October

Yet again I've left it way too long before posting. So often I think, "This day would make a lovely blog," but then time tricks me and I put it off. I am blogging today without adding photographs because that's just another thing that causes delay. I've had a lovely walk down memory lane this evening, looking through my October photographs. A photo update will follow shortly, when I can decide which ones to add!

Well, the month didn't get off to a great start. Bethany has not been well. I'm pretty sure I blogged about it but I know I wrote about it on Bethany's Caringbridge site, that she had pneumonia in August. Gosh it's really bitten her quite severely. An x-ray revealed that she no longer has it but she has been more tired (more awake at night, argh!), had more pain and felt more ill - not to mention the annoying cough. As we are sure she is no longer infectious - even for Bethany it would be pretty amazing to still be infectious - we are carrying on as normal which means cramming as much fun in as possible whilst taking time to rest and go slow when Bethany needs it.

Eloise has competed in a dancing competition. She continues to improve and become more confident, her ability is blossoming and she loves the whole 'make-up and hairspray' glamour. I think if a dancing competition included sparkly nail polish she would be in heaven! She gained a 3rd place with her ballet solo (I think she'll grow into the tutu when she's, maybe, 15 years old!) and also a 2nd place with a troupe. The school performed a new troupe this competition and it was fantastic, I can't wait to see it again. Eloise plays the role of a cheeky little mouse in a restaurant, it's like the part was invented for her. As if that wasn't fabby enough, they are starting another new troupe and the girls all love it. Eloise has never practised so much and has even taught Bethany the routine.

What else, what else? As ever, we have spent a lot of time at the mining museum. The girls love it there, they know their way around like it's a second home and the staff all know them by name. I think they own just about everything in the gift shop and they have adopted one of the miners as an extra uncle. Uncle John, as he is known, bought the girls a pumpkin each (which, as yet, we haven't found the time to carve, ahem, not that we leave things until the last minute in this house...) and we went to visit him and say thanks. We always seem to track him down as he is finishing a tour underground in the mine, he comes up covered in coal dust and gives the girls a big hug. It's a good job we love him. :)

There are lots of little things that have been fun but you really don't want me to blog about each one. Mundane things that somehow become fun when you are trying to keep order with 2 girlies who are bonkers - like buying new winter coats, going to parties and the cinema with friends, Bethany learning the recorder and clarinet (and us trying to find a moment at some point, any point, for her to practise), the school party where we won a spider chocolate cake in the raffle and the girls delighted in pulling the legs off the spider, the dilemma of choosing Hallowe'en costumes when you are 5 and 7 years old with a huge choice, the fair in town with so many rides that Mummy wont let you ride every single one so you are forced to choose favourites, dragging Pops up the helter skelter because you are so desperate to have a go but a little afraid of setting off from the top, camping out with Daddy in the garden or snuggling up with Mummy in bed (who was not mad enough to be the one camping in the garden)... to name but a few.

Then there's the half term holiday. Bethany has been a bit up and down, very tired, plenty of pain although, thankfully, mostly mild. We went to Blackpool on Monday. It was a bad day for Bethany, she was very tired and almost didn't come with us. Imagine feeling so tired that you say no to a day out at your favourite seaside. It's not good. :( I am so glad that she decided to go at the last minute. I've just had a look through my photos with a big grin across my face. The girls used my camera when they went on the big wheel on the central pier. It always makes me laugh to see what the girls focus on, what images they want to keep and consider special. I have a lot of shots of roofs with seagulls on them, a few wonky ones of landmarks with the iron bars of the wheel frame blocking part of the photo and then some more of the seagulls on nearby roofs!

We've been to the cinema with friends which the girls loved. They've been to an amazing Hallowe'en party at a friends house. Wow, it was fantastic and the whole thing was done outside. Thank goodness for creative parents, that's all I can say. :) We've had friends visit us - fabby friends that we haven't seen for too long - I blame them for moving around the country (and other countries!). I hope we get to see them again soon. The kids thrashed the adults at Mario Karts, much to the amusement of the kids - all 5 of them.

Well I can't leave without mentioning Butlins. Most of it was in September but I never got round to blogging about it. I knew the girls would absolutely love it. They've never been before and I didn't tell them about it beforehand until it got very close because I wasn't sure that Bethany's health would allow us to go. We went to every show that we could fit in, the girls were photographed with every character we met (of course!), we participated in shows - Eloise was asked what she had enjoyed the most so far and, in typical Eloise style, she said, "Sleeping in the bed!" I'd like to assure you that she does have a bed at home. What she actually meant was "Snuggling up with Mummy," because I had the double bed. But thanks child for making us sound like a feral family! Bethany was chosen to participate in a magic show with me. She was in hysterics and teasing the presenter who probably went to bed crying and once again said, "All those years in magic school for this!" The highlight of the holiday was swimming. It sounds like an odd thing to be the highlight but we haven't been swimming since Bethany had her transplant. There are so many opportunities to get infections in a swimming baths and Bethany's health limps from one infection to another so up until now I've always said no. But I knew they would both love the swimming pool at Butlins so I said yes - of course taking precautions. They've both raved about it ever since and keep asking when they can go swimming again. It's a difficult one - some liver teams tell their patients that they can't swim in a public pool, some say it's not a problem. Some don't allow the ocean, some do. I certainly wouldn't, not when I know what is floating in it in the UK!! It's all so personal, what's good for one 'liver child' is not good for the next. If Bethany's immune system was stronger I would be much more confident about it. Some liver kids have trouble with their new livers but don't pick up infections easily. Bethany is the opposite. Her liver is stable and well but she is so susceptible to infection. Sometimes it's best to say 'no' rather than find out the hard way that it's a big risk. And there's the issue of whether we are allowing her to experience life and teaching her to be responsible about future decisions that she will make for herself. Gosh there's so much to consider that wouldn't even occur to the average person. I think maybe it's time to test the waters ('scuse the pun) and venture into our next adventure. Who knows, maybe the next update will be about a successful outing to the swimming baths?

In the mean time, watch out for a photo update which will tell you much more than this (lengthy) update possibly can.