as this makes them look too happy and healthy! Now all this is fair enough, after all the assessor is mearly doing a job,but with no "best practice" in situ in order to support organisations, companies or the individual employer in how to support a disabled person in employment, all the welfare shake up will do is cease benefits in genuinely very ill people leaving the vulnrable up poo creak without a paddle. It is putting every physically disabled or mentally ill person or their carers, in a position of having to appeal, costing tax payers thousands and appeal is usually won because the initial assessment is so flawed. The alternative is leaving individuals unable to get a job because in the UK jobs are scarce right now and whether we accept it or not, if you put a well twenty five year old beside a twenty eight year old requiring accessible buildings, disabled parking space, personal carer for personal help in the loo or feeding, plus a need for regular surgery, chemo appointments, dialysis twice a week etc up for one job, who really is likely to be given the job in this economic climate?<br/><br/> <br/><br/>We would love to say oh no the disabled person would get a job but one of our Paralympic gold medalists has been reported saying he got a 2:1 in sports education in 2004 and has applied for hundreds of jobs and only got four interviews and no job offers!Can we really honestly say the UK is really actively supporting, or ready to support employing those with major "special needs"? Indeed many of our athletes are very concerned that the welfare support they receive to meet extra costs of living with their disability, will be withdrawn or cut and they will find themselves, come the next Paralympic games, unable to compete because the very money that helped them get an accessible taxi or their own adapted car to get to training, will no longer be there, this is a sad state of affairs as we say goodbye to a tremendous exhibition of all sports people's determination to try and be the best. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>So here we are, the closing ceremony, disabled sports people, given a chance, given the right support tailored to their needs, given the time, the patience, the motivation, the determination both from organisation and individual,the accessibility, will often work and work hard. Whilst public transport is still inaccessible, whilst work has to take place in an office rather than at home via Skype, voice dictation (needed to be done in a quiet room useless in an office), emails then work for those who need personal care in a day or extensive medical intervention will NEVER be able to work. It really is as simple as that, until we change the way work works then the welfare shuffle is a very expensive disaster for the tax payers, not one that I think is fair on anyone, disabled or able bodied. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>x<br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977346207935034011.post-81281886531500000672012-09-06T13:38:00.001-07:002012-09-06T13:38:24.688-07:00Books,books,glorious books! Ever since my son arrived in this world he has been exposed to books, from those first black and white pattern baby first books, right up to "Pants" by Nick Sharatt. <br/><br/> <br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-AlL3-XXzOTQ/UEkJawOodeI/AAAAAAAAB-4/_FE24PQ4zyA/s300/Photo%2525206%252520Sep%2525202012%25252021%25253A27.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-AlL3-XXzOTQ/UEkJawOodeI/AAAAAAAAB-4/_FE24PQ4zyA/s300/Photo%2525206%252520Sep%2525202012%25252021%25253A27.jpg" id="blogsy-1346963901551.422" class="aligncenter" width="300" height="300" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brilliant black and white rag book for a first born baby, simple white on black background picture of mummy, daddy and baby on each page, simple picture with word underneath, heck may as well get started in one of the best activities out! From www.amazon.co.uk</td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/> If there is one fun activity that is easy for mummy and him to do it is reading and chatting, I read to him and then he attempts to read it to me ,totally his own will.<br/><br/> <br/><br/>In fact he and I are so interested in reading, books and chatting we are embarking in some research by a Language acquisition researcher for the university of Liverpool, Ben Aldridge, who is writing a book on "Small talk-Understanding your child's language development (and how you can help)". I have to agree with Nigel Latta, author of Politically Incorrect parenting, when on discussing baby sign language his response is "are you kidding me? Sign language for babies? What on earth could a small incontinent person who has never been anywhere, done anything of consequence, have to say that could be of any possible interest?". I see little point in learning Baby sign language at all unless you or a child is actually deaf. If we have the power of speech, verbal and non verbal gestures then why not focus on teaching that. Fortunately The Small Talk programme is all for talking! My only time I dabbled in baby sign language is when I thought it might be a useful thing to learn for the long term in communication as I myself have British Sign language qualifications. However my son decided he would just say "Apple" rather than mucking about with unnecessary energy required in signing! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>I will let you know of our antics, fun and games in this very interesting research. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>In the mean time the Ladybird Peter and Jane reading scheme books are out for tomorrow, my mother taught my siblings and I to read on this scheme and it still seems a timeless system to me, I can not abide the Phonetic reading system, probably because I just do not understand the science behind it being easier for a child to understand the word "apple" by phonetically pronouncing every letter of the word and the using of some ridiculous gesture that seems to go alongside with different letters in the phonetic programme. Perhaps Mr Aldridge will explain to me how this system is better than simply just route learning and perceiving words through regular exposure and use of a word in different contexts. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Christopher has a three tiered bookcase loaded with books, roll on the Kindle for children because it is ridiculous the amount of books lying around his bedroom by mid day, a total hazard for me on crutches! Here is a list of his favourites past and present, they are some you might want to check out in a library for free or very cheaply online! <br/><br/> <br/><br/><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1Mh14Z18b8s/UEkJcUsoZOI/AAAAAAAAB_A/SJy1kVWz98Q/s300/Photo%2525206%252520Sep%2525202012%25252020%25253A41.jpg" target="_blank" style="clear: left; float: left; "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1Mh14Z18b8s/UEkJcUsoZOI/AAAAAAAAB_A/SJy1kVWz98Q/s300/Photo%2525206%252520Sep%2525202012%25252020%25253A41.jpg" id="blogsy-1346963901589.74" class="alignleft" width="300" height="300" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nick Sharatt has to be one of the best illustrators for children's books and the stories are just as great as the bold pictures, simple, rhyming stories. Pants is available in many good bookshops such as Amazon.co.uk</td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qyr4THyZGSI/UEkJdZFcCkI/AAAAAAAAB_I/WkGIl1gSqJw/s210/Photo%2525206%252520Sep%2525202012%25252020%25253A45.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qyr4THyZGSI/UEkJdZFcCkI/AAAAAAAAB_I/WkGIl1gSqJw/s210/Photo%2525206%252520Sep%2525202012%25252020%25253A45.jpg" id="blogsy-1346963901601.9678" class="alignnone" width="210" height="240" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a fantastic book of child with a pet, loveable simple illustrations showing a little boy and his pet penguin initially not getting on, penguin ignores him despite the boys best attempts to get a rise from the bird, all turns out well in the end. Fun book for child and adult to read, not too long either! My sons top ten in his books. From www.walker.co.uk</td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ogGWZAhruK8/UEkJeYgnjQI/AAAAAAAAB_Q/r03yLImBm1Y/s300/Photo%2525206%252520Sep%2525202012%25252020%25253A49.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ogGWZAhruK8/UEkJeYgnjQI/AAAAAAAAB_Q/r03yLImBm1Y/s300/Photo%2525206%252520Sep%2525202012%25252020%25253A49.jpg" id="blogsy-1346963901599.8088" class="alignnone" width="300" height="300" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another beautifully illustrated simple book about a bored lazy shark who can't get into helping the other fish garden, at the end he gets left out for being lazy but he turns it around for happy times at the end. Short easy read for young toddlers who don't want "War and piece" bed time stories. From www.amazon.co.uk</td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-j-umCc7xaFw/UEkJfxmEmwI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/TLIO-ZsMxjQ/s203/Photo%2525206%252520Sep%2525202012%25252020%25253A52.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-j-umCc7xaFw/UEkJfxmEmwI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/TLIO-ZsMxjQ/s203/Photo%2525206%252520Sep%2525202012%25252020%25253A52.jpg" id="blogsy-1346963901567.274" class="alignnone" width="203" height="249" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both my sisters son and ours loves this story. The fantastic illustrations followed by a great poem story just make for a great combination along with a story of emotions. From www.walker.co.uk</td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/> <br/><br/><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-iRr8BN7yst8/UEkJhOwPtBI/AAAAAAAAB_g/Mz3-9f-MPYY/s300/Photo%2525206%252520Sep%2525202012%25252020%25253A54.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-iRr8BN7yst8/UEkJhOwPtBI/AAAAAAAAB_g/Mz3-9f-MPYY/s300/Photo%2525206%252520Sep%2525202012%25252020%25253A54.jpg" id="blogsy-1346963901556.4736" class="alignnone" width="300" height="300" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found this book lurking in a dark corner of Sainsburys supermarket, a really lovely book, similar to Topsy and Tim books from days of yor only simpler and better illustrated and more updated. Great quick read for bed time. From Amazon.co.uk</td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NRx3Y03aBKM/UEkJiAnd3lI/AAAAAAAAB_o/XbJRT4icgmw/s146/Photo%2525206%252520Sep%2525202012%25252021%25253A03.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NRx3Y03aBKM/UEkJiAnd3lI/AAAAAAAAB_o/XbJRT4icgmw/s146/Photo%2525206%252520Sep%2525202012%25252021%25253A03.jpg" id="blogsy-1346963901527.423" class="alignnone" width="146" height="187" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such a great book, brilliant bold illustrations, a fantastic story about a spider desperate to be a family pet, sparkly glitter everywhere. Just a great book to read to a child and my son just giggles and giggles when I shout "arrrrrrrrr spider",oddly cries when daddy says "arrrr spider" like a pirate! From www.littleonebooks.com.</td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9OfYHGkOV_4/UEkJjfYAi_I/AAAAAAAAB_w/T6VDWg6cWHc/s198/Photo%2525206%252520Sep%2525202012%25252021%25253A09.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9OfYHGkOV_4/UEkJjfYAi_I/AAAAAAAAB_w/T6VDWg6cWHc/s198/Photo%2525206%252520Sep%2525202012%25252021%25253A09.jpg" id="blogsy-1346963901608.5317" class="alignnone" width="198" height="200" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every toddler seems to get to a stage where lift the flap books are a must have feature of a book, this book has lots of them! A nice simple, old fashioned story line of a little boy going in search around his grandmas farm, for eggs. Is there any child on the planet who hasn't loved Rod Campbell books? From www.waterstones.com</td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-oANsPY-ixVc/UEkJkgJiiKI/AAAAAAAAB_4/poy-yDosQg0/s500/Photo%2525206%252520Sep%2525202012%25252021%25253A13.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-oANsPY-ixVc/UEkJkgJiiKI/AAAAAAAAB_4/poy-yDosQg0/s500/Photo%2525206%252520Sep%2525202012%25252021%25253A13.jpg" id="blogsy-1346963901515.1877" class="alignnone" width="250" height="250" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For a baby up to one year old in age, very simple big pictures of cartoon bears with different textures to touch, this book is one of a huge series from "That's not my tractor" through to "That's not my puppy". Great simple book to read to a young baby but by the age of nineteen months the books are a bit simple. From amazon.com</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-junysRUoHBI/UEkJl9xInCI/AAAAAAAACAA/w5VHAIjx1JY/s300/Photo%2525206%252520Sep%2525202012%25252021%25253A22.