Sunday 26 February 2012

Benjamins adventures abroad-Part 1

Firstly, let me apologise if this post looks silly or is full of mistakes or spelling/grammar errors, but I'm typing this on an iPhone AND using the blogger app! Small keyboard and fat thumbs don't work well! Anyway, here goes...

Well with more bags than Asda, we made our way to Manchester Airport. I really wasn't looking forward to the flight because I wasn't sure how well BB would cope. As per usual I was worried about nothing, he feel asleep as the engines kicked in for takeoff and slept for about an hour and a half into the flight.
When he woke, he seemed pretty Un phased by the situation and didn't quite grasp my enthusiasm for air travel. The only bump in the road (or should that be turbulence) was the landing. I'm not sure if it was the movement of the plane as it descended or the change in air pressure, but he wasn't impressed.

The hotel is lovely and the cot they have provided for BB is perfect. (Another thing we worried about!)
He didn't settle too well on the first night but I think that was Due to the change in routine. Instead of his usual bath and bed at 7, we let him have a bonus nap and play and he went to bed about 10pm.

Although I am on holiday with him, I feel I have spent hardly any time with him as at any opportunity he is whisked away by his Granddad to play in the pool or for a walk around the hotel. Was difficult at first because I wanted to enjoy the holiday with him too but I realise that is Granddad doesn't see him as much as he would like to so like me wants to spend as much time with him as possible. I can't help but feel selfish trying to stop that, after all I can spend time with him when we get home.

He has loved the pool. We bought him an inflatable chair and he sits and kicks his legs just like he will when he eventually swims on his own.

We are halfway through and so far the family has had a great time, Benjamin is being spoiled rotten with attention and I doubt that will change.

Will try and post Part 2 before we go home.

Thanks for reading
FTD

Sunday 19 February 2012

7 months on.


Not posted for a while this might be a long one...

I just cannot believe it is mid February already. Time has flown so fast since Benjamin arrived so spectacularly. I think what magnifies that is that life is just so busy at the moment.

I am busy at work, Christine is starting to organise her return to work. So much has changed since she left, but I am sure after a couple of days, it will feel like she has never left.
A few years ago, I had 6 weeks off work and when I went back, everything felt so strange, so I can’t imagine what it is going to be like after 9 months!
We are in the process of buying a house, we lost out on our first choice as we got outbid, but we were lucky to find another house in the same area. Same deal as before (Click on the house tab), we will have a lot of work to do as it is in a state of disrepair, but it will be great fun, putting together our family home, just how we want it. Many stars still have to align before it’s actually ours, but hopefully everything falls into place.

Back in September, we took our first family holiday together. We spent a great weekend in Wales, well now we are stepping up our game. We have booked our first family holiday ABROAD. Benjamin has his own passport, he will have his own bag and he will be flown away to what hopefully will be a gorgeous hotel and a fabulous holiday. We are taking Grandma and Granddad too, so he will have plenty of people giving him attention. I can’t wait to go swimming with him in his little inflatable chair.  
The only thing I am worried about is the flight. 3 hours of trying to keep him settled and calm while locked in a plane at 37’000 feet. I’m hoping the flight ‘flies’ by.

Anyway back to the reason for this post!

Benjamin is growing into a beautiful young boy. He was weighed in at 18lb 13oz and I can see his personality developing. He loves being bounced and tickled and the routine I spoke of previously is working a little.

The only problem we have is that he constantly wakes in the night. We think he is waking because of his teeth, but after over a month of this we see no evidence of teeth!

Alright, that’s enough from me, it appears I could keep going but I won’t.

If you have made it this far, thanks for reading and I will try and get some more regular posts out.
Take care
FTD


Friday 3 February 2012

Show me YOUR money!

As many of you know my mum passed away nearly 12 years ago. Anybody who has lost a parent or somebody close to them, knows that the feeling of loss never really goes away. I look at my beautiful son and gives me a heavy heart to know that he will never feel the love my mum would have given him.

After spending some time in hospital with terminal cancer, the decision was made to move her to a hospice for her to spend her final days in more comfortable circumstances. She was moved to Wheatfields Hospice located in Headingly.

I remember well, the first thing they said to mum when she arrived was "Hello Ms Jenkins, what can we do to make you more comfortable". Her answer was to remove a tube which had been inserted up her nose to help with her feeding. They removed the tube immediately and straight away we could see a massive improvement in her mood. She smiled for the first time in a long time.

The staff at Wheatfields not only helped my mum through a very difficult time, but they also helped us, her children. Simply knowing she was being taken care of was a relief. We were very appreciative, that she was able to live her final days in a friendly environment where she had meaning rather than in a hospital ward, where she would feel like just another patient.

I believe if it was not for the great people at Wheatfields Hospice, we would have had to say goodbye to mum much sooner than we did. Although we knew the cancer was terminal, the care they provided allowed her to concentrate on enjoying the time she had with the most important people in her life, her children.

So, the reason for this post is not to simply tell you a story, it is to ask for your help. I honestly believe that charity begins at home and as you can see Wheatfields Hospice, is very close to my heart.

I recently received an e-mail at work asking for volunteers for something called a 'Starlight Hike'. It is a 10km walk that takes place overnight and I will be taking part and raising money for a wonderful cause.

So please PLEASE donate anything you can. Even if it's a pound. That will be £1 closer to my target of at least £200.

Spread the word, tweet this blog post and help me make a little difference and hopefully the staff at Wheatfields can continue to do the amazing job they do.

For more information on the event and Charity, go to  http://www.starlighthike.org/SiteHome
To donate any money you can, please go to www.virginmoneygiving.com/LewisAckroyd

As always, thanks for reading.
Lewis