Sunday 30th September 2007

My weekend has been very busy. I met Great Granny Jackie for the first time on Saturday, and then went to visit Auntie Shellie and Uncle Chris at their house. Auntie Shellie is a health visitor so she measured how long I was - 49.5cm, and she also weighed me again. Well - on Friday when I was weighed I was 9lb 6oz - that was 10oz in a week, and then when Auntie Shellie weighed me yesterday I was 9lb 10oz! 4oz in 1 day - that must be a world record. It was on 2 different sets of scales, so it may not be 100% accurate, but I am really trying hard to put on as much weight as possible. I'm now in the 50% centile for my corrected age, which is 6 weeks tomorrow. And I'm nearly on the scale for my real uncorrected age too, which is exciting news. Today I've had a lovely time with my boyfriend Oscar. It's the first time we've seen each other outside the hospital, and today we took our mummies and daddies to a cheese festival. Oscar and I didn't eat any cheese, we prefer milk to get our dairy fix, but we sat together and held hands again. Oscar was exactly 5 months old today, or 6 weeks corrected. He's been at home for 3 weeks now, and told me that he is really enjoying spending time with his mummy and daddy and Stuart the bunny. Oscar and I weigh about the same now - we are both enjoying our mummies' milk, and making good progress. An early night for me tonight, as it's buggyfit tomorrow.

Thursday 27th September 2007

I've learnt a new trick - smiling. Look at me doing it - I smiled at mummy for a long time today, and she told me I was very clever. She was so proud of me that she even cried! Silly mummy. Anyway I plan to do a lot more smiling in the next few days. I need to smile at daddy tomorrow, because it's his birthday, and then at Great Granny Jackie who I'm meeting for the first time on Saturday, and Auntie Shellie and Uncle Chris who I'll see too. I had a lovely visit from a new pal today. Her name is Poppy and her mummy is Helen who used to work with mummy at Dollond & Aitchison. Helen and Poppy came down to visit me. Poppy was born exactly 15 days before me - but the difference is that she came out when she was supposed to! So she's a lot bigger than me, and she brought me all her clothes from when she was little to add to my ever expanding wardrobe. I think I'll need to get another chest of drawers at this rate! Poppy and I had a good chat, and had some photos together, and Poppy was so pleased to see me that she rolled over for the first time ever, which gave her mummy a right shock! Anyway it was great to meet them. Tomorrow I'm meeting more new pals - Harry and Isobel. Mummy was in hospital with their mummies - who were all ill with preeclampsia too just like mummy. But everyone is out of hospital and well now, so tomorrow should be a great get together. I'll be weighed tomorrow - I wonder how much weight I've put on this week. As you can see I'm filling out my car seat a lot more than I used to! Check me out in the new coat that Auntie Shellie bought for me - it's size 0-3 months - so I've gone up another dress size.

Wednesday 26th September 2007

I'm chilling out today with mummy after a hectic day yesterday. I met up with my NCT buddies at Ava's house, and met Alexander for the first time, who is the latest addition to the gang. Talking of chums, I've got a new friend over the ocean in America. She's called Grace and she's the niece of one of mummy's friends. This is a picture of her. Isn't she beautiful? She was born early like me, Oscar, Ujjwal and Gene. But she was earlier than all of us. She was born at just 23 weeks and weighed only 1lb 1oz. Luckily she is doing really well, and now weighs 3lb 9oz! Lets keep our fingers crossed for her and her family that she can come off her breathing apparatus soon, and will be well enough to come home. I'm thinking of you Grace. Today mummy and I will put our heads together to decide what to get daddy for his birthday on Friday. We need it to be special, as it's his first birthday being a daddy. Maybe we'll bake him a cake.

Sunday 23rd September 2007

This is a picture of me with my mummy and daddy. I've spent lots of time with them this weekend, and although I'm not sleeping in the same room as them any more, I still let them know I'm there by exercising my lungs occasionally! I met cousin Daniel on Saturday, and spent a lovely time at the farm park with Auntie Emma and Uncle Philip. We saw goats, pigs, sheep, cows and even alpacas. Then today I've met some of mummy's university friends. I met some of them before at the hospital when I was in my incubator, but I was much smaller then and they couldn't hold me. Today they couldn't believe how much I'd grown. I think I'm having another growth spurt at the moment, as all I want to do is feed and sleep. I found out some good news yesterday - my friend Gene Green has finally gone home from the Special Care Unit. Gene was born on 11th May, so he's had a long innings in the hospital, but he's finally home - well done Gene - I'll see you soon.

