Hey All,

I hope you are all well and enjoying the weekend.

Just a quick blog to keep you all updated on Arthur’s progress. He had his six week check about 2 weeks ago and all is well. He has put on lots of weight and he was a good boy during his vaccinations last Monday. They did make him feel a bit unwell so he was upset during the night but this is normal. We just aren’t used to him being upset as he’s normally quite easy going. He will have his next injections next month.

We went to the Cotswolds for our first night away this week. It took a bit of planning and the car was full with all his stuff and my wheelchair. The hotel said they had never had a wheelchair user who also needed a travel cot before.  They upgraded us as the room we booked would have been too cramped for my chair and a cot.  It turned out the travel cot didn’t work for us as I couldn’t lean down to floor level to lift him out in the night. Luckily Louie’s parents bought a Moses basket which was the same height as the bed. We will use this in future and when he grows out of it we will take his next to me crib.

I pumped out lots of milk because we didn’t want to take the Perfect Prep machine and lifting a heavy kettle is dangerous as it could fall on my lap. Arthur is getting a lot better at breastfeeding and he does more and more each day. I still like to pump though so I know what he’s getting.

Carrying cases to and from the car and hotel room was a bit more time consuming because we had extra bags for Arthur and his basket. Obviously I can’t help and Louie has to push me so he had to do a few trips.  We managed and we had a lovely break away.

Arthur is so much more alert now and is interested in his surroundings. His grip and legs are so strong. All of these changes are reassuring for me as they suggest that the abnormalities on his brain scans were  just anomalies that will not cause any issues.

People have commented that he looks bigger now. This is partly because he is long and my body is short so in photos he looks bigger. I’m still managing to lift him easily and I put him in the sling whilst I’m going round tidying etc.

One issue that may arise when Arthur gets heavier is lifting him from his bouncy chair. It is on the floor and although I can reach down at the moment and pick him up, this will soon not be safe. I wish there was a bouncy seat on a stand. Lifting from the play mat up into my chair is already too difficult so I get on the floor to play with him but I then have to lift him onto the sofa, get in my chair from the floor, and then pick him up from the sofa. I just have to find ways around things and I will have to think again when he starts moving.  The bouncy seat is just more difficult because it’s not floor level but is low down.

Louie has one more week of paternity leave so we are popping to Plymouth to see friends and family. I am looking forward to introducing Arthur to my home town.

When Louie goes back to work I will start baby sensory and baby massage classes. I have been told I am the first Mum in a wheelchair to attend. Luckily I can climb on the floor to do the massage. I am excited to meet other Mums in my local area. My Carer’s will drive me there so at least I will have someone with me to help me if I can’t reach the changing unit or pick Arthur up from the floor.

I am taking part in a horse riding competition in November so I’m spending my riding lessons practising. It’s my little bit of me time in the week.

I will be in touch with you all soon.

Take care. Xxx