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-junysRUoHBI/UEkJl9xInCI/AAAAAAAACAA/w5VHAIjx1JY/s300/Photo%2525206%252520Sep%2525202012%25252021%25253A22.jpg" id="blogsy-1346963901543.7783" class="alignnone" width="300" height="300" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great textures book and great simple,bright bold images of vehicles with touch and feel areas on each. A fantastic book, each image of a vehicle has its word written simply in bold black writing underneath. My son still pulls this book out to look through it. From amazon.co.uk</td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vZQFWSC2ljM/UEkJnGO0QWI/AAAAAAAACAI/V51bg_YNL-Q/s300/Photo%2525206%252520Sep%2525202012%25252020%25253A59.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vZQFWSC2ljM/UEkJnGO0QWI/AAAAAAAACAI/V51bg_YNL-Q/s300/Photo%2525206%252520Sep%2525202012%25252020%25253A59.jpg" id="blogsy-1346963901549.9124" class="alignnone" width="300" height="300" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Final must buy book for boy or a girl, with a little lady bird, sometimes microscopic, to find on each page, a lot of gorgeous illustrations and a fantastic poem you really can not go wrong with this book. From amazon.co.uk</td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/> I have to say once a child gets crawling the disabled parents job gets a lot tougher, however reading is constantly loved by a little one and gives you time to stay still for a good few minuets and read to your child. We read about fifteen books a day because trying to keep small man out of mischief is tricky when immobile and the more books we can ballance on the bed to keep him entertained, the better, sometimes the bed looks like a game of Jenga! I thank god for the library or we would be broke!!!!<br/><br/> <br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lHFYesTWejs/UEkJuMs7EoI/AAAAAAAACAQ/jH8mRfWY3i8/s1536/Photo%2525201%252520May%2525202012%25252008%25253A53.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lHFYesTWejs/UEkJuMs7EoI/AAAAAAAACAQ/jH8mRfWY3i8/s500/Photo%2525201%252520May%2525202012%25252008%25253A53.jpg" id="blogsy-1346963901560.4714" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our son enjoying looking at a few books! </td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/> <br/><br/><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977346207935034011.post-18849675773847697232012-09-04T08:13:00.001-07:002012-09-04T08:13:46.030-07:00Goodbye babyhood. I have just come from bum shuffling on the floor in an attempt to sort out Christopher's clothes, for some reason I felt rather teary doing so, part of it may have been carpet burn! Whilst sorting out a pile of garments for family and friends, a pile of clothes that are great for other disabled parents to use and stuff just bin worthy, I looked at each item and felt rather sad that A) my little man is growing up fast and B) I won't get another chance. I won't have another child and it all seems so ....final. I dont think I am alone in feeling this, surely other women share my feelings? <br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-A8YkQMmMnhk/UEYaoSMBlVI/AAAAAAAAB7k/5hmVlD_0Jrg/s561/Photo%2525207%252520Aug%2525202012%25252020%25253A48.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-A8YkQMmMnhk/UEYaoSMBlVI/AAAAAAAAB7k/5hmVlD_0Jrg/s500/Photo%2525207%252520Aug%2525202012%25252020%25253A48.jpg" id="blogsy-1346771627148.54" class="aligncenter" width="250" height="325" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with my son when he was a week old. Ahhh happy days, still time to look to his and our future.</td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/>So this is it, bye bye 12-18 month old clothes, hello 18-24 months for a brief moment and then farewell baby stage. For once ,in the total time I have had my son ,I am breaking a rule of my blog and am determined to purchase new , gorgeous outfits and endure ridiculous poppers ,adding an extra ten minuets onto changing my son just because I want to have an outfit in our memory box that isn't a zip sleep suit or Pre worn and worked popper baby clothes. As soon as I am allowed to move a bit with my Volvo boot, I am going shopping! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Since being very young, I have been able to convert negative feelings into positive, I think this is something children with disabilities learn to do very quickly in order to live and enjoy life with what they were given. You rarely see a miserable disabled child! So rather than getting down I think how lucky I am to have had a child at all , I feel so blessed. There are many women out there who are unable to have children whatever the reason. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>However, whilst I may feel sad the baby stage is slowly going I am looking hopeful to the future and as my child gets more physically able there will be so much more he and I can enjoy together. Not to mention the more able my son gets the less our joints will be put under dangerous levels of strain. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Being an able bodied or physically disabled parent is a hard road but its an extra winding road when you have mobility restrictions. Parenting is a journey that is rewarding, happy and enjoyable but it takes a determined person to do it. There are no lie ins, no taking time out to pace or rest when you have a little ones needs to attend to, no taking a lot of Tramadol to get over pain because the likelyhood is you need your wits about you and not to feel like you are on an LSD trip! Operations are no longer something you can have every year to patch up, unless it suits the little person and a baby sitter. You can not walk with sticks when trying to push a buggy. Balancing a child on your lap whilst driving a mobility scooter is dangerous,take it from me and I'll say no more on this, just don't do it! Getting around is either via walking ,using the buggy as a walking frame and dealing with the pain when your child goes to bed at night,or drive! You can not be afraid about damage to joints when picking up your child, just do it, the time to worry about getting patched up comes after the child's need has been met. My son fell over and hit his head on a book shelf, I literally threw myself on the floor to check he was ok, my shoulder crunched,son had a cuddle and got on with pulling books down and now roll on mummys shoulder replacement..oops... but it had to be done! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>I believe if anyone can master parenthood, disabled or able bodied,and still enjoy life with their child, have time for cuddles and entertaining a child then I believe a black belt in parenting is in order! <br/><br/><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-L33q3f4DxEw/UEYapni983I/AAAAAAAAB7o/582PZxIK1lQ/s203/Photo%2525204%252520Sep%2525202012%25252016%25253A08.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-L33q3f4DxEw/UEYapni983I/AAAAAAAAB7o/582PZxIK1lQ/s203/Photo%2525204%252520Sep%2525202012%25252016%25253A08.jpg" id="blogsy-1346771627115.6448" class="aligncenter" width="203" height="248" alt=""></a></div> <br/><br/>Anyone can be a great parent but it is like martial arts, a lot of it is about the power of the mind and sheer will to be the best we can for our children. Isn't this really how life is for every one, parents or not? We can all sit and mope and get down about aspects of our lives but most of us have to re appraise our situation at some stage, adapt and get on. Maybe this is what makes us all human :) <br/><br/>X<br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977346207935034011.post-5376849123935195782012-09-02T07:42:00.001-07:002012-09-02T07:42:46.515-07:00Dedication to my husband.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D531p9-lSpg/UENvpOCvcqI/AAAAAAAAB6E/Grtv962N4mM/s720/Photo%2525207%252520Aug%2525202012%25252020%25253A50.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D531p9-lSpg/UENvpOCvcqI/AAAAAAAAB6E/Grtv962N4mM/s500/Photo%2525207%252520Aug%2525202012%25252020%25253A50.jpg" id="blogsy-1346596967116.9353" class="aligncenter" width="250" height="175" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hubby feeding our son when he was five weeks old.</td></tr></tbody></table> I am celebrating him today because tomorrow is our wedding anniversary, we will have been married for three years. <br/><br/><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vgecs4pqFZY/UENvtJdpbZI/AAAAAAAAB6M/P3GEsGtRTWs/s604/Photo%2525202%252520Sep%2525202012%25252015%25253A05.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vgecs4pqFZY/UENvtJdpbZI/AAAAAAAAB6M/P3GEsGtRTWs/s500/Photo%2525202%252520Sep%2525202012%25252015%25253A05.jpg" id="blogsy-1346596967074.2356" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div> <br/><br/>My husband has Psoriatic arthritis in nearly every place of his body and where bones are not affected he has psoriatic rash. If he isn't in a lot of pain he is itchy. He got this illness aged twenty. It is different to my form of arthritis, whilst it is the immune system attacking itself,eating at joints over night,similar to Juvenile arthritis, his body destroys the joint then attempts to rebuild it but kind of gets the instructions wrong! Marks arthritis would be hopeless at following IKEA instructions! It will try to re grow a knee joint for example but instead of growing a round bone it will stick a huge pole of bone on it, so he has odd lumps on joints which restricts movement. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>So he stands a lovely six foot tall, he is not an average sized forty year old, slim thanks to not drinking I suspect but also because our illnesses eat muscles as well, if his body re grew muscles I would be sleeping with Popeye! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>His ankles looks like a Christmas star, all pointy. Nearly every day a bit of bone spur breaks, often the new bone growth will fuse a joint which is great in that breaking can't occur but it means that the once moveable joint becomes static and very restricted in movement which makes tasks such as driving where you need ankle movement, quite tough.<br/><br/> <br/><br/>However my husband is a great man. He is a great father and my best friend. Over the last three months when I have been totally wheelchair bound, he has single handedly parented our son and been my only carer. If he isn't helping me dress and washed, he is getting our son dressed.If he isn't getting me my lunch, he is getting our sons lunch, if he isn't there cheering me up,he is there making our son laugh. Despite extreme pain he stands up, gets out of bed and faces the whole day again.I hear his bone spikes snap ,he rarely moans, I hear him struggle to undo something, swearing at packaging and ten minuets later managed to undo a milk carton.I hear him drop cereal all over the floor ,due to his poor hand grip, followed by a hopeful Labrador getting up to see if the commotion involves food! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>He gets the washing done, lifting a basket of clothes shoots pain in his shoulders, he sighs and carries on. I entertain our son but I can not do much at the moment apart from read and play on the bed and of course our son is crawling so he can not leave us for a moment whilst our little man is up.He hardly sits down all day, he has just brought me a cup of tea,vacuumed, fed our son,made me lunch, put washing on, changed the bed sheets, changed our son,came and sat with us and was our small mans climbing frame,put our son to bed and finally he can rest for an hour, my only thought reading all this back is blooming heck we maybe should demand a carer comes in to help us but he and I feel too proud to have that really. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>When Mark sits down he produces amazing art work in the hope some art company might see him.Some of these pieces take weeks due to him having to paint awkwardly but he perseveres and ....well....the pictures speak for themselves:<br/><br/><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3WKRMQ7q_Yg/UENv4WuzFSI/AAAAAAAAB6U/7LfpMv9R4hM/s500/Photo%2525202%252520Sep%2525202012%25252014%25253A43.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3WKRMQ7q_Yg/UENv4WuzFSI/AAAAAAAAB6U/7LfpMv9R4hM/s500/Photo%2525202%252520Sep%2525202012%25252014%25253A43.jpg" id="blogsy-1346596967110.566" class="alignnone" width="500" height="405" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark won Student of the year for an art diploma he took a while ago.</td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-HxPPsQtQuD4/UENwKMDOR_I/AAAAAAAAB6k/w33BjQEbobA/s546/Photo%2525202%252520Sep%2525202012%25252014%25253A41.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-HxPPsQtQuD4/UENwKMDOR_I/AAAAAAAAB6k/w33BjQEbobA/s500/Photo%2525202%252520Sep%2525202012%25252014%25253A41.jpg" id="blogsy-1346596967073.8591" class="alignnone" width="500" height="659" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sixties piece done for our sixties home hallway.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0HkP1NN48Po/UENwN99Q-5I/AAAAAAAAB6s/bXi2XxfcmyE/s436/Photo%2525202%252520Sep%2525202012%25252014%25253A40.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0HkP1NN48Po/UENwN99Q-5I/AAAAAAAAB6s/bXi2XxfcmyE/s436/Photo%2525202%252520Sep%2525202012%25252014%25253A40.jpg" id="blogsy-1346596967059.2012" class="aligncenter" width="436" height="604" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Work stolen from a New York Gallery Surreal exhibition, any one sees it let us know! </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8WFEsiw5nyQ/UENwVsBdGqI/AAAAAAAAB60/ct5b04ToAqE/s1600/Photo%2525202%252520Sep%2525202012%25252015%25253A26.