The blogger returns – With a mission….

I’m back.  Trying to find time to write this blog whilst running around after the family and working is harder than I thought.. but I am back and on a mission!

I have set myself a challenge.

Each year of my life I have watched the village half marathon.  I have helped on the committee with my parents as a child and cheered on the runners both local and otherwise on one of the biggest days or our community calender each year.  It’s a great family day and the support is always amazing.  I have even watched my uncle and close friends take part on a number of occasions.

When I was growing up I always thought – I will do it one day, before I get too old! well the truth is I am the youngest I am ever going to be again today so I figured I need to get entered…

So I’ve done it! The woman who ‘doesn’t do running’ has entered a Half Marathon.  The only running I ever do is around after my husband and children and sometimes for the last train after a night out with the girls! but I am certainly no runner so this my friends, is my challenge for 2013/2014.  I’m doing it for my children and children like them.  The Happy feet kids in this world who aren’t as lucky as my children and don’t receive the care that mine have received so locally to us.  I am hoping to raise money for a charity called Feet First Worldwide http://www.feetfirstworldwide.com  This charity is aiming to treat clubfoot in the developing world because believe it or not, in many cases it is left untreated – doesn’t this seem so awful considering the treatment can be done so cost effectively.

Thinking of those children who have to learn to walk on their club feet untreated is going to motivate me through this run!  I will be using my functional feet in order to raise money for those who need that extra help in making their feet ‘happy feet’.

I am hoping to keep a record of how my training is progressing and I will be sharing my thoughts, tantrums, good times and bad on the road to June next year.

It is going to be emotional, for me anyway as I am not the sporty type – but I am determined  so please motivate me if you can.

I’ll be back……………

emma x

Introducing Max Matthew… Happy Feet. X

The whole way through my second pregnancy I was convinced that I was having a boy.. I just had that feeling.  I have never found out the sex of my children before the  birth – something about it being the best surprise ever – love the not knowing and the excitement of it all..

Once I knew that this little one would also have talipes I was upset – for a short while.. then I looked at the positives.. this little boy or girl would have a fantastic older sister to look up to and also know that their feet were ‘normal’ in our house – only mummy is the odd one out!

Having a bigger age gap than we had ever planned ended up having it’s plus points.. Jessica was old enough to explain things to.  She helped us decide on which pram to buy, to paint the nursery and was involved in almost every aspect of the pregnancy.. she was so prepared to meet her new baby brother or sister..

on a warm summer morning the labour started.. it was text book and I wouldn’t change a thing about it.. Max Matthew was born that evening at 8.05pm and the first person we called was our princess… she cried, we cried and our family was complete..

Max was born with talipes affecting his left foot.. compared to Jessica’s feet, you could hardly tell.. He was born with a cheeky look on his face – and he has never lost it!

Our little boy was perfect, just like his big sister.. We had never been happier.

Prior to the birth, Jane (wonderful physio) had spoken to me about the talipes and how we would receive the same treatment that Jessica had been through.  We had a great discussion about how I had first felt when Jessica was born and I shared with her that the worst part was not having any time to cuddle her without any barrier (casts or boots and bars) while she was still a newborn..  Jane gave me news that made me squeal with excitement.. this baby would come home with us and have a few days without casts… anything on his legs and feet! – they would be ours to cuddle, squeeze snuggle and hold for a precious few days before the treatment needed to begin – AMAZING NEWS.

Max was born on a Friday evening – we were home by midnight wondering what the hell to do next – it had been 6 years since there had been a new baby in the house!! YIKES.. so we went to bed and just held him and watched him .. and cuddled him, placed him in his crib and watched him sleep… and feed!! blimey this 9lb 1oz baby could eat!

In the morning, Jessica came home from her great Nana’s and met her brother – priceless moment!

The next few days are much of a whirlwind.. we have a huge family so life is never quiet… brothers, sisters, parents, grandparents, cousins,  friends all descended upon the house to meet the little man and most of this time is a blur to me.. I remember my hubby just being the perfect host and looking after everyone amazingly! – Happy feet children grow into fine husbands!!

My birthday was just 4 days after Max was born – we are the same star sign… and you can already tell!  As any mum knows.. the days after giving birth are a glorious hormonal roller coaster…. I was so grateful that I could hold Max without any casts, and give him his first bath at home before being 5 weeks old, yet in another way this freedom made it harder..

With Jessica I did not get this ‘newborn’ bath time and closeness without the casts.. so i found myself not wanting to put Max down.  I was almost envious each and every time someone else was holding him, because I wanted to treasure these cuddles all to myself before the cast was put on..selfish – but true..

