Hope, Steve and Neil

Having a cuddle with Hope...and he loves her scarf!










Having a cuddle with Steve...who doesn't look nervous!









Uncle Neil shows Steve how it's done.

Thomas's 1st Christmas

Auntie Nina and family visit us

Here is Thomas having a lovely cuddle with his eldest cousin Jacob

Having a giggle and a cuddle with Auntie Nina!

Playing with one of his Christmas presents from Auntie Nina, Uncle Steve, Jacob, Ellie and Ethan....lucky boy!!

Taking an important phone call with Aunti Nina, then having a cuddle to relax!

OOOh...it's cold out there!

Hello All,

Thomas here, I decided to raid my Christmas Presents early and given how cold it is right now I chose this rather jaunty but practical hat.

It really keeps my head warm and helps me think as well.

While I am on, and before mummy & daddy catch me, I'd like to wish all of my

family friends and fans a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Looking forward to seeing you all very soon.

Ooh, mummy's coming, I'd better sign off and look cute.

Thomas xxx

Oooh....it's cold outside!!

Hello all,

This blog is from Thomas.

Winter is upon us, and Christmas is close. I therefore decided to raid my Christmans presents early and being practical on my exact 1/2 year birthday decided upon wearing this jaunty but warm little sheepskin cap for all of my outings.

It certainly keeps the head warm, and also serves as an excellent thinking cap.

I wish everyone visting my blog a very merry christmas, and hope to see you all

LOL

Thomas xxx

Christina Joan Brown

We are so thrilled to hear from Simon's cousin in Australia that they've just had a lovely little girl! They have named her Christina Joan Brown, with Joan after their favourite aunt!!!
We can't wait to see photos of her!
We're thinking of you guys all the time and hope you're all well!
XXXX

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth!!!

Mr T now has two teeth, he loves to smile at everyone and show them off we think he is very proud of them! Mummy isn't that thrilled as I'm still feeding him and sometimes when he is tired he bites me....owch!! We're foing to try weaning him again this week...fingers crossed he'll be ok.

The other good news is that on the whole Mr T's skin is improving, especially if we have been at home all day and I am able to apply the creams to his skin every 2-3 hours. If we go out shoppping or in the car then the next day his skin is usually very dry and hot, but ths is only because he sweats in his car seat and push chair. We are hoping that he'll be able to start wearing clothes again soon (rather than baby grows), he has so many clothes that he's never worn it is such a waste. We're back at the homeopath on Friday so we'll see what she has to say.

Cuddles with Mormor and Nana

Christmas is coming!

Here we are getting ready for our first family Christmas.

Thomas is dressed up in his reindeer outfit...how very cute!!!

Morfar's birthday

Here are a few pictures of Morfar enjoying lots of kisses and cuddles with Thomas...not sure who was enjoying them the most, what do you think?

It's party time!

Tis the season to party and here is Mr T getting very excited about his friends coming round to our house for a party...doesn't he look happy!?








Here is Daddy and Mr T waiting patiently for the guests to arrive. In total we had 15 adults and 9 babies so as you can imagine it got quite noisey! We had such a great time seeing our friends again as I've not been able to go out as much as I used to as Mr T scratches himself to bits in the back of the car and I can't stop as I'm in the front driving!







Here are all the smaller guests...don't worry they were on the floor in a circle all the time they were at our house!!







Thomas and Cameron having a chat in the kitchen.
Cameron is wearing Thomas's clothes as he ended up wearing some of his Daddy's red wine...see picture below of his Daddy drinking the rest of his glass of red wine....tee hee!!!

First tooth!!

This morning we discovered that his first tooth is coming through, we can feel the sharp edge just pushing through. I really hope that the rest don't follow on quickly as I'm still feeding him and was told to carry on doing so until he's 6 months old when we can start on solids again.

Here is Mr T in his little walker that we bought him yesterday. His little feet don't touch the ground so we pushed him round the kitchen floor whih he loved!!

We not sure how long the batteries will last though as it is plays lots of music and makes lots of noises!!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

It was Simon's birthday on Sunday (thank you to all that remembered and sent him a card) and on the Saturday night all the grandparents and Auntie Debbie came over to our house for a take away curry. Mr T was very lucky and had lots of cuddles with everyone and was very good and sat in his high chair the whole time we ate our dinner even though he was getting hot and more itchy...very good little boy!
On Sunday 11th (his actual birthday) we went for lunch with 14 friends and children. Again Mr T had lots of cuddles...lucky boy! Unfortunately it was very hot in the restaurant and we had to keep taking him outside to cool down.
His skin was terrbile on Monday and we think it was caused by him being too hot for such a long time...poor little boy's skin hasn't really receovered!