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8WFEsiw5nyQ/UENwVsBdGqI/AAAAAAAAB60/ct5b04ToAqE/s500/Photo%2525202%252520Sep%2525202012%25252015%25253A26.jpg" id="blogsy-1346596967095.331" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="508" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favourite picture "Mop" by Mark Jephcott</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-AE-72jgSdp4/UENwYodnRmI/AAAAAAAAB68/evjIsrCozh8/s617/Photo%2525202%252520Sep%2525202012%25252014%25253A41.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-AE-72jgSdp4/UENwYodnRmI/AAAAAAAAB68/evjIsrCozh8/s500/Photo%2525202%252520Sep%2525202012%25252014%25253A41.jpg" id="blogsy-1346596967092.57" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="583" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you stand still for too long in our house you get drawn on! </td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/> In an hour he will get up and start the afternoon chores, he will change my son, get sons tea, get our tea, help me shower, help me dress, dress son for bed, I will entertain son so he can sit watching but at least he can rest,he will put our son to bed,make cups of tea,unload dishwasher,re load it, tidy up after our son, get more washing out the dryer. He will then come be with me and I don't think he as any idea how proud I am of him. His get up and go, his determination to keep trying in his art and as a physically ill man. He never quits. He never says he can not do something (not publicly anyway), he can't drive anymore because it is getting to a stage where he doesn't feel safe now as his feet cramp and go numb etc. He refuses to sit in a wheelchair despite doctors suggesting he does. I love him more than the day we got married, he is a real man, no matter how tough the elements are he strives to get through each day and find something good at the end of it. Mark Jephcott thank you for coming into my life and being my best friend and giving me a lovely child and being fantastic. Happy anniversary darling x<br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hdMbYLr1GGI/UEJuu1-_GiI/AAAAAAAAB4Q/krd7chtXO0M/s1536/E44A503E-8D6A-4E6F-B10F-66399ABD2D86.JPG" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hdMbYLr1GGI/UEJuu1-_GiI/AAAAAAAAB4Q/krd7chtXO0M/s500/E44A503E-8D6A-4E6F-B10F-66399ABD2D86.JPG" id="blogsy-1346596967072.7424" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My attempt at art, ok no one said I was the artist in the family! </td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/> <br/><br/><em><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">Marks art work and poems can be found in a zillion places but he writes a blog called Crappiest blog ever, go to </font></em>http://crappiestblogever.blogspot.co.uk/<br/><br/> <br/><br/><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977346207935034011.post-51041095100500619752012-08-29T11:26:00.001-07:002012-08-29T11:26:22.098-07:00Paralympic games, disabled people rejoice,our time to shine! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br></div><h1> "Let the games begin!".</h1> <br/><br/> I am so proud to be a disabled person in the UK as of this evening! London and Bath University have excelled themselves for creating physically disabled friendly ,utopia ,athletic villages.London transport departments have tried their best with city transport provision for the wheelchair bound fellows amongst us getting to and from the stadium.If you want to go anywhere else in the UK good luck because the rest of our transport sucks!<br/><br/><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ql5BKOMz1JM/UD5epTMD2aI/AAAAAAAABro/8U63pwvVPGU/s254/Photo%25252029%252520Aug%2525202012%25252015%25253A51.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ql5BKOMz1JM/UD5epTMD2aI/AAAAAAAABro/8U63pwvVPGU/s254/Photo%25252029%252520Aug%2525202012%25252015%25253A51.jpg" id="blogsy-1346264781525.437" class="aligncenter" width="254" height="355" alt=""></a></div> <br/><br/>For the last two years ,in the UK, a disabled person,whether with mental illness or physical difficulties, have felt like a Jew in Nazi Germany. The rise of poorly researched anti disabled journalism has made many genuinely disabled people feel victimised,classed as Scroungers, not crippled enough to warrant help, too crippled to be shown in public, all cheating the tax payer whether they work or not, if you are disabled then you should be a vegetable in a wheelchair, dribbling and unable to speak, stuck in a special institution. If you smile, put on make up, look pretty,can articulate , persevere through life with as few crutches or aids as possible then you do not match the stereotyped view of a genuine disabled person and therefore some simple public fellows feel you are faking it. The Sun, and the god awful BBC Saints and Scroungers programme to name but a few examples of horrendous journalism,have given rise to this new culture of hatred towards anyone who is "different". However the tide is turning,mainly due to the Paralympics, whilst an international audience watch the UK, the UK has had to pull itself together, journalists anxious to not miss a trick for profits are suddenly holding disabled people up as heroes, or as the BBC like to patronisingly call us "the disabled saints"!<br/><br/><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="500" height="305" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZcridvxfLBo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><a href="http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/08/24/65000-hate-crimes-against-disabled-people-and-rising-this-has-to-stop/" target="_self" title="An interesting article from the Independent newspaper on disabled people persecution in the UK."></a><br><br/><br/> <br/><br/>My pride overflows for all of our UK athletes, able bodied or not, the work they put into being the best is just outstanding and puts joe blogs who moans about his work, in the NHS, bank etc to total shame! These guys get up at 4am and train till 7am ,go about their day, then get back to training from 6pm and do not stop till 9pm! Add a physical disability to that, pain requiring huge morphine doses just to train that day, a struggle to time manage it all especially as some daily living tasks, that take a well person five minuets to do ,takes a physically disabled person twice that amount if not four times. Our Para athletes are indeed an inspiration to all, not just to other disabled people. However are they heros? <br/><br/> <br/><br/>No, there is no disabled person who is a hero, anyone who wakes up tomorrow having had a stroke, shooting pains in every limb, collapses to the floor as they can not feel their legs, these are things that happen suddenly to healthy people, over night, no warning, many illnesses and disabilities just arrive at your door! My husband knows of a once very healthy friend, massively sporty, adventurous, who didn't realise he carried a silent bacteria around his spinal fluid, one day this man bent over to pick something up and bang, collapsed, is now paralysed thanks to this bug just hitting in his spinal cord! These newly effected people have a choice to make, accept they will never be pain free or able to walk unaided or normally ever again, quit life,never see or do anything or effect anyone's life for the better ever again. The alternative is to choose to live as full a life as possible, find a different way of doing something,adapt to your painful body, persevere through some of the pain and try your hardest. <br/><br/>Every one on this planet already does their best but as a disabled person you need to be dedicated to trying, you can not afford to have days of quitting or basically you end up in a very deep spiral of depression and end up giving up. <br/><br/> Day in,day out, the athletes that live with creaky,damaged,bendy or numb bodies live with determination to get on every day and not just in the public arena of the 2012 games. Ahhhh I feel the pride in me now. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>There are always able bodied and disabled people who moan, feel entitled to more and more, feel that they have no need to try for themselves and yet expect every one else to give their all to them.Well all I can say is I hope the games will help them realise there is another way. <br/><br/> The Para games will be redefining the public opinion of a disabled person so lets join our athletes and support this! Disabled parents, we are like the Para athletes in so many ways, heck just by having a baby redefines family opinion let alone public opinion of me, me who has been on chemo, me who had had operations every year of my life since I was eight years old, me who walks funnily and slowly, gets stared at by adults and kids. I know there are thousands of others out there like me, I am not novel nor am I a person to put on a pedestal, I made my choice, I pursue it, I get on with it and I am a <strong><u>Paramummy</u></strong>! <br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-W6wZ_DzSpsw/UD5erG1NUaI/AAAAAAAABrw/CLzuCH9Yzv0/s800/Photo%2525206%252520Aug%2525202012%25252022%25253A10.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-W6wZ_DzSpsw/UD5erG1NUaI/AAAAAAAABrw/CLzuCH9Yzv0/s500/Photo%2525206%252520Aug%2525202012%25252022%25253A10.jpg" id="blogsy-1346264781511.5696" class="aligncenter" width="250" height="250" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DisABLEd Positive Parent Icon by Mark Jephcott</td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong>Paramummies</strong> <strong>weight</strong> <strong>lift</strong>- lugging a baby around with useless arms or using our whole bodies to lift our child requires dedication, practice, early morning training and late night training. Buggy lifting, washing lifting. <br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong>Para</strong> <strong>mummies</strong> <strong>constantly</strong> <strong>move no matter what the injury</strong>- we all probably cover miles in our house through out a day whether in a wheelchair or on foot, or crawling just to keep check on the little one!<br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ksiyoeCcmIA/UD5ewod04LI/AAAAAAAABr4/qk75kaHaJ50/s2048/Photo%2525204%252520Aug%2525202012%25252016%25253A36.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ksiyoeCcmIA/UD5ewod04LI/AAAAAAAABr4/qk75kaHaJ50/s500/Photo%2525204%252520Aug%2525202012%25252016%25253A36.jpg" id="blogsy-1346264781485.8298" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did I mention my assistant dog who is a mega weight lifter as she helps me on and off the floor! Go go Para dog aka "Canine Partners" dog</td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/><strong>Para</strong> <strong>mummies</strong> <strong>race</strong> <strong>against</strong> <strong>time</strong>- changing a nappy takes us three times as long as an able bodied person due to limb restriction, having to use our mouths to undo and do up nappies etc so the pressure is on when the child is an impatient toddler and believe you me toddlers are tough trainers! You feel like you have won gold if you manage to change a nappy in under ten mins, child looks almost shocked at your great time!<br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong>Para</strong> <strong>mummies</strong> <strong>keep</strong> <strong>motivated</strong>- no time to get down, mope about pain, mope about what others can do and we can't, we just have to persevere with our weird but effective ways of parenting. <br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong>Para</strong> <strong>mummies</strong> <strong>are</strong> <strong>gymnasts</strong>! That's right, you try standing on one muscle wasted leg,bad leg out behind you, leaning on one arm that is deformed, whilst changing a nappy with one hand, that is Yoga baby! <br/><br/> <br/><br/><strong>Para</strong> <strong>mummies</strong> <strong>are</strong> <strong>strong</strong>- we are human, we have days where we feel we could have been better parents, that we could have handled food being thrown around a room with more dignity, we would love to go to able bodied parent and child groups and sit on a floor with everyone, then we feel sorry for our little ones for not having the healthiest mummy who can not take a toddler out regularly. We feel emotional, disappointed in ourselves but IT LASTS FOR HALF AN HOUR NOT A WHOLE DAY! We find what we are good at, reading to our child,painting with our child and we think actually we give great quality time,may not be action packed, may not be quickly done but we are doing our best and keep doing it! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>So here is to the lovely public, the differently able athletes on stage tonight and over the next few weeks and to all other disabled people who are great Psychologists, lawyers, geneticists, artists,engineers,parents,teachers etc all who do their best, strive to be the best at what they do and genuinely are a positive thing in the great UK.