I was in awe yet again at how professional and amazing Jane and the plaster room team were whilst they put Max’s first cast on.. Max on the other hand wasn’t so impressed.  Maybe it’s because he only need a cast on one leg, maybe it’s because he also had got used to being able to freely kick and lift both legs, but crikey – that little man woke up in his crib that first night and gave me a look that screamed ” Blimey mummy! what on earth happened to my leg? – it’s heavy”

It’s fair to say that he wasn’t as gracious as Jessica at the beginning, but he got used to it..so did we and we knew what we were doing and it felt just like old times..

Jessica was in amazement watching his treatment progress.. we took her to the plaster room to see the casts be removed and redone each week.. I think this was amazing for her to see and she now has such a great understanding of the treatment she had too..

The boots and bar stage for 23 hrs came and went.. I was ready for the comments, rudeness, etc this time.. but there were none.. well no rudeness anyway.. I will put this down to the fact that 1. he was in them during the autumn and winter 2.as he was in boys clothes (jeans, pants) they were less noticeable 3.I’m far stronger than i was when I had Jessica and people maybe sensed a strong mummy vibe – who knows.. but its wasn’t as hard this time and for that I am grateful.

Max was just as wonderful and resilient as his sister and made me just as proud!

One thing to add if you ever have to go through this treatment second time around… it seems to go far quicker and it does get easier..

I think myself so very blessed to have two very precious HAPPY FEET BABIES xxxxxx

Baby Number 2…..

So there we were with our lovely little family.. our Jessica was absolutely the light of our lives but we felt like we wanted to add to our family.. and so in December 2010 I discovered that I was pregnant.. to say the three of us were excited was an understatement.. to say I was nervous was one too.. .it had been 5 and a half years since I had had Jessica and I was apprehensive at changing our family dynamic.  We were our own little team and we got on great as we were.. could I possibly ever love anyone else as much?

We had a private scan at 11 weeks to check everything was going ok as I just simply couldn’t wait until the NHS scan at 14 weeks.. Everything was as it should be – heartbeat – phew.. now it seemed real. We decided to tell Jessica at this point as she had already started asking me questions about my ‘bloated tummy’.  Her reaction was amazing..I think because she had a scan photo to look at it made it all the more real… she also cried her eyes out and was a little overwhelmed at the prospect of having a baby brother or sister – telling her was just awesome!

At the 13 week scan, the sonographer confirmed as the 11 week scan had – all ok but also added that we would be called back for a 16 week scan due to us already having a child with talipes.  Now I could understand this extra scan, to a point, but part of me didn’t want to know.  We went along to the extra scan at 16 weeks and looked at the positive – that we would get to see our little baby again. If I were to tell you that I wasn’t nervous then I would also be a liar – but what mum to be isn’t when going to any scan?

During our scan I feel guilty that I had my fingers crossed and was praying with all of my being – that the baby would have a healthy heartbeat? of course, that the brain, spine and all other vital organs would look ok? absolutely.. but at the forefront of my mind was that the baby might have talipes like Jessica.

The sonographer was a very ‘matter-of-fact’ individual.  She was very straight faced and I really wished at the time that she could have at least smiled a little, if not to ease my nerves.  But, she had a job to do and was of course very professional.

“Oh yes, I can see that there looks to be Talipes on the left foot, I’ll have a look at the right………”

and there it was.. the news I had dreaded.. We would yet again embark on our journey through having a newborn with talipes.. and unfortunately this time I knew what this meant for both my baby but also, us as parents.. and this time I cried….and cried… and cried…

We didn’t mention to Jessica that the baby had talipes.  We decided that she just didn’t need to know yet, but unfortunately one day she overheard me talking about it to a friend and she realised that the baby in my tummy had feet like hers.. she cried.  I was so devastated to realise how much she understood about her feet – that doesn’t make sense I know.. but because we had never really made a big deal about it – not in front of her anyway.. because we had always acted like it was just normal in our family, I had never before seen her cry about her feet.. and I realised what a tough little cookie she had been and also how kind and thoughtful she was.

“I don’t want our baby to have to wear boots and bar mummy” were her words.. but we had a chat and I told her how special she was, and also how proud we were of her.. I also reassured her that her baby brother or sister would have a brilliant big sister to prove to them that they had nothing to be frightened of or to worry about, after all our baby Happy Feet would dance just like their sister does..

This conversation with my little girl made me realise how strong talipes can make the character of young people.. they just get on with it and as their mummy, that’s just what I do.

There are far more important things in life to spend time worrying about than feet!