Friday 21st September 2007

What a funny photo of me and mummy. She says I look like I've been eating chips and gravy. After all I am a bit of a porky pig. I was weighed today and I am 8lb 12oz. That's another 12oz this week. Kay the health visitor was very pleased with my progress. As I'm so big I am now allowed to sleep in a grobag. The one I'm in in the picture is a present from one of mummy's friends Liz from bellringing. It's very big on me at the moment, but very cosy. I now sleep in it in my big cot in my nursery. I slept in there for the first time yesterday, and I like it a lot. I've got a lovely mobile over my cot, which plays a tune to help me sleep, and everything in there has giraffes, elephants and hippos on it. It helps mummy and daddy to sleep if I'm not in their room, as I make lots of noise in my sleep which keeps them awake - oops. I make lots of noise because of my reflux, which is horrid and makes me very uncomfortable, so Mummy spoke to Rosie the Special Care Community Nurse yesterday and they 've increased my dose of gaviscon to 5ml with every feed to try and help. Cousin Cath went home yesterday. I miss her a lot, we had such a lovely time playing and cuddling together whilst she was here, I hope to see her again soon. I'm looking forward to meeting my cousin Daniel tomorrow. It will be the first time we've met, so I'm very excited.

Wednesday 19th September 2007

My days just get busier. On Monday mummy and I went to Buggyfit and then for coffee with my friend Amelia and her mummy Claire. On Tuesday it was hectic. Granny and Grandpa Meikle came to visit, and then cousin Cath arrived from Liverpool to see me. Cousin Cath is staying until tomorrow, and has given me lots of cuddles and kisses and helped mummy to look after me. Rosie the Special Care Community Nurse came to see me on Tuesday as well. She measured my head circumference - and I have a big head in comparison to my body - mummy says I must have a big brain! Rosie was very pleased with my progress, and my weight gain, and how I was trying to hold my head up. Today mummy, cousin Cath and I spent the day together. Mummy was very tired, as I was a bit naughty last night and didn't sleep very well, but I was good today, and went for my naps when I was supposed to. I was particularly good when we went out shopping and mummy and cousin Cath were trying on clothes. I didn't get any new clothes, as I already have loads! As you can see from the photos I've got my trendy jeans on. I feel very grown up, but then I am nearly 15 weeks old now. Gene is having his hernia operation tomorrow, so I've got my fingers crossed for him that it goes well, and that he'll have the all clear to go home on Saturday.

Sunday 16th September 2007

Well, what a weekend it's been. Firstly yesterday I had a visit from Granny Judy, who babysat me whilst mummy went bellringing and daddy played golf. Granny Judy changed my nappy twice, and gave me lots of cuddles. Then today I had a visit from Auntie Shellie and Uncle Chris. Auntie Shellie is a health visitor and gave me a clean bill of health - she was very impressed with my eye contact and how I was trying to hold my head up. Auntie Shellie brought me some lovely clothes for when I'm a bit bigger to add to my already extensive wardrobe. I've been continuing to eat furiously to try and get the 9lb mark this Friday, so it shouldn't be too long before I can try my new clothes on. When I'm hungry (which is most of the time I'm awake), I make sure mummy and daddy know about it by making a loud noise, and I even suck whatever is handy at the time - like daddy's nose! It doesn't produce any milk, but it's quite nice to suck on.

I also had to have another bath tonight. I'm starting to like baths, especially now that daddy lays me on a special contraption in the bath which means I can lie just above the water, and he can wash me without having to hold me, which I know hurts his back. It means I can splash around. Today I was pushing the end of the bath with my feet to help strengthen my legs and build up my muscles. Mummy dried me with a special towel and blew raspberries on my tummy - I liked it so much that I nearly smiled.... Mummy and I are off to Buggyfit tomorrow again, so I'll sleep well tonight to make sure I'm ready for my workout.

