6 Month update

Harper turned 6 Months old on the 21st of December..it's a big deal for us as she's managed to go this long without any surgery.

She was supposed to have an appointment with GOSH on the 23rd but because of her trip to hospital she wasn't allowed and it has been moved to the 19th of January. I'm glad in a way as it meant we didn't get any bad news before Christmas..but also means she's going almost an extra month without being seen.

We have started baby led weaning..she was weaned on purées because she was so young but now that she's 6 months I felt that I would like to give it a go. She seems to have taken to it pretty well..

She is still doing well on the high calorie milk and was last weighed at the hospital and was 13lb 7oz. She has just gone in to 6-9 month clothes. 

She can sit unaided for a little while and has started to try and get up on her knees during tummy time so I don't think it will be too long before she's on all fours getting ready to crawl.

She's loving toys at the minute especially her Bright Starts Minnie Mouse walker that she got for Christmas...she loves to be on her feet!

Hospital for Harper

The week before Christmas was the hardest week of my life so far..

Harper had caught a cold from Teddy but it didn't seem to bother her at all. A few days later she got a cough that seemed to get worse pretty quickly. On Monday 15th December I took her to my GP..they said it was just a cold and that she would get over it by herself. 

That afternoon I decided to take the kids to see their Nan & Grandad in Surrey. When we got there Harper didn't seem herself at all..she suddenly got a temperature and went floppy so we called for an ambulance.

As soon as we got to the hospital and described what had happened they told us she had bronchiolitis and would need to be put on oxygen as her levels were really low. 

We waited 8 hours for a bed for her..she had a feeding tube put in and a nasal cannula as well as a mask for oxygen.

Everyday was up and down..one minute she seemed to get loads better and they would turn the oxygen right down..then she'd need it turned right back up. She started to refuse to be bottle fed which was worrying, she didn't start again until day 5.

Teddy found it really hard..he wasn't sleeping, I was told he was waking in the night crying for me. In the end he spent most days up the hospital with us which seemed to help but it was heartbreaking watching him leave in tears. I felt like I was choosing one of my babies over the other. I don't know how it's going to work when Harper goes for her heart surgery..we already know other children aren't allowed up there.

I found it a constant battle with the nurses as none of them understood Harpers condition and would do things that GOSH had already told me they shouldn't do. One night I sat awake watching her SATs monitor because the nurse kept switching her oxygen up when she's normally only 95 anyway..I felt I was constantly reminding them to do things and begging them to call GOSH to check things with them first.

We spent 6 days in Epsom hospital..finally getting discharged on the Saturday evening. Neither Harper or Teddy were 100% even on Christmas Day but I was glad we were all home and could spend the day together.

XxX

Immunology Appointment

Harper had an appointment with immunology at the Royal London Hospital yesterday to check if her spleen was working.

Babies with Heterotaxy are often born with no spleen or one that has split into two or more, both options mean the baby doesn't have a working immune system and would need to be on medication for life.

The consultant we saw told us that a scan had shown Harper had one spleen but it was an abnormal shape. He told us this was because it had tried to split at some point but hadn't. Blood tests showed that she has a good working immune system so is classed as having one working spleen.

This is such a relief and one less thing to have to worry about. We are off to Great Ormond Street today for a heart scan as they have brought her appointment for December forward to today as she has struggled with weight gain.

Keeping our fingers crossed it's more good news today xxx

The Mummy Tag

1. Are you a Stay at Home Mum, or a Working Mum?

A stay at home mum.

2. Would you have it any other way?

Defiantly not, I love spending all my time with my babies, especially with Harper's condition I think it's important that I'm with them all the time. 

3. Do you co-sleep?

We do with Teddy, but it wasn't intentional. He slept in his cot until 8 months old, then he was poorly one night and wouldn't settle at all, so in the hope of getting some sleep I put him in my bed. He then refused to go back in his cot and even now at almost 2 he wakes in the night most of the time to get in our bed. I won't co sleep with Harper.

4. What is your one must-have item for your baby?

Harper's favourite thing is a blanket, she won't settle without one and likes to have it next to her face, which gives Mummy a heart attack!

5. How many kids do you plan on having?

I'm happy with 2, I don't plan on having anymore.

6. Date nights? How often do you have them? 

Never if I'm honest, I don't really feel comfortable leaving the kids.

7. Your child's favourite show?

It changes all the time but Teddy loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse at the minute. 

8. Name one thing you brought before you had the baby and never ended up using?

A Dr Browns microwave sterliser, the Tommee Tippee one is much easier to use.