Here is a picture taken in the restaurant from left to right :

Lorraine, Molly at the top, (middle row) Me, Helen and Polly

bottom row Mr T and Grace.

What a sssslippery little ssssucker!

I took Thomas to the Homeopath on Tuesday and she thinks that she'll be abe to help his skin get better. We were there two hours and she took lots of notes and said that there will be a remedy in the post within a week. She thinks the eczema could have been caused by the third set of injections, or dog fur, or teething or maybe central heating. She suggested using different creams from the ones the doctor prescribed, Calendula which is a natural one and can be used all over his body (inc eyes and nappy rash areas) and Aveeno cream to moisturise the skin. Unfortunately he scratched his eyes terribly all the way home as you can see by the pictures, one as we got home and the other after putting cream on.

The creams started to work for a few days but yesterday and today his skin seems really bad again, we're not sure what to do for the best. His face and head are really dry so we've gone back to using the cream from the doctor as the homeopathic creams didn't seem to soothe the skin at all. Fingers crossed the remedy will arrive very soon and that this horrible eczema will go quickly!

Mormor and Morfar are home....well for a little while anyway!

After waiting for ages and ages here is Thomas having a cuddle with Mormor and Morfar. They can't believe how much he's changed; he's a little boy now rather than a little baby. He is constantly on the go, always kicking his legs and waving his arms around...mummy and daddy want some of his energy please!!

This week he has started to take his dummy and loves it! It calms him down a lot especailly after being moisturised when his skin is really itchy.

The eczema is now quite bad on his face espicially around his eyes as can't put any cream around that area in case it gets into the eye as it would really sting. He is now fast aleep in the same position with daddy sitting beside him to stop him scratching himself....very sweet!!

It's Simon's birthday this weekend and Thomas has been practising a very special birthday cuddle for him...lucky daddy!

Thomas with a bottle...well only just!

We started giving him the bottle to play with and he started to chew the teat and then suck it too, so we thought why not try it with milk in? Here is Thomas drinking a little bit of expressed milk from the bottle! We tried it with formular milk but he wasn't so keen on it, but we'll keep trying ..........and trying .........and trying until he takes it properly!!!!

The eczema is getting a bit in places but is still very annoying for him. We apply the very rich moisturiser every three hours during the day and this seems to help him, so we'll keep doing that too! We're off to see the homeopath on Tuesday next week so fingers crossed she'll be able to help him even more!

Happy little chappie!!

Here is a picture taken this afternoon of Mr T playing with some of his toys...what a happy little chappie he is! Thomas was weighed on Thursday and we're pleased that he' still gaining weight which is a good sign. He now weighs 15lb 12oz so he's gained 12oz in two weeks, not only are the elastic bands around his wrists getting tighter but he's even got some round his little ankles ow too!! The doctor and health visitor advise that I stick to just breast feeding him and to not try him with the bottle or solid foods until he's nearer six months, this will ensure he gets as much of "the good stuff" from me and should help him with the eczema and fighting off the coughs/colds/flu that is doing the rounds. Oh well another few weeks of very little sleep for me...good job he's so gorgeous!!!

Here is Thomas straight after having his first porridge bath tonight! Yes I did write that down correctly, a porridge bath. The homeopath suggested we run the bath with the water running through porridge oats to give it a natural creamy feeling in the water.

Not quite sure what he thinks.....your comments please!!!

What a week it's been....