We were sooo sooo excited to finally meet this new addition and we decided to name the baby in my ‘belly’ ……….’Happy Feet’

Exciting times ahead – and more work for Jane, the physio.. but hey! at least she knew us xx

Proof that Happy Feet can Dance x

When I was a little girl, my mum had taken me to dancing lessons.. I remember starting these at around the age of 3 and I absolutely loved it.. I started with tap and then began modern -very much the typical drama queen little girl..

When  I had a daughter I was thrilled at the prospect that she too may be a girly girl like her mummy and that she too would also want to dance and sing and generally love all of the razmataz of it all so I was determined that through her treatment, I would be strong – and strict so that I could ensure that she too could do anything she wanted to do, girly or not.. hey if my girl wanted to be a footballer, mountain climber.. I wanted nothing to stand in her way..

Jessica and her little friends joined their ballet school when they were just 3.. To take her and see her in her little ballet shoes with her straight feet was just the best feeling ever.. she was just like her friends and loved every minute of it..

 

The night of her first ever show came.  It was Snow White and she was in around 5 of the dance numbers.. she was just three and a half years old.. I had no idea what to expect.. maybe her waving at us standing there doing her own little moves, or maybe even tears if she spotted us in the audience – nothing could prepare me for how we would feel..

Our Happy Feet baby girl walked on the stage with her friends in the cutest of costumes and danced her little heart out!  She knew dances I  had never seen her practice and danced and sang remembering every step and word!

In any parents eyes, this would be an emotional sight.. but given all the fears we had had about her feet, walking and running.. to see her dancing, ballet dancing at that was just the most magical sight.. so you see

HAPPY FEET CAN DANCE!!!!

 

The end of the Boots!!! Hip Hip Hurraaaaaay……

When Jessica reached the age of 5 we knew that the end of her treatment was in sight.. this was just the best time ever! I couldn’t wait for her to be able to sleep in all of the positions you and I can enjoy, to be able to go to sleep overs and not worry about wearing her boots and bars, to be able to actually get out of bed and run into our bedroom when we were still asleep – yes I wished for that!

The day came at an appointment not long after her 5th Birthday.. we were over the moon and all of a sudden quite emotional.. throughout her treatment we had always tried to continue as though we were unaffected by the talipes.. we never made a fuss of it and some people who knew us were unaware of her treatment at all.. but yet now we could let it all out – the relief that it was all over and that our beautiful little girl could sleep any bloomin way she wanted..

what did she want for a celebration – KFC! that’s it? nothing else.. 🙂

Boots and Bar over night – COMPLETE!!! yaaaay xxx

Making the boots and bars ‘normal’

As ‘Happy Feet’ babies grow up, they only need to wear their boots and bars at night.. and this is usually until around the age of 5.

At the beginning of the treatment, this sounds such a daunting prospect.. 5!!!! – that seems so long away.

To help Jessica (and ourselves) we made the boots and bar part of the bedtime routine.. so in our house we did tea time, play time, bath, pj’s, bottle/milk, boots on and then a story (with cuddles) and bed time..

Compared to some other babies I know, Jessica seemed to get into a great routine and for this I blame her boots and bars! see (another positive there 🙂 )

Jessica had never known any different so to her, wearing her magic boots at night was normal.. it was her life and because we tried so hard to keep her routine consistent, she expected to have them strapped on and almost never complained or kicked up a fuss..

In fact, the older she got I remember occasions when she would go and get her boots when she was tired to say “mummy, please put me to bed – I’m shattered”.

I will say that we kept her in a cot bed with the cot sides up for much longer than we would have probably without the boots and bars, because we were scared of her falling off her bed and hurting her knees and joints with her feet attached to each other, but this was no big deal.. When we finally did remove the cot sides, we just made sure we kept the stair gate up so that if she did get near the stairs, she wouldn’t tumble if she tried to get down forgetting she had her boots and bar on..

The state of those cot sides were hilarious! the banging and crashing that they had endured from the nuts and metal on the base of the boots and bar made them look like there had been a caged animal gnawing its way out.. ha ha

The strangest part about Jessica finally having the cot sides removed (later than most of her friends), was the fact she mastered how to get into our room.. in the mornings.. one of the most precious memories I have is of Jessica caterpillar crawling across the landing into our room and kneeling up with her hands in the air saying “mummy, I can’t walk can I ?” laughing her head off and pointing to her boots.. she took all of this in her stride and for that I admire her so much. 🙂

As I keep saying, we are very lucky in that we have wonderful close friends… who also have children… two of those children were to be Jessica’s first ‘sleep over’ memory..