<br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-nE3YcBiR8Qc/UD5eyil14UI/AAAAAAAABsA/F50tmVybGkM/s2048/Photo%25252020%252520Aug%2525202012%25252022%25253A43.jpg" target="_blank" style=" " title=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-nE3YcBiR8Qc/UD5eyil14UI/AAAAAAAABsA/F50tmVybGkM/s500/Photo%25252020%252520Aug%2525202012%25252022%25253A43.jpg" id="blogsy-1346264781473.64" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="162" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A brilliant piece drawn my my husband who has severe arthritis in his hands but he keeps on drawing, now that is passion for his art for you! By Mark Jephcott</td></tr></tbody></table>To all disabled parents lets remember we are "Para parents",lets not feel ashamed of who we are but take inspiration to keep going from the 2012 Paralympic games and our fabulous para athletes :) x <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977346207935034011.post-48529210701345926562012-08-27T07:14:00.001-07:002012-08-27T07:14:21.253-07:00My proudest moment as a mother. My son aged nineteen months, almost twenty, walked his first four steps unaided yesterday! This has to be my proudest moment not only as a mummy but also as an individual. <br/><br/><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NOhecX9ilHI/UDuAh5TGJHI/AAAAAAAABnw/Y7RE7XatZpQ/s1536/Photo%25252027%252520Aug%2525202012%25252013%25253A57.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NOhecX9ilHI/UDuAh5TGJHI/AAAAAAAABnw/Y7RE7XatZpQ/s500/Photo%25252027%252520Aug%2525202012%25252013%25253A57.jpg" id="blogsy-1346076859623.2324" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div> <br/><br/>Surely my most proud moment was when my son was born you would have thought?!?<br/><br/> <br/><br/>As a child growing up with juvenile arthritis you learn lots about medics, hospitals, treatment. You grow up quickly ,making important choices from the age of five about how much medication I felt would be necessary for the day, evaluating the day ahead, predicting what teachers and pupils would ask of me and how much medication that would require without making me sleepy etc. You learn nurses and doctors can make mistakes eg.when the drug trolley came round, I was given the girls tablets who was in the bed opposite me, I had to argue with the nurse as a nine year old on my own for ten minuets! The Sister of the ward confirmed the nurses error! God knows if the girl opposite me had taken my drugs or not,I am not sure her parents had taught her to make choices for herself ! Another occasion was where the registrar miss wrote a prescription for me, instead of 4 mg of methotrexate a day he put me on 40mg and as methotrexate (a chemo drug) was new and under trial the consultant almost passed out at what had happened, fortunately for her and me I had been hiding methotrexate in my PJ case for three months as the two doses I took made me vomit a lot and I had had enough!<br/><br/> <br/><br/>Now you will understand when I say that when I was pregnant, scans were not emotional, they were for studying measurements of my son on screen after I had checked I had seen a healthy heart beat. I wasn't looking at my child but checking the scan was done well and my questions answered.One doctor said I could take Tramadol and they would sort the withdrawal effects in my son when he was born, I thought why on earth would I take Tramadol for my selfish pain relief that ultimately could make life tricky for my son in his first few days on earth! Pregnancy was rubbish for me in terms of excitement and romanticism,it was an amalgamation of people who were not sure what to do with me,what to say to two disabled parents, if I would miscarry, how to help my family etc. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Birth was sensible. The doctors realised my s shape spine could not take an epidural and my deformed pelvis could not deal with natural birth so I had a general anaesthetic and a c section. I went to sleep,woke up and there was my baby! I cried with joy seeing him but there ends my experience of pregnancy and birth!<br/><br/> <br/><br/>Even with our son safely with my husband and I, the anxiety of our child's health was still foremost in my mind. Had any of my drugs effected him? Would immunisation do what it did to me ,to him? If I gave him the MMR would that trigger his immune system to attack like it did in me? I had my son, loved him but I had to be in medical mode for the good of my child. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>So although little man says a hundred words and can count to ten etc my worry of him not walking was getting intense. I was concerned there was something medically up.<br/><br/> <br/><br/>So over the last two weeks, with the odd hour from mum every now and them, we would all make Christopher stand up! We turned it into a fun game of stand up ,clap hands ,shout yeay! Christopher enjoyed this and every day for two weeks we have played it and over the last few days I have heard him in his room going yeay and found him standing up. Yesterday at 5.45pm our little man picked those tiny feet up and stumbled four steps across the room! At last I could relax, knowing he is ok, he is better than ok, he is great! He is kind, thoughtful, calm, sensitive, happy and finally I can (in almost certainty) say he is a healthy little boy too. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Yes this was my proudest moment as a mummy.I am determined he will have a childhood and adulthood full of happiness, love, friends and opportunity, he has, touch wood, nothing to stop him achieve any thing he wants in life :) <br/><br/> <br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_xH4igggJFE/UDuArxhb2lI/AAAAAAAABn4/MRqee9cklfQ/s1536/Photo%25252027%252520Aug%2525202012%25252013%25253A58.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_xH4igggJFE/UDuArxhb2lI/AAAAAAAABn4/MRqee9cklfQ/s500/Photo%25252027%252520Aug%2525202012%25252013%25253A58.jpg" id="blogsy-1346076859561.8142" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little bit wobbly but my son is standing quite a lot on his own with no support and even took a few steps yesterday! </td></tr></tbody></table>X<br/><br/> <br/><br/><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977346207935034011.post-59401331004064329652012-08-26T06:32:00.001-07:002012-08-26T06:32:31.726-07:00You snooze,you lose! This is our sons motto at the moment, this is not making for an easy day for two parents with auto immune illnesses in full blown flare. When we flare we literally feel like someone feels with severe flu, perpetually tired, hot then cold, aching every where, there are places aching I have no appreciation of existing until flare ups happen.Our joints go into pause mode, they actually forget to work and in my case my kidneys decide to slow down as well and I get a blusher mark just below my eyes so I look like I have overdone blusher! <br/><br/><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="500" height="305" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DZBobS6a2Es" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div> <em>August is Stills Awareness month (also known as Juvenile systemic arthritis and nooooo it is nothing like old person arthritis pls watch clip).</em><br/><br/> <br/><br/>Still life goes on, as any parent will say "you can not afford to be ill",it is one of those jobs where you can not tell the boss, aka a 19 month old son, that one is too sick to come into work! It is tough, you have a child and there is no option but to get up every day and get at it,if it takes you ten minuets to just undo nappy straps to put a nappy on your child then that is how it has to be. A baby does not have the cognitive ability to have sympathy for your plight and as a toddler they don't see the dark circles and pained faces, to them you are fun time mummy and daddy whatever the day, whatever the time and whatever the situation. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>So today Daddy is on entertainment mode, playing his Ukelele, am going to start calling him Gabriella the frog from Bagpuss, he has been on the Uke all day playing songs from Pink Floyd to The laughing Policeman. Meanwhile the not very at tentative audience invests in some good old fashioned wrecking the joint with toys, looking under the sofa and pushing car keys right under it (the keys will stay there until we can get our steroids high enough to touch our flare ups in order to shift the sofa), posting things in the dogs mouth who spends the day running backwards and forwards with items from son to me, even if am on the loo, my dog opens the door bold as you like and dumps given items on to my lap, I feel I need to suggest to her she stops entertaining this game! The digi box for the TV has had various buttons pressed on it and there are a pile of bricks in Daddy's walking shoe! Hehehehe ahhh the madness, as someone posted on Facebook recently "Having a toddler is a bit like putting a blender on and forgetting the lid"! <br/><br/><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="250" height="305" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DILS39UrWB4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div> <em>The</em> <em>above</em> <em>clip</em> <em>is</em> <em>a</em> <em>childhood</em> <em>loved</em> <em>programme</em> <em>in</em> <em>the</em> <em>UK</em> <em>called</em> "<em>Bagpuss</em>".<br/><br/> <br/><br/>Not every day is about difference and disability or being inventive with caring for a child etc. Most days are just about getting on with the day, laughing with our son, sometimes laughing at him as he pours yogurt over himself, that's right we are teaching him to feed on his own now too to add to the mayhem ,but then again, on days like these our son can at least hold the spoon which our hands seem to be unwilling to entertain on flare days! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Some days are spent trying to co ordinate grocery delivery and perpetual frustration at there never being enough bread or milk in the house! On occasion my annoyance at the over flowing amount of baby vests we have collected, half of which we can not work due to stiff poppers, half that should have been binned as you can almost see through them,makes itself known to the household! Most days are about building blocks, playing playdoh, reading to son, teaching him to read, playing games. On top of aspiring to be über great parents like every other parent in the world, we also try to make time for us as a couple, that is if we don't fall asleep with one another on the sofa at the end of the day which is often the case. Still at least we know we work together for the good of our child and one another,we are strong together as a couple,we have to be as we both have an awful lot to go through both in the present and future and our son needs to learn through us that it is all ok, that he has nothing to worry about. Mark and I share the same values and core constructs both as parents and as individuals. We all do our best for one another,even our son tries by bringing hefty books to me on our bed whilst my leg has to be held up most of the day.We still have something to give to friends who are about to arrive any second. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Mr No snooze is gearing up for maximum audience participation to the trashing the room project!<br/><br/> <br/><br/>Life as a parent, wouldn't change it for the world! :D<br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977346207935034011.post-41432770442649291772012-08-24T07:03:00.001-07:002012-08-24T14:11:04.578-07:00Yet more useful baby products on high street for disabled parents! Wow, what has happened to the baby market suddenly, it has drastically gone from being rubbish for parents with physical difficulties to suddenly an explosion of amazing accessible products to help you independently care for baby! With the rise of grandparents now acting as day care for their children's children, it is about time if not for us creaky parents but for the creaky grandparents too! <br />
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Below are yet more excellent gizmos available in our shops , online and in store and it is up to individulas to decide what out of the fantastic amount of helpful gadgets might be relevant to their needs. Click on the images and you will be taken to the relevant web site. <br />
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<h1>
Cots from Jojo Maman Bebe:</h1>