Saturday 15th September 2007

The last few days have been spent putting on as much weight as possible in time for my weigh in at the doctor's surgery yesterday. I saw my mates Oscar and Gene at the hospital on Thursday, and was excited to hear that Gene will be home next weekend after his hernia operation next Thursday. I can't wait for us all to meet up on the outside. I saw my friend Freddy yesterday, who is also piling on the ounces - he gained 10oz this week. But I bet you can't wait to hear what I weigh now - well, I've done it - I've finally reached 8lb. That's right I'm 8lb exactly. Mummy was very proud of me and told me how well I'd done, and Kay the health visitor wrote' Excellent' in my red record book for the 3rd week running - I think I'm turning into a swot - maybe I'll get a gold star next week! Auntie Emma thinks I'll put on a whole pound next week - so that's what I'm aiming for. Being 8lb means that mummy and daddy have started to put me back in my fleecey little lamb nappies, and that I'm finally in 'Newborn' clothes, rather than 'tiny baby' or 'early baby' clothes. I've got a very extensive wardrobe, a bit like the queen - a different outfit for every occasion. But as my initials are H.R.H., I guess we've got quite a lot in common already! Today Granny Judy is coming to visit me again, and tomorrow I'm seeing Auntie Shellie and Uncle Chris for the first time since I left the hospital. So I'm going to have a hectic, but fun weekend.

Wednesday 12th September 2007

I had a visit from my Auntie Emma today. She took a day off work just to see me, so I feel very special. I had lovely cuddles with her, and we went on a visit to a Garden Centre and Farm Park to have lunch. It was great fun. Auntie Emma is expecting twins, so I'm looking forward to having two new cousins to play with next year. I think I'm having a growth spurt, as I feel the need to feed all the time, I bet I've put on loads of weight this week. I'm excited as I'm seeing Oscar and Gene tomorrow at the hospital- I think Gene will be going home soon - hooray.

Monday 10th September 2007

My weekend was good fun, and I spent a lot of time with daddy. On Sunday mummy went out for the day to see Harry Potter at the cinema with Godmother Jenny, so daddy and I spent the whole day together just the 2 of us. I was quite well behaved, but maybe not as good as I could have been...I was pleased to see mummy when she got back, so that I could have a good feed - I don't mind the bottle, but breast is best! Today mummy and I went for our first keep fit session. We have joined a Buggyfit class. We went with my pal Amelia and her mummy Claire. We went on a lovely long power walk for an hour this morning, and all the mummies stopped to do exercises, whilst we babies chilled out in our buggies - they did look funny! I got out of my normal routine because of going to the class, so I got very cross with mummy and cried a lot, so that made me very tired. Infact mummy and I were so tired that we both had to have a long sleep this afternoon to recover! We've got a quiet day tomorrow, so I think I'll be in a better mood then. ;-)

Saturday 8th September 2007

I've had an eventful few days. On Thursday afternoon mummy drove me over to Abingdon to see my NCT pals. It was a girls only affair, and we all got to meet Nia, who couldn't make it to the last get together. Hopefully we'll see the boys next time - Christopher, Alexander and Freddie. There's 5 of us girls and we're all different ages. I'm the eldest, and Imogen is the youngest. Amelia's the biggest, and then Ava - they came out on time, not like me. Nia's got the best hairstyle, and has more hair than the rest of us put together! Yesterday Rosie the community nurse called with the results of my blood tests. My phosphate levels have gone up which is good, but Doctor Bennett my paediatrician wants me to carry on taking 1ml of phosphate twice a day until I come to see her at the hospital for my outpatients appointment in a few weekes time. Phosphate is important for strong bones, so I've got to keep taking it to give myself super bones! I went down to the Baby clinic at the doctor's surgery yesterday for a couple of reasons. Firstly I was weighed and I had set a world record for weight gain - 11.5oz in a week - so now I'm 7lb 3oz. I can't believe I'm over 7lb, it's taken a while, but I made it. This means that I'm more than 3 times heavier than when I was born. I also had my 2nd set of immunisations. 2 nasty needles in my thighs. But I was very brave, and only cried a little bit. The nurses were very surprised to see such a small baby needing her 2nd immunisations already, but believe it or not I'm going to be 3 months old tomorrow, so I'm actually getting on a bit! Anyway my injections made me very sleepy, so I've slept a lot since I had them, but I still managed to give mummy and daddy the run around last night when they were trying to get to sleep ;-). Another great piece of news is that Oscar is now home. He came home on Thursday and is now enjoying spending time with his mummy and daddy. It's just Gene and Ujjwal who need to get better now, so they can come home too.