I remember having all three girls to get ready for bed and at the time Jessica would have been 3, with one of her friends 4 and the other  2 and a half.. all was as it would be with 3 girls 4 and under.. they giggled, played and ate treats.. When bedtime came, I was so proud of Jessica because I overheard her explaining to her friends that she had to wear magic boots to bed so her feet would be like theirs..

I will never forget overhearing these three beautiful girls talking (very maturely) so matter of fact about Jessica’s feet and her treatment.  Jessica was not phased by their questions and they were not phased that Jessica had to wear her boots.. they just ‘got on with it’.

These young ladies are and will always be in Jessica’s life as their parents are our son’s godparents and are also dear dear friends.. .but even so, I will never ever forget the image of the three little ladies, chatting (like little old ladies) about the differences in themselves.. and also more importantly, the acceptance.. because difference is amazing.

Some adults could learn a lots from children…

xxxx

Onto the Boots & Bars……….

Having a baby is all about milestones at times isn’t it..? First bath, first smile, first night of sleeping more than a couple of hours etc.. and for Happy Feet babies this is no different.. but we have extra ones… first cast, second cast….fifth cast…BOOTS and BARS!  If you thought that the casts were clever then you will also be impressed with this part of the treatment..

The babies wear ‘magic’ boots attached to a bar and these boots are set at a specific angle so to ensure the feet don’t relapse into the original talipes position..

I couldn’t wait for this stage with Jessica as it meant that she had a break from treatment for an hour a day.. For the first 12 weeks she had to wear these ‘ magic’ boots for 23 hrs a day.. and boy were we strict about the timing.. but it meant that for one very precious hour a day, we could have those amazing full cuddles and and lets not forget… We got to bath our girl –  most parents get to do this once they take their baby home, but we had waited 5 very long weeks..

I still remember Stewart and I getting so so giddy at the thought of bathing her.. I suppose the talipes treatment just ensured even more so that we never took anything for granted.. It made us realise just how precious those ‘firsts’ are.  Many people said to me that you ‘wish’ your first baby’s early years away as you are always willing on the next step.. This was something we could never be accused of..

Yes, I willed the weeks away so I was closer to her needing the boots and bar only at night, but no – I never wished her newborn time away, I wanted to cherish every second of her being still tiny for me to have those longed for cuddles with nothing in the way!

At first to be able to see Jessica’s feet each night and also stroke her legs and bath her was such a welcome change from the casts, I was back in my ‘zone’ and got my mojo back.. but again there came a few moments where this was also a bit tough at times..

I am proud that I took Jessica to baby massage.. the other mums there looked at Jessica in her boots and bars but I smiled as much as anyone can possibly smile without their cheeks bursting, always made sure me and my girl looked the part and prided myself that yes!, my baby is ‘different’ to yours, but she’s perfect too – just like your baby…

I remember even joking with one mummy that the bar really helped me to change nappies, as I never had to worry about wandering legs and feet ! – every cloud hey….

Like all long term treatment, seeing your little one with boots and a metal bar joining her feet together for 23 hours a day had it’s upsetting times.., I remember putting on the proud, brave face for the first 6 or so weeks and then my good friend seeing me arrive home one day.. she nipped across our driveways and asked how we were and I remember just bursting into tears!  I had no idea where this had come from but I think the sight of a friendly face just opened the floodgates.. but as I said earlier… my friends are amazing and never ever made a fuss about Jessica being different.. and this really helps 🙂 and one thing I have definitely learned from this is that it’s ok to admit when things get a bit too much – don’t be too proud x

There are moments when Jessica simply amazed us in her boots and bars.. she could look so comfortable in sleeping positions that most of us would think looked so bloomin awful.. she just got on with it.. I suppose she has never known sleep in any other way..

We were tough with Jessica… I was so adamant that when she was older I wanted her to have the option to wear all of the amazing and gorgeous shoes out there (yes I flippin love shoes), that I was driven with the attitude of

‘when she grows up one day and wants to wear the high heels and sparkly strappy shoes, I want to know that she can, because we followed every last part of all of the instructions given to us about her treatment.  I never want to have to say, no Jessica, you cant wear those type of shoes and that’s because I wanted you out of your boots longer so I could cuddle you easier, or you cried when we put the boots on so we removed them for a better nights sleep!’

What I will now be able to say is – ‘yes you cried and we were heartbroken at times to have to make you wear them – but look at you now.. you dance, swim, trampoline, jump, ride your bike and yes! I am almost certain – you will also one day be wearing high heels that are sparkly! – because we loved you enough to persevere! because this is about you – and not our need for sleep and cuddles xxx’

The boots and bar stage 23 hours a day once again left us in awe of our amazing girl… she was so strong and she almost never complained..