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<u>Cocoonababy</u></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/sp+cocoonababy-in-moses-baskets-and-cribs+B1090" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="250" id="blogsy-1345816947875.5557" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vAChF_n5jco/UDYvtjPZrgI/AAAAAAAABZY/uhRxE83pJNc/s250/Photo%25252023%252520Aug%2525202012%25252014%25253A27.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look for first few months a cot with no ridiculous sides for those with poor reach etc! You will need to think where you put it,, if I was using one I would have placed it on our sons bed with a bed gaurd on bed that I could sit on bed and bottom shuffle to this nest and get baby up for feed, read on bed, cuddle etc. That is only my opinion and not recommended by Jojo Maman, but needs must as a disabled parent. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/sp+the-babybay-cot-in+B7676" target="_self"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="250" id="blogsy-1345816947899.6938" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DGHmu_ZwJeg/UDYxHDoxxQI/AAAAAAAABZg/t1afy6BI-o0/s250/Photo%25252022%252520Aug%2525202012%25252009%25253A49.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A brilliant and almost total requirement cot for disabled parents who don't want to get anyone in to adapt a normal cot or can't afford an all singing specialist disabled parent cot, Easy access to baby from your bed, no real reach issues and I could only breast feed on our bed so this is just an ideal set up from Jojo Mamam but also available in other good baby stores online and on high street. </td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); font-size: small;">Both items are expensive but this is a genuine disabled parent physical need and hence is why many of us have DLA. If you are going to be a parent, get saving for a cot now because the likelyhood will be the cheapest cot in the high street just will not be accessible to you.</span></td></tr>
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<h1>
Teaching your baby to walk as a physically disabled parent:</h1>
Wow, of course showed my mum this who spent the best part of an afternoon busting her back to try and help our son get walking, meanwhile I was at a Dr appointment reading a parent magazine with this gadget:<br />
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<strong>Walking</strong> <strong>wings</strong> <strong>harness</strong> <strong>from</strong> <strong>Jojo</strong> <strong>Mamam </strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/sp+walking-wings-safety-harness-in-baby-and-toddler-out-and-about+B9623" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="370" id="blogsy-1345816947912.9644" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-QkcD25CjNLs/UDYzK-6oV7I/AAAAAAAABZo/cxkP26NyPCM/s370/Photo%25252023%252520Aug%2525202012%25252014%25253A39.jpg" width="370" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For those with painful hands would recommend putting forearms through straps as spreads weight more evenly, we can't afford to all be running to have wrist replacements or surgery once little ones walk! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/CASEMERE-Toddler-Harness-Learning-Assistant/dp/B006MGJVKQ/ref=pd_sim_by_1" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="250" id="blogsy-1345816947917.5327" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s5Fvu6SSftY/UDY0O9YttXI/AAAAAAAABZw/G659qJyH8Qk/s250/Photo%25252023%252520Aug%2525202012%25252014%25253A44.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casemere toddler walking harness. A cheaper option to the above but you do still have to bend which may totally defeat the point of a gadget to help you assist your child in walking. From Amazon uk.</td></tr>
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<h2>
Potty training a toddler when lifting and bending is tricky for the parent. </h2>
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Potty training is a challenge for every parent and child. Patience and kindness and perseverance is the key but it is no doubt going to be an arduous task for my husband and I who have every bone in our body working against us. Still we will meet the challenge just as every other parent has to. Here are some pots that look up to the job of meeting a few of the parents physical needs as well as the child's. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/sp+potty-booster-step-stool-in-beaba+B1184" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="250" id="blogsy-1345816947975.4055" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GGRvVIGKXJ4/UDY3EJ6DvzI/AAAAAAAABac/s8TckMIZThI/s250/Photo%25252023%252520Aug%2525202012%25252014%25253A56.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Über cool design, potty that is sat on top of a stool so when little one gets older can throw out the potty and use the lightweight stool to help them get up to the big toilet. Also makes the potty high enough for ease of lifting toddler on and off without dislocating a hip joint or slipping a disc in spine. From Jojo Mamam bebe. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Disney-Winnie-Pooh-Training-Seat/dp/B004LE90CK/ref=sr_1_11?s=baby&ie=UTF8&qid=1345730443&sr=1-11" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="250" id="blogsy-1345816947894.789" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-B6wvV2Ot7pw/UDY3zBB9gxI/AAAAAAAABak/4PSPKWr5suY/s250/Photo%25252023%252520Aug%2525202012%25252015%25253A01.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I may not even bother with the potty bit and go straight to toilet is my son is not scared. This seat clips easily over toilet seat. Making the whole toilet experience feel more safe and secure for child. From Amazon uk</td></tr>
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<h2>
Bathing baby, yet more ideas:</h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bambinodirect.co.uk/Munchkin_White_Hot_Inflateable_Duck_Tub___11054/version.asp?refsource=BAfroogle&gclid=CIHk_6iJgLICFXIQtAodITEA3Q" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="250" id="blogsy-1345816947913.8362" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lpEu-9F7TVk/UDdZ8cf-WnI/AAAAAAAABg0/5PBZb1-m_bI/s250/Photo%25252024%252520Aug%2525202012%25252011%25253A39.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know looks mad but because is inflatable it means the sides are more squashy which makes it easier to push down on and access baby a little more ease, certainly if parent has poor reach is definitely worth a try. From Bambino direct. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Geuther-Aqualino-Changing-Combo-Zebra/dp/B000V6HTRA/ref=pd_sim_sbs_by_3" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="250" id="blogsy-1345816947888.7021" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-iW0TI4dL7LA/UDd5oMHyrqI/AAAAAAAABhw/3VytKFU9fBc/s250/Photo%25252024%252520Aug%2525202012%25252013%25253A54.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guether Aqualino bath and changing combo unit. A good low height for those parents in wheelchairs or shorter stature. From Amazon uk. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://direct.asda.com/Summer-Infant-Deluxe-Baby-Bather---Circle-Daisy/002671839,default,pd.html?utm_source=ggle-shop&utm_medium=css&utm_term=002671839&utm_content=Babies&utm_campaign=ad&cm_mmc=ad-css-_-ggle-shop-_-Babies-_-002671839&istCompanyId=71f4ae42-94c5-4821-aa58-05eff6da2486&istItemId=wlrmxmwl&istBid=t" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="170" id="blogsy-1345816947976.126" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-l5GCdyhNNWY/UDd4EeJMTWI/AAAAAAAABho/zz5KONce3ZA/s170/Photo%25252024%252520Aug%2525202012%25252011%25253A30.jpg" width="170" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Asda direct, deluxe baby bath seat supports baby in adult bath leaving your hands free to wash baby. An item for those who can bend down and reach in adult bath. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Summer-Infant-Mini-Bathtub-Support/dp/B00603M9ZA/ref=pd_sim_sbs_by_4" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="250" id="blogsy-1345816947895.517" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iU4wK-aERR0/UDd9PoEV3xI/AAAAAAAABic/zmcHPudsMBE/s250/Photo%25252024%252520Aug%2525202012%25252014%25253A10.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer infant mini bathtub. Can be used as a bath as really babies of an age where they eat, sleep and poo are not doing enough to warrant a full submersion! This allows you to take a jug of warm water, pour on baby and water will sit at base of this product. If you put this product on top of slatted bath board as shown in previous posts you have baby at good height, make sure all baby products very close by, we can get a full size baby bath and our sons products all on the bath board. This product will hold baby whilst you use both hands to wash. From Amazon uk.</td></tr>
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For me bathing baby is absolutely a must do with two people. The reality of the situation is I am just not able bodied enough to do on my own safely. Either my partner, a grandparent or friend has to be with me. Never leave baby unattended. It is often easier to have a towel and changing mat in the bathroom so you do not need to carry slippy baby too far. Get a sturdy camping table (Go outdoors is a good camping shop), put industrial strength strips of Velcro all over table and Velcro on underside of changing mat to ensure changing mat stays on table whilst lowering your child onto it. Have a snug towel over the mat to simply wrap your child up in and dry! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/adjustable-camping-table-p152336" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="250" id="blogsy-1345816947976.1172" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9fYlrCvbGwQ/UDeIR3xwEeI/AAAAAAAABjg/96LBgLRkBeM/s250/Photo%25252024%252520Aug%2525202012%25252014%25253A55.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camping table with adjustable legs, folds flat when not needed. Made by Hi Gear and sold at "Go Outdoors" online uk site.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-resin-top-high-camping-table-p143909" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="250" id="blogsy-1345816947943.3728" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ZtMIERkWnho/UDeGJkkLt8I/AAAAAAAABjI/8mQU7abBUWU/s250/Photo%25252024%252520Aug%2525202012%25252014%25253A47.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Hi Gear table sold by Go Outdoors online store. Looks more sturdy but legs non adjustable but good height me who stands at four foot ten. </td></tr>
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<strong>IF</strong> <strong>YOU</strong> <strong>HAVE</strong> <strong>POOR</strong> <strong>GRIP</strong> <strong>DO</strong> <strong>NOT</strong> <strong>USE</strong> <strong>MOUISTURISERS</strong> <strong>OR</strong> <strong>MOUSTURISING</strong> <strong>BABY</strong> <strong>WASH</strong> <strong>ON</strong> <strong>BABY</strong> <strong>OR</strong> <strong>YOURSELF</strong> <strong>BEFORE</strong> <strong>AND</strong> <strong>AFTER</strong> <strong>BATHING</strong> <strong>BABY</strong>, <strong>THIS</strong> <strong>IS</strong> <strong>SIMPLY</strong> <strong>DANGEROUS</strong>! I nearly found this out when trying to lower my child slathered in sun cream from the sofa to the lounge floor, fortunately not a big fall or a hard fall but made me realise that I needed Banana Boat powder lotion sun cream (feels like talc on skin once dried which it does in seconds).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Banana-Boat-Kids-Pwdr-Lotion/dp/B001EJOF9I/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1345815774&sr=8-4" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="250" id="blogsy-1345816947920.2283" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ueb3ex3tOlc/UDeFML6Yi-I/AAAAAAAABjA/_fIOC3DiZzE/s250/Photo%25252024%252520Aug%2525202012%25252014%25253A43.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banana Boat powder dry sun cream from many retailers, I get mine from my worshiped altar of Amazon uk! </td></tr>
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<h1>
Teaching a child to ride a bike. </h1>
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Gosh where has Jojo Mamam been all my parenting life, no am not endorsing every item they sell but I initially disregarded them as another baby and toddler manufacturer of clothes and thought no doubt every thing would be over priced and rubbish, I was so wrong, great clothes, great gadgets and reasonable prices:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/sp+balance-buddy-bike-handle-in-baby-and-toddler-out-and-about+B7759" target="_self"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="250" id="blogsy-1345816947981.0776" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-U5QnRR8R_vM/UDY65GyKqjI/AAAAAAAABbI/odwPlp3jKv8/s250/Photo%25252023%252520Aug%2525202012%25252015%25253A13.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balance Buddy Bike Handle" from Jojo Mamam. Saves you bending, will totally allow my very arthritic husband to help teach our son to ride a bike! </td></tr>
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<h1>
Useful Baby clubs for discounts on above items and more! </h1>
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KidStart- www.kidstart.co.uk </h2>
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<strong><u>How</u></strong> <strong><u>it</u></strong> <strong><u>works</u></strong>:<br />
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Basically you go to individual online stores such as Jojo Mamam through KidStart site and will get an automatic discount at check out. There are over 450 stores on the KidStart site.<br />
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You also will be issued a card which you can use in high street stores to get a discount. <br />
