Perfect Moments

Note: Lewis is in Freepress this week

What is a perfect moment? Is it a moment that you have strived for and achieved? Or is it a moment that just happens .. surprises you out of nowhere and touches the centre of your heart? If its the second option, then we have lots of them. Lewis is always giving us perfect moments. Moments where we feel so joyous, so full of love, absolutely bursting with happiness because he brings us so much. And how does he do this? He uses 17 marvellous muscles and he gives the most awesome smile and you cant help but smile too, not just a little smile, but a full on face splitting grin! If you havent experienced one of Lewis' smiles, you are missing out!

He smiles at people he loves who he hasnt seen for a while, he smiles at his friends when they arrive, he smiles at the sound of his daddy's voice, and he smiles at his big brother because he adores him! He smiles when people make him laugh. He loves slapstick - people falling over or doing silly dances, stuff like that. And he LOVES being 'whooshed'. In his wheelchair, with someone in front, stood a few feet away, we 'whoosh' Lewis towards them and he thinks its hysterical! In fact, sometimes he loves it so much that he almost laughs!

Now that is an awesome sound .... Lewis almost laughing. Rips at your heart, and brings tears to your eyes. Because he really is the happiest little man, he enjoys every moment of his life, and he enjoys the people around him. Its no wonder he has soooooo many friends ... especially young blonde women!!!

So anyway, we've been busy since the last blog entry.

Lewis having a cuddle with Daddy on Sunday morning.

On Sunday we spent some time in the garden in the beautiful sunshine! James and I went on the trampoline and Lewis sat in his giraffe chair to watch. He thought it was very very funny, especially when James bounced me so high I fell over and then I couldnt get up! The neighbours also thought it was funny to hear me screaming with laughter!

A bit later we set off for a walk around the lake, but got waylaid at the cul de sac and ended up popping in to play in the garden with Van, Nikhita and Jay. We were practising hand and head stands and generally being far too active for a Sunday afternoon!

Just before 4pm we went to Annabelle's 3rd birthday party at Bircotes Leisure Centre. James went off with Steve and Richard to do some DIY so Van, Nikhita and Jay came with Lew and I in our car. Samuel stayed at home in his crypt (the bedroom of darkness haha!).

We got to go on the special disabled person lift which I think Lew found quite cool.

There was lots 'playgym' equipment, and a huge bouncy castle. Lew had a go on the slide - he loves slides, we think he enjoys the sensation of moving. He enjoyed watching his friends playing on all the other equipment.

Lew enjoyed VERY MUCH (!!) having a cuddle with Olya and playing with Nikhita and her snake which was called Lewis!!!

All the children played pass the parcel (a boys group and a girls group!) and Lew joined in.

Lew had a fab time at Annabelle's party as did all the children so well done to Karen and Patrick for arranging it, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY again Annabelle from all of us!

On Monday we went to have a look at a nursery which our friend helps to run. Tiddlywinks is a pre-school group in a church hall setting. It is open 4 days a week, mornings only, and we went along to have a look with a view to possibly taking Lew there a couple of mornings a week. It was a lovely atmosphere and we had a wonderful morning, Lew met lots of new children, we did some activities, I did a puppet show (never again!) and we did some singing and instruments. The children had made strawberry angel delight, and Lew had a tiny taste. Marie (Bluebell Wood) came along with us and it was a very enjoyable morning. We got to meet Julie and Robin who are Lewis' friend Joseph's aunty and cousin! We hope to go along again for another visit in the next few weeks.

Later we popped into DRI to see Margot (DRI volunteer) who had a present for Lew. Margot does the Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice Lottery (http://www.jacksjackpot.co.uk/) and she won a Little Jack teddy bear. She decided very generously to give this to Lewis and so we popped in to collect Lew's gift. It is the softest little bear and it now lives in the corner of Lew's bed next to his pillow. Thank you so much Margot.

On Tuesday we were meant to go to group at the hospital, but we were both sooooooooooooo tired! Lew had been up in the night and hence so had I, and we just wanted a lie in! So we had one! When we were feeling a bit more normal, we went round to visit with Denise, Oliver and Maisie, and went shopping to Netto and Matalan. They had some funny rubber wigs in Matalan which the children enjoyed trying on!

Afterwards, we went back to Denise's house for some delicious lunch (the BEST quiche in the whole universe) then we went to musical minis. We took one of Lewis' new friends with us to music group - Cole. Cole's mum Jackie contacted me by email via Lewis' website (I think - or PostPals or something) as they live just around the corner from us! As Jackie works shifts alot, Cole and his dad Mark are at home alone and dont really know what activities are available for young ones, so we took them along to music group and I think Cole had a really great time! Lewis certainly enjoyed himself, especially when we sang PEEK A BOO! We had a good chat with Alison who is doing the fashion show to raise funds for Lew so I will let you have more details about that soon.

After music we all came back to our garden and the children played on the trampoline.

