We are enjoying what can only be described as the Honeymoon period and long may it last.
This is the time when everyone looks at Charles, holds him, plays with him, coos at him, watches him closely and then asks "Are you sure he has brain damage...?".
Of course the answer is yes - the brain scan showed the holes spread through his brain as small black speckles of damage. It is a fact 'his brain has been damaged by a lack of oxygen around the time of birth'. The question no-one can answer is what effect will it have on his life.
We are now in the period when natural development is slow and basic, when he is 'Normal', when all that he does is studied, but nothing really found that points to a specific area of disability. The honeymoon period where we have to be as normal as possible and ignore the likley while we hope for the improbable; with no evidence to suggest otherwise except dots on a picture of a brain.
He is absolutely wonderful - attentive to what is going on and beautifully happy - just the feed-me and wind-me gripes. He hates baths and finds it hard to stay quiet or still when his nappy is changed. He has no routine way of getting wind up. We have to go through the whole gambit before he rewards feeding with a resounding gaseous babbling belch. Be it shoulder or knee, on front or back, with or without shoulder support, having circular, up and down, massage, fast or slow, left to have a short cry or simply ignore and play; he eventually gives up and lets rip with a voluminous oscillation to compete with the builders jack hammer.
The thing I like best about him is his already developing personality; the way he decides what he wants and I am always left feeling he has thought through the options and now wants a wee and a pooh. Timing is everything so Cathy is on her third wetting and regularly uses two nappies where one was intended. It must be something in the genes that enables him to entertain himself when you put him down and you have nothing specific to do, yet he just can't think of anything to take an interest in when you need to get on with things... A bit like children a lot older!!
His cheeky smile is coming on a treat and that goes well with what we have seen so far of his personality. Takes after his Dad, and I am sure he will get into trouble hundreds of times as he grows and mostly not have a clue why. Later he will realise it is half a natural love of being cheeky and half some people hate anyone to be happy with life all the time. They just have to do something about it to try to spoil it if they can, I think it is because that is easier and more natural for them than finding/making something constructive to smile about themselves.
However he does in terms of ability I hope he keeps a smiley fun nature and deals with his problems with a joke and a laugh.
Some stats
8lb 7oz when weighed today
favours his right side to lie on
Likes lights and shade
Will laugh at hammer drills vibrating the whole house and then sleep soundly
Can't be bad
Some peripheral info you should know and note:
Christening - all invited to Church Service St Peter and Paul Church, Ashington
6th May 10:45 service get there by 10:30 for parking and seating...
We will try to send you invites, but just turn up if we miss you out it is not intentional
Needless to say life is still hectic with much lost sleep and a great long list of things to do.
The building work is going superbly well and house now joins to extension via two openings hacked this morning... plastering next week.
History:
What a wonderful Easter weekend - my mother's 80th birthday - a family extravaganza of a day and a communication hey-day for us all plus gargantuan feast to satiate the tums of birthday crowd 15 strong.
Staying near the party venue at the In-laws was the most relaxing and relaxed I'd been in four or five months of Cathy's late pregnancy and Charles new-born life. Sitting in the sun outside a chocolate box cottage with a full stomach and lots of people doting on Charles was hours of heaven.
Today I took part in the Gardening 'extra-curricular' event at Wilton Park and it was brilliant! Well done Doug for suggesting, getting approval, planning, organising, overseeing and feeding the event participants. I never knew bangers and mash with beans could be made so tasty.
And I end with a photo or two:
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