A tragedy, a virus, a rash & a visit to the doctor :(

I want to start this entry with a thank you...a thank you to every single medical person involved in Herb's recovery. I think this thought EVERY day but rarely voice it or write it down. The reason I am prompted to do this is the memory of being close to losing him has been dragged back to the forefront of my mind this week with the tragic loss of a friend's son in a car accident. I looked at Herbie and thought it probably felt like only yesterday that Jackie would have been watching her son Sid as a 1 yr old and now he's gone. Life is so fragile and the line so fine. My thoughts are with Jackie, David, Grant, Marshall & Hannah xxx

This week Herbs has been under the weather & by Tuesday he had a rash & seemed irritable. UGH...it's so worrying. By Friday he was better but the rash was worse so we called to see the Dr. Thank god the duty Dr was Dr Santos...the best GP ever. He is so thorough (even though at times he gives so much info it's scary). He printed a copy of Herbs blood culture results from the Meningitis and also a letter 'just incase' anything got worse to show the next dr who saw him explaining the importance of quick action. He reiterated that Herb's immune system will take a year to recover and gave me powdered amoxcillyn in case he needed immediate antibiotics over the weekend...he covers every base!

Herb's is rashy but happy. Dr S said it was a virus, Kitty has the same, sore throat, coldy symptoms. I am sure he will be fine but it's another wake up call to how ill he was earlier in the year. dr S commented on his fantastic recovery!

teeth or lack of them

So Herbie is now 20 months and still has 6 teeth at the bottom and 4 at the top. These are pretty weak and feeble teeth too. Poor little man. The others had loads of teeth by now. So I wondered is it the Meningitis?? I gave in to my nagging mind and called my HV Paula who I actually like (so many people moan about theirs). She totally put my mind at ease about it all.
As for the talking...well we have a few more words although I am sure only his nearest and dearest would understand them.
We got a Thank You card this week from the staff at the PHDU for all of the things we got with the fundraising £'s. Hana, the nurse who gave him the most care, has left to travel. I felt sad that other children (and parents) won't benefit from her being there. The others were fab too but she was the one that left an imprint, if you know what I mean.
So as we head into Autumn I feel like we are getting nearer the closing chapters of 2010 and I hope that in 2011 we look back on the nightmare without the awful feelings of panic and horror that we still feel now.
Anyone with an i-phone can download a signs and symptoms app for meningitis now, free of charge. I have it on my i-pod. I think it's great but hope I never have to use it!

Herbie LOVES camping!

Wow he was in his element! Free as a bird, running around the fields, on the beach. To think that I wondered if he would remember how to walk a few months ago! Tomorrow is his 2nd hearing appointment...praying that all is well, no hearing loss, glue ear gone. Be nice to have a few more words and a little less shouting!

Wobbles, Meningitis research & Camping!

We are pretty close to our camping holiday now...we really need a break from the norm as do our friends who we are going with. Should be fun...7 kids (3 seven yr olds, a 5 yr old, 2 two yr olds & a 1 yr old) , 4 adults, 2 tents lots of food & drink & hopefully sunshine!
The loss of the dummy during the day only had one blip...yesterday when poor Herbie fell down a step in the garden straight onto his nose :( many tears, blood and screaming which only 'dumdumdoody' can soothe. Other than that it's been plain sailing. He definitely is a little unsteady on his feet...not sure if this is linked to the meningitis or glue ear!
There was excitement over the news of a possible breakthrough in Meningitis research linking it to a certain gene that makes peoples immune systems more susceptible. With Dan having had two different cancers by the age of 21 and then his son having bacterial meningitis it makes you wonder...it also makes me worry that they could both be at risk again...
See you on the other side of the camping holiday!

Summer holidays, dummy cold turkey & speech

It's been nearly 4 months since we left the JR post Meningitis & Herbie is a normal 18 month old now. He is a real climber and a bit of a dare devil at times which frightens the life out of me. I'd rather not be in A & E with him ever again ;) The main problem we have encountered since the 3 week stay has been his reliance on a dummy for comfort. He used one loads before but during his illness he seemed to have it permanently attached! So 5 days ago I took the decision to remove it during the day. What a trooper he has been! Really no issues at all. Our main worry was his lack of vocabulary. By now his siblings were talking really well but Herbie grunts alot. Even in the last few days we have noticed how much more he 'chatters' and a couple of new words! Ofcourse it is totally feasible that his 'glue ear' is causing the problems not the dummy but we'll soon know!
Fingers crossed he continues to make progress.

10K run for meningitis

The day finally arrived for my sister (left in pic) and two of my sisters in law, Lucy & Wend (R to L). The Meningitis Trust ASICS 10K run in London. All sporting t shirts bearing the name of my precious boy, Herbie, they ran to raise money for The Meningitis Trust. The idea came about the first week that Herbie went into hospital back in March and now they have done it! We are so proud of them! Thanks to you all...WE LOVE YOU xxxx

:(

I hate this...our friend's son has Leukemia, he's 5. We are understandably devasted by this news and worried about the whole family. We have spent evenings just discussing what they are going through, the pain and uncertainty. It's seem selfish that it has stirred up emotions in Dan and I that have only just gone under, but are close to the surface, when we should just be thinking of them. I keep watching Herbie and reliving some of the worst moments...I have to remind myself how bad things were at times. The JR hospital, Children's Wards, are some of the best in the country...they will cure my little train loving buddy just like they did our Herbster...I just want to wave a wand so that it's done now for all of them :(