9. Your child's favourite food?

Toast haha. 

10. How many cars does your family have?

2

11. Weight gain, before pregnancy, during, after and now?

Before Teddy I was around 9st, I went up to 11st and only managed to get down to 10st 7 a year after and then fell pregnant with Harper. I was over 11st during my pregnancy with Harper but didn't really weigh myself that much and am now down to 10st 3lb 4 months after. I'd like to lose a stone before their Christening next month.

12. Dream holiday with your kids?

Disneyland Florida - one day :)

13. Dream holiday without your kids?

If I could leave them lol it would probably be Mexico or Paris.

14. How has your life changed since having kids?

I don't go out anymore, I haven't had a drink in almost 2 years but my days are full of fun and non stop laughter. 

15. Finish the sentence "It makes heart melt when..."

Teddy is loving towards Harper

16. Where do you shop for your kids?

Mainly Next but also Spanish Boutiques.

17. Favourite make-up and skincare products?

Couldn't live without my MAC Studio Sculpt foundation and Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish. 

18. Huggies or Pampers?

Pampers! I found Huggies leaked when I tried them with Teddy, I've never had a problem with Pampers.

19. Have you always wanted kids?

More than anything.

20. Best part of being a mum?

The lovely cuddles and kisses I get all the time.

I tag anyone who reads this :)

4 Month Update

I really can't believe 4 months have passed since I met my beautiful baby girl, I also can't believe how much she has changed in that time.

She is becoming her own little character now and is such a smiley happy baby. She has just learnt to blow raspberries which she finds really funny and is cooing away non stop lately.

She seems to be hitting milestones pretty well despite us being told that she'd probably be slower than a heart healthy baby.

So far she can:

- Smile

- Laugh

- Hold her head steady

- Roll from front to back

- Reach for objects and grab them

- Bring objects to her mouth

- Coo

- Stand with support

She had her first go in a door bouncer a few days ago, I was really nervous for some reason and thought she'd hate it but she loved it! Teddy found it amusing too even telling her to 'dance Harper'.

By the time Teddy was 4 months old we had started to wean him, down to health visitors advice because he had silent reflux, but I'm not planning on doing the same with Harper. I don't feel that she is ready at all and I think I'd like to try BLW this time as Teddy was weaned on purées. The health visitor has mentioned weaning earlier than 6 months on a high fat diet to help with weight gain so I'm not sure how this will fit in with BLW until I speak to her more about it.

Harper now weighs 11lb 13oz and is in 3-6 month clothes. She's very long though and think she will have to wear 6-9 month sleepsuits in the next few weeks, they grow too fast!

XxX

Too tiny

One of the main things Great Ormond Street have told us to keep an eye on is Harper's weight. It's important for her open heart surgery that she is as big as she can possibly be, making it easier for the surgeons and should help with recovery.

Over the last few weeks Harper has gradually dropped down a centile and was heading towards passing another. I was extremely concerned (although my health visitor didn't seem to be) and called GOSH to get their advice.

They have advised me to try a high calorie milk in the hope that this will boost her weight gain, they have started her on SMA high energy which she seems to have taken to pretty well. After only being on it for a few days it seems that it is working as she is now climbing back up the growth chart.

This has made our consultant at GOSH reconsider Harper's next appointment, she wasn't due to be seen until December, but they are now sending an appointment out to see her in the next couple of weeks.

Although I'm so thankful that they want to check her over sooner I'm now terrified that this could mean surgery sooner than they had planned. I had pushed it to the back of my mind thinking that it wouldn't be something we needed to worry about this year, the day is going to come at some point, I just keep hoping that it's not just yet xxx

So proud

Over the last few months Harpers Daddy, Auntie & Uncle have been taking part in different events to raise money for Great Ormond Street.

Although Harper hasn't had any surgery there yet the support they have given us throughout pregnancy and over the last 4 months has been unbelievable. Any concerns I have about Harper they are only a phone call or email away and the cardiologists and nurses that we have seen so far have been nothing but kind and understanding.

Harpers Uncle took part in the 3 peak challenge back in September, climbing the 3 highest mountains in the UK in just 1 weekend, her Auntie took part in the color run in Brighton, something that's completely out of her comfort zone & her Daddy is taking part in the Royal Parks Half Marathon tomorrow. The 3 of them set a target for £2000 which they have manage to reach and pass raising over £2400. 

I am so proud of all of them for what they have done and would like to thank everyone who has donated so far, it means so much to us and I know what it will mean to GOSH.

If you would like to donate you can do via their Just Giving Page https://www.justgiving.com/teams/harpers-heart