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This site is a definite must for any parent but given that many disabled parents have to purchase more gadgets for looking after their babies it makes sense to try and get discounts if possible.<br />
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Tescos Mother and baby club. http://www.tesco.com/babyclub/</h2>
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Tescos have mother and baby store events and will send you a booklet of all offers at the time along with lots of vouchers for money off baby goods. There is an event on from the 29th of Aug 2012 in Tescos and I have just received a load of great vouchers for it. From Nivea Q10 firming cream for us mums to reduced price premium nappies and vouchers of baby wash goods, snacks etc. Join now to get best value out of the scheme. <br />
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ASDA baby club.http://your.asda.com/baby-club/</h2>
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Works in the same way as Tescos, they will throw a mother and baby event every so often where you can pick up cheaper nappies, vouchers off for baby goods, reduced prices of baby clothes and baby gadgets. The supermarkets are usualy in huge competition with one another so more often than not the baby events will be scheduled around similar dates, Asdas summer event is scheduled for the 27th of Aug 2012.<br />
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NCT nearly new sales. http://www.nct.org.uk/</h2>
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The NCT - National Childbirth Trust, is a UK ran charity with an amazing amount of information but of course almost nothing for disabled parents on the site. However they are incredibly keen to help so check out events through the site in your area, contact them, use their help and ask their help, they are bright people chomping at the bit to do what they can. <br />
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NCT have nearly new baby clothes and equipment sales in your area, check when the next sale is and where and take a visit. You will find clothes for baby with poppers that have been worked by someone else hence loosening poppers and making them a breeze to do. Latest baby equipment brought by other parents is often sold off here so save some money and check these sales out before paying top prices. Get your midwife to help you get in touch with your local NCT leader at your first appointment and certainly before baby arrives.<br />
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I have to say if I was having a baby now never would I have felt there was a better time! The manufacturers for baby gadgets has finally twigged that pointless love hearts and smiley faces in bright colours is all very nice but any parent, fit or otherwise, just wants practicality,functional objects at the lowest prices! <br />
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Chin chin lovely parents,parents to be and curious readers x<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977346207935034011.post-36683072616292578852012-08-20T05:47:00.001-07:002012-08-20T05:47:45.182-07:00A spikey guide to disabled parenting. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-95-Mu6ryyB0/UDIWIhdpZiI/AAAAAAAABUk/nb0k9bckCmE/s800/Photo%2525206%252520Aug%2525202012%25252022%25253A10.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-95-Mu6ryyB0/UDIWIhdpZiI/AAAAAAAABUk/nb0k9bckCmE/s250/Photo%2525206%252520Aug%2525202012%25252022%25253A10.jpg" id="blogsy-1345465788432.9946" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="250" height="250"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks to my husband Mark Jephcott who drew DisABLEd Positive Parent logo</td></tr></tbody></table>I stand four foot 10 high! I am fragile looking, I have scars on both ankles, two scars on each knee, three scars on my right hip thigh, two on the other thigh, one on my right hand, one on my right elbow, one on my right shoulder! I am a patchwork quilt of excellent surgical needlework and master crafted plastic joints or patched up joints. All because I have had Juvenile arthritis / Stills disease since I was 15 months old.<br/><br/><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-AWDKpaYTIVk/UDITJ7BWWlI/AAAAAAAABUE/ns06XsM4Do0/s2048/Photo%25252020%252520Aug%2525202012%25252011%25253A31.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-AWDKpaYTIVk/UDITJ7BWWlI/AAAAAAAABUE/ns06XsM4Do0/s250/Photo%25252020%252520Aug%2525202012%25252011%25253A31.jpg" id="blogsy-1345465788397.1177" class="alignnone" alt="" width="250" height="250"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My silly hand.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JUtNj0gHT1I/UDITQBRg8_I/AAAAAAAABUM/-qJiKEjno5A/s1536/Photo%25252020%252520Aug%2525202012%25252011%25253A32.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JUtNj0gHT1I/UDITQBRg8_I/AAAAAAAABUM/-qJiKEjno5A/s150/Photo%25252020%252520Aug%2525202012%25252011%25253A32.jpg" id="blogsy-1345465788413.028" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="150" height="220"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My legs.</td></tr></tbody></table>I have spent large amounts of my time in hospital on chemo type drugs, on steroids since baby hood to date and had quirky medical treatments at times including a mermaid splint to try correct my valgus knees which is literally a plaster binding legs together in a mermaid tail! I have spent a year being home schooled as had to stay in traction flat on my back whilst I waited for ...I don't know what to happen, before they could replace my hip aged 11. I loved mainstream school, friends made me feel normal and still do today, school and learning took my mind off my pain. I loved the whole theme of school, dressing in a uniform that every one else had to wear so I didn't stand out, my mum put Velcro on my shirt buttons but no one could tell. We all had to look the same and I love and enjoy trying to do that today. I wear maxi dresses to cover my deformed joints and spine, I love make up and sometimes even a spot of fake tan. I despise NHS aids and try not to use sticks if possible, my Occupational therapists and Physio therapists despair because I should use sticks but I tend to drive every where, if I can not find a disabled parking spot near the shop then I don't go shopping that day, yes I am that vain ,that if I can not waddle to a shop without sticks then I would rather not be seen! A ridiculous thought my logical side of my mind screams at me but my parents worked hard at me being as normal and looking as normal as possible, shouting at me to exercise every hour on the hour so to be any different is tricky. I should wear splints but being a mum,adorning splints with scratchy Velcro or plastic are ridiculous and more disabling when trying to care for a baby or really when trying to do any thing in life, they even get in the way when trying to get your knickers up and down to go to the loo! <br/><br/><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Fb_OH3-l0jI/UDItD2kCFXI/AAAAAAAABVU/4O1Uyehtjac/s2048/Photo%25252020%252520Aug%2525202012%25252013%25253A24.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Fb_OH3-l0jI/UDItD2kCFXI/AAAAAAAABVU/4O1Uyehtjac/s250/Photo%25252020%252520Aug%2525202012%25252013%25253A24.jpg" id="blogsy-1345465788411.3872" class="alignnone" alt="" width="250" height="375"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If I wore all of these every day like am supposed to, I would be rendered completely useless! Here is just a few that sit in my drug drawer! </td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/>Finally I am a disabled parent and I love it, it is better than the day I got my degree, better than the day I experienced walking after years of being wheelchair bound aged 16, as good as the day I got married to my husband who also has youth arthritis but his is called Psoriatic arthritis.<br/><br/> <br/><br/>Our son is healthy, touch wood, he is not walking yet but can say nearly every word I present him with, he can count up to ten and he understands concepts such as let's put this car in a box.<br/><br/> <br/><br/>We have struggled with the following parenting tasks:<br/><br/>Bathing baby - lifting baby in and out bath to his room when wet and slippy.<br/><br/>Playing with baby on floor.<br/><br/>Dressing baby as most baby clothing manufactures use dreaded poppers eg baby vests.<br/><br/>Putting baby in first car seat. <br/><br/>Taking baby out off first car seat<br/><br/>Throwing first car seat in skip, that nearly dislocated my husbands shoulders! <br/><br/>Buying new first stage car seat<br/><br/>Struggling to put baby this car seat<br/><br/>Struggling to do roll bar on first car seat<br/><br/>Struggling with fastening harness on first car seat<br/><br/>Deciding first car seat so difficult that not going out too often is for the best!<br/><br/>Getting Maxi Cosi Axis and finally able to go out with baby but struggling with new ness of seat for example belt straps are not easy to pull when seat is new.<br/><br/>Getting buggy light enough to lift<br/><br/>Getting buggy easy enough to fold.<br/><br/>Getting bottles we could hold easily in our hands.<br/><br/>Using a steriliser for the microwave.<br/><br/>Time management when a task that takes a well person one minuet takes us ten! <br/><br/>Us getting time to eat.<br/><br/>Us having energy to stay up in evening to eat.<br/><br/>Getting time to walk the dog<br/><br/>Getting time to drink a hot beverage<br/><br/>Tiredness<br/><br/>Pain<br/><br/>Having surgery and juggling parenting. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>All the problems above, with the exception of the first stage car seat, have solutions that are simple, cheap or free and on the high street or the click of a mouse button! There are Facebook groups with other disabled parents who are itching to help and support. I will be posting about helpful websites, blogs and groups in the near future.<br/><br/> <br/><br/><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="250" height="150" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/60TvrPg6L1Q" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>This is why I started this blog, to help give solutions to other creaky, bendy or wobbly parents questions and to let "parents to be" know that it's great news you are expecting your first baby! You can do it without the need of an entourage of carers and collection of NHS aids that will cost you a fortune! <br/><br/> <br/><br/> I have had an ankle replacement recently.I had to leave my son and husband as my surgery is specialist due to tiny non developed joints and limbs but through our determination to manage I got out of hospital within three days! I am struggling at home, the husband is very busy but we keep smiling and we adore our son who has fun with sticker books on Mummy and Daddy's bed rather than on the floor! <br/><br/><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IqmCIamqzw4/UDIVItp1vQI/AAAAAAAABUU/pKaTy0qnM-Y/s2048/Photo%25252021%252520Apr%2525202012%25252017%25253A01.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IqmCIamqzw4/UDIVItp1vQI/AAAAAAAABUU/pKaTy0qnM-Y/s250/Photo%25252021%252520Apr%2525202012%25252017%25253A01.jpg" id="blogsy-1345465788428.2224" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="250" height="150"></a></div> <br/><br/>This blog is written for all parents, a place to share experiences and ideas whether physically disabled or not and to help a future generation of parents with disabilities. <br/><br/>If I didnt adopt being open to suggestions then my able bodied friend who might not have been listened to when she told me about the cotton baby grows with a zip aka Zippysuits! I didn't find out about these, she did. If it hadnt been for a friend with EDS I would not have gotten to know this group of great parents with fabulous ideas. It goes to show with a little less moaning behind closed doors, getting our trials and tribulations out there to all, we can all start to help one another learn. Hopefully together in this journey a "Spikey guide to disabled parenting" can be created :) <br/><br/>Having a child is the best thing to happen to any one but having a child when you have a disability is such a miracle and such happiness that all the difficulties seem unimportant and you just get on with parenthood and struggle in your own way like every other parent on this planet. <br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BiVyOeSz7PU/UDIXAz_w_pI/AAAAAAAABU0/QVdWu4VHVQI/s1536/Photo%2525204%252520Aug%2525202012%25252013%25253A43.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BiVyOeSz7PU/UDIXAz_w_pI/AAAAAAAABU0/QVdWu4VHVQI/s250/Photo%2525204%252520Aug%2525202012%25252013%25253A43.jpg" id="blogsy-1345465788435.7905" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="250" height="332"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with son, and my "Canine Partner" Yasmin.</td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977346207935034011.post-83082772007235268132012-08-19T06:23:00.000-07:002012-08-19T06:23:49.650-07:00Baby Boys clothing autumn winter 2012 I have a son and whilst the boys section in any shop is often found lurking in the smallest dark corner of a shop compared to rows upon rows of baby girls clothing, there are some lovely easy to dress clothes for boys. In many respects, for some reason, manufacturers have made a lot more accessible clothes for boys where as girls clothes are too busy being busy and have a lot of sneaky poppers hiding amongst the lace! <br />