After after that (busy day Tuesday!) we went to Frankie & Benny's (Lew and I) as it was Joseph's birthday on Tuesday HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSEPH 3 years old now! and he was having his party there. We got to meet some of Joseph's family (we already know Jane and Gareth and Joseph's baby brother George, and we met Julie and Robin at Tiddlywinks) and Lewis got lots of kisses from George! Unfortunately, Lewis was ill on the way home (we had walked as its not far from our house), but he enjoyed being with Joseph to help him celebrate his special day!

So Wednesday - As Lewis had been poorly on Tuesday evening, I wanted him to get some extra sleep so I left him in bed until quite late while I did some stuff around the house. Jane (Homecare) arrived at 10.30am to get Lew up and bathed, and then they went out for a walk round the lake while I got showered and stuff. We havent had chance to walk round the lake properly for a couple of weeks now so it was lovely for Lew to be able to do this with Jane.

Just after midday we went to DRI for Lew's last (boo hoo) hydrotherapy. I had forgotten my costume so couldnt go in which I was sad about as its such a special time for Lew and I enjoy sharing it with him, but it meant I had plenty of opportunities to take some great photos of him in the water! He was trying very hard to kick and splash - I must arrange to take him swimming until we can get some more hydro sessions booked in.

After hydro, we popped to the Yorkshire Outlet for a smoothie then popped in to see Denise, Oliver and Maisie (I think they are sick of us this week!!!!).

At 5pm we had to take Tabitha (cat) to the vet as she had blood in her wee. Turns out she has severe cystitis so she had an injection and has some tablets to start tomorrow to try and clear it up. By the time we got back from the vets, Lew was asleep so I put him straight in bed and so as not to disturb him until he'd settled properly, I decided to do his milk and medicines in about half an hour. WELL ... when I went up to do them, he'd pulled his tube out completely!! Cheeky monkey! I didnt want to wake him as he was sooooo sound asleep so I left him to sleep with no tube (he looked so cute with a bare face) and when he woke at 5am this morning, I brought him down to my bed to do the necessary.

Now ordinarily, Lewis hates having his tube passed, and he becomes very distressed as soon as I tell him what I'm going to do. This time he just continued to look at me, so I thought maybe he hasnt understood, so I showed him the tube and he didnt get upset, so I started to pass the tube and he still didnt get upset ... all that happened was that he had to gag a bit as the tube passed down his gullet (is that right?) and then he was fine. It was a very strange moment because it was the first time he has not had a reflex anoxic seizure when having his tube passed, and not only that, but he didnt even cry or get upset. I spoke to Katie and Bluebell Wood about it and she said its probably because he feels safer now that I am passing the tube and he is getting used to the sensation. Amazing.

So that means Lew has been on his feed all day today (usually he's on it at night) so we've spent most of the day indoors. While Lew sat watching TV (a rare treat) I did some tidying (oh forgot to mention I did loads of ironing last night as well!) and then Denise, Oliver and Maisie came over to play for a little while (with some raspberry cream cake ... yummmmmmmmmmm).

We're very lucky to have such very good friends, and Denise has helped me through alot, especially just recently. And Lew just adores Oli and Maisie! Denise does have a husband (whats his name again? just kidding Jon!) but like James and alot of other husbands, he has to go out to work. We had a great time playing on the trampoline and I'm pretty sure Lewis got lots of kisses off Denise!! He is such a babe magnet!

I joined this website called Freecycle where you can basically give away stuff you dont want anymore. You can of course also ask for stuff you do want, for free, which is how I met a new friend today. A lady had advertised on Freecycle for some boys clothes aged 18 months and a baby grobag. Well I had some clothes of Lew's and also a grobag, so I replied to the email, and Diane came to collect the stuff. She got to meet Lewis although I'm afraid he was (1) tired and (2) captivated by the TV and (3) excited to have his friend Tobey visiting, so Diane didnt get a smile, but I hope she will keep in touch as I will definitely have some more clothes ready for a new home soon.

Just after 2pm Lesley and Tobey arrived for a visit. Lew was soooo excited! He adores Tobey, and cant take his eyes off him! I think because they've been close friends for a good while - we met at speech and language group at DRI - that he has a special place in Lew's heart. We had a chat and then Samuel came in from school so we all got in the car to drive to DRI for Samuel's haircut! Why have a haircut at DRI you may wonder? Well Lew has had his haircut there 3 times now by the same girl (blonde, young, pretty!) and so I thought Samuel might benefit from the same treatment! So we went along and Samuel had his VERY long hair cut rather short!!! It looks fantastic so thankyou again hairdresser lady (arrghh cant remember your name!). We came home again and Tobey and I had a go on the trampoline while we waited for Lesley's husband Kevin to come and pick them up. Even Tobey's dad Kevin had a go on the trampoline but I think it wore him out as he's been working nights!

So a very busy few days! Exhausting in fact! Oh and by the way, its going to rain tomorrow!