Thursday 6th September 2007

It's mummy and daddy's 4th wedding anniversary today, so my present to them is to try and cry a bit less than usual and stick to my routine. I have to say that I'm not succeeding very well at the moment. Anyway, we picked up the new car yesterday , and today we'll go for our first proper outing in it to go and see my NCT pals at Ava's house in Abingdon. I've got a new friend as you can see in the photo. It's a buzzy bee from Great Auntie Caroline - it's about the same size as me at the moment, but I'm growing fast, so I'll soon be big enough to play with it properly. I've seen my grandparents this week. They all came to visit on Tuesday, and Granny Judy babysat me, whilst mummy had to go out. She cuddled me and took me out in my buggy, which was great fun. I also had blood taken on Tuesday by Rosie the Community Nurse from the Special Care Unit. She is going to check my phosphate levels to see if I can stop taking my phosphate supplement, which I take twice a day at the moment. Mummy and daddy will be pleased if that happens, so that they can cross it off the extensive drug list! We're waiting to hear what my levels are like, so hopefully we'll know today. Talking of today - Oscar should be going home with his mummy and daddy today - they stayed in the flat at the hospital last night, after his successful hernia operation, so fingers crossed he'll be living it up in sunny Warwickshire in no time - good luck Oscar - see you soon.

Monday 3rd September 2007

Today I have been visiting my pals at the John Radcliffe Hospital. Mummy and I took a trip up there this lunchtime to visit Oscar and Gene. I was allowed all the way on to the ward to see them, which was unexpected - I thought I'd have to stay outside, but I went right in and got up close and personal with Oscar for the first time - just look at us rubbiong shoulders. It was very exciting. I have to too admit that I slept for most of it, but that's what too much excitement does to me! I also saw my friend Gene. He's starting to put on weight quickly now and is now 4lb 9oz, so he's getting there - that's him in the picture on the right. Oscar will have his hernia operation tomorrow, and then if all goes well, he'll go home on Thursday - so we can see each other as much as we like then! Gene will have his hernia operation in a couple of weeks before he goes home too. My routine has all gone a bit up the spout today with our outing to the hospital, but it was worth it, it's great to see my friends, and see how much progress they're making. I need a good sleep now to recover from all the excitement of seeing them. Tomorrow my grandparents are visiting me, so I need to be on top form!

Sunday 2nd September 2007

A new month, and a lovely weekend with mummy and daddy. I think it was more lovely for me than for them. Because my routine was slightly different to during the week with mummy, I felt the need to get a bit fractious, and whinge a lot. Mummy and daddy don't give in easily though, they don't always come in to comfort me, as they seem to be able to spot when I'm just whinging for the sake of it! Like when I have a bath. Although I must admit, I'm starting to get used to bathing, and it's not as bad as I thought. Yesterday we went out and bought a new car for me to travel in. It's called a VW Golf Plus and has enough room for my buggy, my car seat and me - and it's got 5 doors so mummy doesn't have to strain her back getting me in and out of the car. We went for a test drive, and I came too in my car seat. It was very comfortable. We'll pick up the new car later in the week - how exciting! Tomorrow I'm going up to the hospital - not because I'm ill, but mummy and I are going to pay a visit to Oscar and Gene. It will be strange to go back to my old haunt, but I may be able to catch up with some of the lovely nurses who looked after me. Daddy has bought a special mirror to go in the car, so that mummy can keep an eye on me whilst she's driving up to the hospital, otherwise it's difficult to see me in my rear facing car seat. I'm looking forward to travelling in the car again, I can sleep and chill out en route to the JR.