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So it will be a shorter blog than the girls post as there are fewer clothes for boys, I'll start with my chosen staple necessity :<br />
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Zip suits:</h1>
In winter shops are flooded with fleece zip suits. A zip goes right from top to bottom, be cautious about zips that stop midway, they are quite awkward to get a child in and out of with painful hands.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.next.co.uk" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="224" id="blogsy-1345382462895.5515" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-k1IIdwjXfOg/UDCvAxE8JMI/AAAAAAAABFs/2DFdhU7qD3A/s150/Photo%25252016%252520Aug%2525202012%25252015%25253A25.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zip onesie with zip going top to bottom from Next online available now.</td></tr>
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Shops retailing fleece suits are.</h2>
<strong>Next</strong>- Online and usually in store bring out some zip fleece Baby grows in daywear acceptable schemes.<br />
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<strong>H&M</strong> - Do some great zip suits that look good as Daywear, be warned about the half way zip though.<br />
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<strong>Sainsbury's</strong>- Usually have a Cars,Peppa Pig and Thomas suit in their children's nightwear section. <br />
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<strong>TKMax</strong>- A must visit shop for new disabled parents, huge range of zip fleece onesies and easy zip sleep bags.<br />
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<strong>Very</strong>.<strong>co</strong>.<strong>uk</strong> - Have lovely zip Fleece walker suits.Pink stars for girls and blue for boys.<br />
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<strong>Mothercare</strong>- Occasionally brings out a sensible fleece onesie but more often than not they are silly and have hoods on with bee anteni etc. They bring them out more for fancy dress! My son lived in a snowman zip suit a lot during Christmas just because it was easy to put on! <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vPP9pZp_mA8/UDCxUVnsKXI/AAAAAAAABGE/chFWGDfTK-w/s1536/Photo%2525201%252520May%2525202012%25252008%25253A53.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="" height="331" id="blogsy-1345382462916.3352" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vPP9pZp_mA8/UDCxUVnsKXI/AAAAAAAABGE/chFWGDfTK-w/s250/Photo%2525201%252520May%2525202012%25252008%25253A53.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Son modelling his Regatta "Fluffy puddle suit" as daywear in winter, from Regatta.</td></tr>
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<strong>Go</strong> <strong>Outdoors</strong>, camping shops- Regatta do great fleece onesies for daytime use, they have no feet in them though which was useful in very cold days.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/fluffy-puddle-kids-p161106" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="150" id="blogsy-1345382462904.6953" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KdKdjoudbAo/UDCwxai3otI/AAAAAAAABF8/zNKtlVuJl3s/s150/Photo%25252019%252520Aug%2525202012%25252010%25253A23.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fleece onesie from Regatta at Go Outdoors, in store or online at www.gooutdoors.co.uk</td></tr>
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For warmer months- Cotton zip suits:</h1>
These are like finding gold dust! They are only available at <strong>www</strong>.<strong>zippysuit</strong>.<strong>com</strong>. I am going to get onto Mothercare about stocking them because it's high time the world of Baby wear got on with making easy clothes like this! <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zippysuit.com/Original-Stripe-design-Dark-Blue/dp/B0076GCBGM?class=quickView&field_availability=-1&field_browse=1596887031&field_product_site_launch_date_utc=-1y&id=Original+Stripe+design+Dark+Blue&ie=UTF8&refinementHistory=subjectbin%2Csize_name&searchNodeID=1596887031&searchPage=1&searchRank=salesrank&searchSize=12" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" id="blogsy-1345382462905.5127" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EyxIQdW8IvI/UDCx7Mx25xI/AAAAAAAABGU/xkaOC3xtFCg/s160/Photo%25252019%252520Aug%2525202012%25252010%25253A28.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zippy Suit which comes with matching bandanas. Also available in turquoise stripe. www.zippysuit.com</td></tr>
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Trousers:</h1>
If you have sore fingers, weak fingers, easily dislocating fingers then go for thin elastic, heaving thick bands of elastic bedded within denim or cord can be painful. I tend to look for jersey material leggings and trousers. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.very.co.uk/ladybird-baby-boys-pants-3-pack/1110580760.prd?browseToken=%2fb%2f2250%2fs%2fbestsellers%2c0%2fo%2f7&trail=2249-2250" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="240" id="blogsy-1345382462908.8462" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Hn_RcCRbbpk/UDC1W2DijKI/AAAAAAAABGs/yQXVv55aSqU/s180/Photo%25252019%252520Aug%2525202012%25252010%25253A41.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three pair set from Ladybird at www.very.co.uk, easy to pull on,thin elastic,jersey material.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.mothercare.com" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="204" id="blogsy-1345382462859.7908" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-atlwUIN3wgw/UDC15-ZcDkI/AAAAAAAABG0/TdDzmwy5i2M/s170/Photo%25252019%252520Aug%2525202012%25252010%25253A38.jpg" width="170" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of Mix and Match lovely range from Mothercare online and in store.</td></tr>
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Tops- </h1>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;">I look for popper free if possible but if there is one pesky popper at the neck we undo it using teeth or both of us tugging at it and then leave it undone! <strong>Envelope</strong> <strong>neck</strong> openings are great, nice wide opening to easily chuck over baby and literally it is as easy as throwing over baby's head! Wool cardigans are good because button holes have good give in them so undoing and doing buttons is a dream, the same applies to jersey materials. </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of Mix and Match lovely range from Mothercare online and in store.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coloured-Sleeved-Newborn-24-months-Colours/dp/B006ZXV064/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1345372845&sr=8-5" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="150" id="blogsy-1345382462844.2942" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oMsNTMr1sdQ/UDDBr7672MI/AAAAAAAABI8/rxmSluQ7swU/s150/Photo%25252016%252520Aug%2525202012%25252014%25253A15.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazon baby envelope neck t shirt, great easy dressing item, no poppers and go under any thing! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mothercare.com/Mothercare-Bright-Tractor-Jumper/LW9862,default,pd.html?cm_sp=ProductFeatures-_-Category%2520landing-_-Mothercare%2520Bright%2520Tractor%2520Jumper" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="204" id="blogsy-1345382462927.6265" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vIho8YWO-24/UDDD6CDhm7I/AAAAAAAABJU/7Uz6hPdrqlE/s170/Photo%25252019%252520Aug%2525202012%25252011%25253A44.jpg" width="170" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easy dress jumper, button holes have give so can undo and open head opening. www.mothercare.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mothercare.com/Mothercare-Zip-Thru-Stripe-Fleece/LW7712,default,pd.html?cm_sp=ProductFeatures-_-Category%2520landing-_-Mothercare%2520Zip%2520Thru%2520Stripe%2520Fleece" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="204" id="blogsy-1345382462904.8896" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-44UuMeERBcI/UDDD7BljvOI/AAAAAAAABJc/CO98gOBKoNg/s170/Photo%25252019%252520Aug%2525202012%25252011%25253A44.jpg" width="170" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recommended buy! Fleece zip through top, easy dressing, easy for baby to lie down in as no hood! From www.mothercare.com</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;">To go with above Mothercare trousers this envelope opening neck top below is great. </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recommended buy! Fleece zip through top, easy dressing, easy for baby to lie down in as no hood! From www.mothercare.com</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.mothercare.com/Mothercare-Mix-And-Match-Top/LW9386,default,pd.html?dwvar_LW9386_color=Navy&cm_sp=ProductFeatures-_-Category%2520landing-_-Mothercare%2520Mix%2520And%2520Match%2520Top%2520%25E2%2580%2593%2520Navy%2520Blue&q=Mix%20and%20match&q=Mix%20and%20match" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="204" id="blogsy-1345382462849.8787" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JA8mhMGERBc/UDDHmRYvOeI/AAAAAAAABJ8/2-goOQeifKU/s170/Photo%25252019%252520Aug%2525202012%25252012%25253A01.jpg" width="170" /></a></div>
<h1>
Sets:</h1>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;">Some of the easiest dressing sets, I look for easy buttons on jersey or wool materials as button holes have give making buttons easier to do and undo. Envelope opening tops,as few sets with popper vests as possible. </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of Mix and Match lovely range from Mothercare online and in store.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.next.co.uk" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="225" id="blogsy-1345382462918.8855" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Ueer1tY5wqg/UDDAg70OGxI/AAAAAAAABIk/ajthOj9tnHo/s150/Photo%25252019%252520Aug%2525202012%25252011%25253A26.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great buy! www.next.co.uk easy button holes, feet enclosed so no picking up peeled socks from a floor! Found in newborn boys section at Next online.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great buy! www.next.co.uk easy button holes, feet enclosed so no picking up peeled socks from a floor! Found in newborn boys section at Next online.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.marksandspencer.com/Pure-Cotton-Dinosaur-Dungaree-Outfit/dp/B0041NNIL0?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_4&nodeId=48150031&sr=1-4&qid=1345374445&pf_rd_r=1P9H21ZMTR8TNEC9AAPD&pf_rd_m=A2BO0OYVBKIQJM&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=48150031&pf_rd_p=215570647&pf_rd_s=related-items-3" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="150" id="blogsy-1345382462889.7578" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ECCnvfLxs1Q/UDDIc-cXasI/AAAAAAAABKE/5cdts862MDw/s150/Photo%25252019%252520Aug%2525202012%25252011%25253A03.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So great I am buying this set! Envelope opening t shirt, easy material for undoing buttons from Marks and Spencer's online.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marks and Spencer's set, RECOMMENDED by me as the tops have no poppers, envelope opening necks so easy to chuck over child's head, elastic jersey bottoms. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marks and Spencer's set, RECOMMENDED by me as the tops have no poppers, envelope opening necks so easy to chuck over child's head, elastic jersey bottoms. </td></tr>
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<h1>
Cardigans and coats.</h1>
Zips and large toggles are the easiest for my husband with poor fine motor movement in hands. When you are quite disabled you are unlikely to be going for long countryside treks in the ice and snow so these tops do not have thermal insides and do not have hoods.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.next.co.uk" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="225" id="blogsy-1345382462950.5044" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JL4CbIWpjxA/UDDZv2LeRrI/AAAAAAAABKs/41xQvUVhAyw/s150/Photo%25252019%252520Aug%2525202012%25252013%25253A18.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good outdoor winter layer, zip and toggles make quick easy dressing. www.next.co.uk boys baby wear collection.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.next.co.uk" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="225" id="blogsy-1345382462891.8528" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-S8Q1BilFbPs/UDDZxu2fWsI/AAAAAAAABK8/EvQOc6bYKwY/s150/Photo%25252019%252520Aug%2525202012%25252013%25253A18.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ironically we are disabled people who can't afford heating on all day, if old and a millionaire in UK you still pick up a help with heating cheque from DWP, if chronically ill good luck to you! So our son wears these tops in winter to keep snug, would like to point out we do have heating but have it on in bursts unlike my wealthy pensioner parents who can wander around in their t shirts in winter and book theatre tickets with help with heating cash!!! From www.next.co.uk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.next.co.uk" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="225" id="blogsy-1345382462906.266" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-uUmcXTXQNIU/UDDZwluOJ0I/AAAAAAAABK0/cZXFunEQ_Mg/s150/Photo%25252019%252520Aug%2525202012%25252013%25253A17.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recommended. Easy zip dressing, snug and padded, not a slippy material making it safer for weaker arms to keep hold of baby when lifting into buggy etc. From www.next.co.uk</td></tr>