Well it's been a very tough week all in all and we're glad it's Friday so we'll have a couple of days together. Mr T's skin changes from day to the next so it's hard to tell if there is any improvement but the doctor said we are doing well to keep it so moist and that this will help. Our aim is to try and moisturise him every 2-3 hours if possible, and as this process takes around half an hour you can imagine what I am doing most of my days!
Nana has helped out two days this week which has been an absolute god send! He is such an active little boy who is always on the go that having another pair of hands to hold him has been a god send! On both those days I managed to have a hot drink during the day...and when you've got a very sore throat a hot drink really hits the spot! Simon has been very busy at work all week but has been trying to get up with me at night to see if he can help in anyway, bless his heart he is so tired himself but still tries to help me as much as possible. Most nights this week T has been getting us up every 2-3 hours but last night we had a 3.5 hours sleep which was heaven!!!
I've been speaking to my mum and dad a lot during the week as they're away again in their caravan again (lucky buggers!). Dad had his Ferrari racing day last Saturday and had an absolute ball by the sounds of it, Simon and I thought about them all day wondering what they were doing and wishing they were having a great time. We're looking forward to having them home again soon and hearing all about it.
We're taking Mr T to see a homeopath next week; we're keeping our fingers crossed that she'll be able to fix him.
We were supposed to be going to our friends (Andy and Jayne) wedding celebrations tomorrow night (they got married whilst on holiday in Las Vegas last month) and but have had to pull out as it's not fair on Thomas. His routine is all over the place at the moment and it's just not fair on him. We hope they all have a great time and look forward to hearing all about that oo!
Right I'm off to bed now...it's Friday night and 8.450pm and I'm off to bed! (Mind you it's the latest I've been to bed all week; usually it's 7.30pm straight after Mr T has gone to bed!!)
Have a great weekend people!
LOL
S,S&T
xx

A very difficult time.

Simon and I took Thomas to the emergency doctor this morning as the rash had spread even more. The doctor thought it is all atopic eczema and that we should carry on doing what we're doing. We both feel so very low and terribly guilty that he has inherited this from us, our poor little boy just doesn't deserve it and we would give anything to take it away from him. We try to keep our spirits up but it's so very hard but we have to for his sake, bless his little heart. I can't remember the last time I cried as much as I have done the past few days and all we can do is keep our fingers crossed that it will go as quickly as it came.
Simon and I are both are finding it very tough at the moment, we're both not feeling well with our colds and chest infections, we're both very tired both physically and emotionally so please excuse us if we're not quite ourselves.
S
x

Our VERY brave boy!

Our very brave little boy continues to smile and be as happy and cheerful as he possibly can be despite his body being covered in the nasty rash. Simon and I are so very sad and hate to see him like this, at least he's so young he doesn't really scratch it very much which would only make it worse. His feeding is all over the place and needs much more love and attention to keep his mind off the itching but we don't mind one little bit.

We keep our fingers crossed that this new cream works and that he'll be back to himself very soon.

Signing off a very sad but very proud Mummy and Daddy. xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Good news.....it's not serious!

The rash had spread all over Mr T's poor little body by the time we saw the doctor at 9.40am this morning and we're just so relieved that it's nothing serious! The doctor was pleased that the eczema had almost totally gone and said he has a reaction to something but we're not sure what. It might be that I changed to a non-bio & unperfumed washing powder but we'll never know for sure. We've got another cream to apply at least three times a day which should help. He's been so brave all day despite it being so very itchy and it driving him potty and still gives us lots of smiles and cuddles. Most of the day has been spent re-washing all of his clothes, bedding, towels, blankets and muslins etc to get rid of whatever it is that has set off this reaction.
We've just given him a bath and applied the new cream so that he can go to bed in an hour or so after his skin has calmed down. Daddy is just walking him round the lounge singing to him and having a rather lovely cuddle. Thomas has started giving us kisses this week, he opens his mouth wide open and comes straight for your lips and gives us big wet slobbery kisses.....which we just love!!
Simon and I are both suffering with colds at the moment. Simon's has gone onto his chest and he's now got a rather nasty chest infection which means he is coughing all the time and this really wears him out. He's not getting much sleep bless him but he still finds the energy to warm up my side of the bed in the middle of the night when I've got up to feed Thomas. It is probably the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me and I love him all the more for it!
Morfar has his racing in a Ferarri day tomorrow and Simon & I wish we were there to enjoy it with him but it's too far to go there and back in one day. (Also now he's got this rash he hates the car seat even more than before!). We're looking forward to seeing Morfar and Mormor when they get back and hearing all about it and seeing the photos too.
Fingers crossed Mr T is feeling a lot better tomorrow.
S
x

OOOO that looks so sore and itchy

Good news is that the cream has worked a treat on the eczema only he now has a new rash...see picture. Off to the doctors this morning for our gorgeous little boy!

S

x

What a poorly boy!