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<h1>
Vests and under garment clothes:</h1>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;">Mothercare do Velcro vests in their premature clothing range but they go up to new born size :</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ironically we are disabled people who can't afford heating on all day, if old and a millionaire in UK you still pick up a help with heating cheque from DWP, if chronically ill good luck to you! So our son wears these tops in winter to keep snug, would like to point out we do have heating but have it on in bursts unlike my wealthy pensioner parents who can wander around in their t shirts in winter and book theatre tickets with help with heating cash!!! From www.next.co.uk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mothercare.com/Boys-Premature-Bodysuit---3pk/LQ1592,default,pd.html?cm_sp=ProductFeatures-_-Category%2520landing-_-Boys%2520Premature%2520Bodysuit%2520-%25203pk" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="204" id="blogsy-1345382462885.2556" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-82SPYLucQO4/UDDesnvKXBI/AAAAAAAABLc/n6d8IKRqBHY/s170/Photo%25252019%252520Aug%2525202012%25252013%25253A39.jpg" width="170" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Velcro vests!! A rarity in the UK to find! Go do them in newborn and smaller sizes. www.mothercare.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Once past newborn vests and if was cold we used envelope neck long sleeve t shirts.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mothercare.com/Mothercare-Long-Sleeved-Graphic-Tops-%E2%80%93-3-Pack/LW9412,default,pd.html?dwvar_LW9412_color=Pale%20Blue&cm_sp=ProductFeatures-_-Category%2520landing-_-Mothercare%2520Graphic%2520Long%2520Sleeve%2520Tops%2520-%25203%2520Pack" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="204" id="blogsy-1345382462940.0247" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fjOVtXPNu5s/UDDfLEfgjrI/AAAAAAAABLs/BACszlDfiaI/s170/Photo%25252019%252520Aug%2525202012%25252013%25253A41.jpg" width="170" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Envelope neck tops for going under garments in winter. www.mothercare.com</td></tr>
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To be honest I want to be just a normal mummy sometimes, especially on special occassions where Sense and practicality go out the window where clothes are concerned! However when our son is in a zip suit we have great comments of how lovely he looks in nice traditional baby wear. There is choice out there in any aspect of parenting for any disability so just enjoy and try for yourself x<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977346207935034011.post-78737062856546864872012-08-17T03:05:00.001-07:002012-08-17T03:05:20.817-07:00Fell in the bath,slipped on child's tea set! Quick interlude post to describe the general nuts that is the life of a physically disabled parent! Normal posts will resume later. <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Our son needed a bath, Husband was on his last legs, so I came into bathroom to assist with little one in his baby bath. We have a set up of a bath board with slats, that sits across our big deep main bath and a baby bath is put on top of the bath board. Husband holds onto baby and bath as his arms are normal length and grown normally, I do the finer motor controls of washing our child as my fingers have a little more dexterity. <br/><br/><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pwZt3Cn6gOo/UC4UcoBxdHI/AAAAAAAAA4I/lz08d0BIJBE/s1536/Photo%25252017%252520Aug%2525202012%25252010%25253A45.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pwZt3Cn6gOo/UC4UcoBxdHI/AAAAAAAAA4I/lz08d0BIJBE/s250/Photo%25252017%252520Aug%2525202012%25252010%25253A45.jpg" id="blogsy-1345197899396.962" class="alignnone" alt="" width="250" height="334"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bath slat board from OT across our bath which has thick ledges around it, husband sits on ledge and holds bath and baby in position. </td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3_uIn82ddcQ/UC4USJ_z03I/AAAAAAAAA3k/ddLmdLHOTls/s1536/Photo%25252017%252520Aug%2525202012%25252010%25253A47.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3_uIn82ddcQ/UC4USJ_z03I/AAAAAAAAA3k/ddLmdLHOTls/s250/Photo%25252017%252520Aug%2525202012%25252010%25253A47.jpg" id="blogsy-1345197899467.1582" class="" alt="" width="250" height="330"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bath in position for washing our child. </td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/>After the usual covering mummy and daddy in water and giggling, we had a sparkling clean little man. I can not lift a wet baby out of the bath ever so that is Daddy's job. I then empty the baby bath by twisting bath on board so plug on baby bath is hanging over board and water can drain freely from it into our big bath. I remove toys and let them dry on a corner of the slat bath board. Now all this usually runs smoothly but not today, oh no silly me, not today!!! <br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7kEQ2zNto-c/UC4UXRiRBwI/AAAAAAAAA3w/hjKXNs41Vsc/s2048/Photo%25252017%252520Aug%2525202012%25252010%25253A46.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7kEQ2zNto-c/UC4UXRiRBwI/AAAAAAAAA3w/hjKXNs41Vsc/s250/Photo%25252017%252520Aug%2525202012%25252010%25253A46.jpg" id="blogsy-1345197899489.6968" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="250" height="125"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bath twisted round so baby bath plug over bath board, then plug pulled so water drains into bath without having to lift heavy baby bath of water about etc. Usually works very well! </td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/>I am currently standing on one leg which has wasted muscles and replaced joints, some of which are old and on waiting list for updating next year, using both arms with broken shoulders, absent shoulder blades and one left elbow in dire need of replacing ,supporting almost my entire body weight via gutter crutches, meanwhile my current replaced ankle is suspended in a dead weight moon boot thing, I twisted baby bath, massively wobbling as I did,thinking I can do this! I stupidly removed one crutch and stood there, whole weight on one crutch and one leg, tried to tip rest of water from baby bath which was only an inch and hardly weighty, but like a game of Jenga it was too much for my body and I tipped up head first in adult bath along with the baby bath,snaked my right eye on the baby bath rim!!!! There I remained calm, legs in air, husband in other room said "are you ok?" where I said "bit of a situation here". Like the giant turnip my husband came to drag me out of the bath! Naked child was sat on the floor wondering what the heck mummy was up to and laughing! <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Bath time seems to always lead to life mischief times! <br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bored-Claude-Jill-Newton/dp/0747561133" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FAXcql6TuLc/UC4XEqXhZcI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/EzGGuXvQ4EU/s300/Photo%25252017%252520Aug%2525202012%25252011%25253A02.jpg" id="blogsy-1345197899445.4653" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="300" height="300"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fantastic children's book but the culprit for the next round of bath time mayhem! </td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/>On a separate occasion, recently, my husband held the bath, this time I thought for some unknown reason, I could quickly grab a few things for our son when he got out the bath so as to avoid him being cold. I went to grab a baby vest from his drawer hobbled back to his bed which took five minuets to do. Lay vest and his towel out on his bed which took two minuets, then thought this room is a total tip and tried to tidy up a few books in a very short time which took ten minuets. I forgot how awful the smallest tasks are when you have no means of walking or getting about a room you are currently in ,let alone trying to get to other rooms in the house. There I was hobbling with one book, "Bored Claude" as it happens, an average sized rectangle book with maximum of twelve pages so hardly heavy. However the way I have to hold anything whilst trying to move my gutter crutches, I have to find a corner of the crutches to support either corner of the book so the book was almost a screen in front of my face! Of course the inevitable happened, I put a crutch on a plastic tea set plate on the floor!!! Bang crutch went under me, I reacted instantly ,to save me falling and braking something, by putting weight on new ankle in cast! One very sore ankle and being told that I now have another six weeks non weight bearing! So so so stupid of me! I kicked myself inside, rang up Adult Social Services to try get some carers as a gut reaction of anger that my husband and I are not given any help and seen as life's determined coping happy people! Fortunately for me I was met with usual red tape of separate numbers to call etc and by then husband talked sense into me and said I just had to accept for a while I couldn't do the usual things with my son, it wouldn't last, he knows that and I know it and having the blue rinse brigade carers coming in, taking away our independence on when we want and how we want to do things is no option! Do we really want our child around people who boil a whole bag of fresh pasta thinking that anything in a bag must be a "boil in the bag" item! Yeah we have had others tell us of such stories! <br/><br/><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8m2MEQCGHCQ/UC4Rti2l9-I/AAAAAAAAA3c/CAsp1_cN0uA/s1536/Photo%2525201%252520May%2525202012%25252008%25253A53.jpg" target="_blank" style=" "><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8m2MEQCGHCQ/UC4Rti2l9-I/AAAAAAAAA3c/CAsp1_cN0uA/s250/Photo%2525201%252520May%2525202012%25252008%25253A53.jpg" id="blogsy-1345197899465.4163" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="250" height="334"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Messy room, book worm can get all his books down now and they do just that, all come down!</td></tr></tbody></table> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Stupid "Bored Claude" a cracking children's book but was looking untidy and got in my way! Stupid plastic duck that I was trying to shake water out off at the same time as emptying baby bath, stupid plastic tea set plate. That day things were put in the toy box, that day my assistant dog was set to work tidying. That day my dog came in to the lounge and rolled on her back,summing up the general exhaustion of the day. <br/><br/><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-11EjLv38jxE/UC4RTvc6U7I/AAAAAAAAA3U/3JlfZt3iuHI/s1536/Photo%25252028%252520Jul%2525202012%25252016%25253A39.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-11EjLv38jxE/UC4RTvc6U7I/AAAAAAAAA3U/3JlfZt3iuHI/s250/Photo%25252028%252520Jul%2525202012%25252016%25253A39.jpg" id="blogsy-1345197899407.0354" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="250" height="334"></a></div> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/>However through all this we never let our son see the struggles, every situation is dealt with in calm tones, fortunately husband and I can still laugh together at the end of another crazy day and we try to make sure the little man goes to bed with a smile on his face. Not always easy when your body is screaming ago y and eyes need sticks to prop them up but I still say being a parent, no matter what our situation, is the happiest thing to happen to me in my life x<br/><br/><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B1LfKdD5jpw/UC4V1KIwKiI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/yBtwToxn1JI/s720/Photo%2525207%252520Aug%2525202012%25252021%25253A11.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B1LfKdD5jpw/UC4V1KIwKiI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/yBtwToxn1JI/s250/Photo%2525207%252520Aug%2525202012%25252021%25253A11.jpg" id="blogsy-1345197899427.6558" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="250" height="214"></a></div> <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11005096501831595920noreply@blogger.com2