I had to take Thomas to the doctor on Wednesday as he had a rather nasty rash on his head and body. Our worst fears were confirmed when he advised that it is Eczema. Luckily it wasn't very bad so he prescribed some moisturiser to apply twice a day. Unfortunately since then the rash has got a lot worse, the patches on his head look so painful for the poor little boy, but he still has lots of big smiles for us even though he is itching so badly and he is desparate to scratch it...what a very brave little boy! He has even managed to roll over from his front to his back a few times this week.
We've just bathed him, applied the cream and put him to bed, the whole process took ages as you don't want to miss anywhere. To top it off he's got socks on his hands to act as make shift scratch mits...poor little boy!!
It is breaking out hearts to see him in such distress and would take it from him in the blink of an eye if only we could. We pray that it will go as quickly as it flared up and also hope that he is not allergic to Mormor and Morfar's dog as that would mean we would have to stop going to their house....fingers crossed!!
Signing off now are a very sad Mummy and Daddy. XXX

Mormor and Morfar are home!!!

Yippee!! Mormor and Morfar are home!! We missed them so much and it sure feels to good to have them home again. Thomas and I made a surprise visit on Monday morning and here we are playing on the floor. There were lots of smiles, kisses and cuddles as Mormor and Morfar had a lot of catching up to do...which Thomas loved!!!!

Tuesday Mormor and Morfar came to us and guess what? Yup you've guessed it!! They wantedyet more kisses and cuddles!!
Here is Mormor admiring the foot and hand painting that Thomas did at the post natal group. Slap wrist Morfar for cutting the top of Mormor's head off!!!

Sorry for not being able to add any posts on for a few days but we've been without the internet due to a problem with our provider Sky.

S XX

A lovely day with the Fowler family

I met Sam on holiday many years ago and I knew instatly that we'd be friends forever. We may not see or speak to eather other from one month to the next but when we do it's as if no time has passed at all. It's been 8 years since we saw them last and that was at their wedding...oh how time has flown by! She is a fellow endometriosis sufferer and has always been there for me.
She has a great sense of humour and is very easy to talk to. Today she gave me lots of tips and they're all greatly received. If you read this Sam we'll be thinking of you on Thursday, when you can please let us know how you get on.

Here's Mick holding Charlotte (who'll be 2 in December) and our little Thomas...he's certanly got his hands full!

Charlotte is such a little sweetie and is the apple of her mum and dad's eye! She loved posing for her picture to be taken...and as she's so gorgeous I imagine she has it taken a lot by her mum and dad!

We've starting solid foods.....

As Mr T is still all over the place with his feeding and waking up every hour and a half for a feed we decided to try him on solids today. His first meal (if you can call it that) was mashed carrots. We think he liked it as he kept opening his mouth wanting more which we took to be a good sign. He only had one spoonfull in total so this was really just a little test to see how we got on.

Nana, Grandad and Auntie Debbie visited us today and as usual absolutely loved seeing him, kissing him and cuddling him...well who wouldn't eh?

As you can see in this picture he loves chatting to his Auntie Debbie!

What a sleepy boy we have...

After a very poor night's sleep had by all Thomas fell asleep on Simon for and hour and a half...doesn't he look comfy?

Thomas is dead to the world but Simon's arm and hand haven't had any blood flowing to them for sometime now.....poor Daddy! Good job Mr T is so cute!!

Breakfast time

Here is Mr T in his new high chair which he loves being in. He hated us being on another level when we were eating and is much happier now that we're all at the same level.

We use this at every meal time and love him being head of the table whilst we eat, he loves to chat to us and play with his toys...what a lucky boy!!!

And in the blue corner Mr T weighs in at......

Yesterday we went and had Mr T weighed and were staggered at how much he's put on over the last two weeks! He now weighs in at 14lb7.5oz (or 6.57kg!). We were worrying that he wouldn't be gaining as much as normal as his feeding is all over the place. He used to feed to 10-15 minutes every two hours during the day and now it's 3 minutes here, 5minutes there, and he's even started to wake every two hours at night which he's not done for ages. Last night we put him to bed at 7.30pm as normal and he woke up at 8.30pm, 10.30pm, 12.30pm, 2.30pm, 6am!! I am very tired but what can we do when he still refuses a bottle? The health visitor said it is ok to start him on solids when he's 17 weeks old, and as that's next Friday hopefully he'll start sleeping through th night again soon. She also advised that the only way to get him to take a bottle is for me to leave leave him Simon (or Nana) for 8-10 hours (or as long as it takes) and that he'll take something when he's hungry enough. So rather then breaking him in gently the poor little boy will be going cold turkey one weekend soon...but don't tell him as he doesn't know it yet!!
Right I'm off to bed now as he's fast asleep and I'm sitting here wishing I was!

Thomas doing the hokey cokey...with Nana's help of course!

Mr T modeling his new dressing gown...how sweet!!