The day when we were told Jessica now only neede to wear these boots and her bar at night will remain one of the most happiest days of my life! – at 18 weeks old, we finally had our little girl to cuddle, roll around, play with without and metal or plaster to worry about or get in our way!

Boots and bars for 23 hrs per day! COMPLETE xxxx

The tough times during the casts …….

So, Jessica had done it.. we had got through the first hurdle.. Casts.. have to be honest that it did have its bad bits.. so here goes.. I’m viewing this blog post as therapy and I hope that you mummies and daddies out there with happy feet babies don’t feel upset when reading… but I did promise honesty..

To see a 6lb11oz baby in full leg casts is always going to be a shock to the system… to have this done on a hot summer day is also not helpful… at the time Jessica had her first casts put on I will admit that I was partly on another planet and for that I blame the shock that she had arrived 3 weeks early coupled with the shock that she actually arrived after a very long labour.  I was exhausted! so admittedly my memory of this first step in the process is a bit foggy.

I’ve already explained what happens when they put her in casts so I won’t go into that again.. what this post is about is what comes when you get home.. what I simply didn’t expect..

As I said before, Jessica was born in the summer.. when everyone is out and about and to me this was just the perfect time to have a baby.. to be able to make use of the pram and have lovely family walks.. the sad part is that I ended up almost dreading these walks.. not always but on my bad days (as every new mum has).

Maybe I was in a ‘zone’, maybe I was naive.. but what I never expected was the amount of interest me introducing my new baby girl to our village while she was wearing her leg casts would bring… now please don’t think that I am saying my village is full of rude people who stare… absolutely not! we are a strong family based community which results in most people knowing you some way or another and also people actually caring about each other… so this is hard to explain and get the point across correctly..because everyone (almost) meant well.

I was so very proud to be a mummy.. It was something I had always wanted to be so I had no hesitation in putting Jessica in a lovely summer dress and taking her out into our village for the annual ‘club day’.. Of course like most mummies, I wanted to show her off and enjoy being part of the mummy club… but my memories of this day aren’t all great.  Unfortunately I did not prepare for all of the questions… and there were loads..

If I had a pound for every time we were asked that day if Jessica had ‘clicky hip’ I swear we would have made a fortune.. the first people that asked what was wrong, were fine.. I was prepared (to a point) for questions.. but what I was so sad about was that the casts overshadowed us showing off our greatest ever achievement .. Our precious baby girl.. You see, people first saw Jessica, but then they noticed the casts… so rather than them coo and aaah as most of us do when introduced to a new baby, then give the mum and dad hugs, best wishes then maybe make jokes about “welcome to the sleepless night club” and so on.. – all positive things…we didn’t get that.. not that day.. we got oh no whats ‘wrong with her?’ ‘oh has she got clicky hip?, what are the casts for?, oh what a shame.. and for us then to continuously have to explain the course of treatment and what it entailed, that she had bilateral talipes, you know…. club feet….

I am not saying that these people didn’t mean well – of course they did.. they all looked genuinely concerned for both jessica and us.. because our village looks after its community.. but.. it still hurt…

I felt like I wanted to stand in the middle of the club day celebrations and scream….

“Hi, just so you all know… we had our baby early, so she is here to celebrate our first ‘club day’ as a family.. we are so so so HAPPY and she is everything we could have ever wished for! please come meet her and share our joy.. by the way.. she has two full leg casts on.. no – not for clicky hip – she has bilateral talipes..but don’t worry – we and her consultant have it all in hand so just come meet her and congratulate us she is PERFECT!!! ”

People sometimes say the right things.. but unfortunately it is very hard for faces to hide true feelings.. and i saw a lot of “oh poor emma and stew” faces that day.. and I have to admit.. it burst my bubble a little bit.. because I am far too proud at times.. and admitedly, even on hot days.. after that.. I covered her casts.. because quite frankly, then… i just didnt have the energy to keep on explaining..

so they were the well wishers..

there are of course, truly ignorant people out there who are just downright rude, thoughtless and should be taught manners!

this makes me laugh now as I am older, wiser and a much stronger person.. but one comment that I will never forget is that of a young woman walking past with her boyfriend.. We were  just getting back to our car after a lovely walk and for once, Jessica’s casts were on full display.. a young couple were approaching on the footpath as we were preparing to put jessica into her car seat.. they must have noticed her legs in plaster.. asthey passed I unfortunately heard the womans comment to her boyfriend..

“oh my  god! that woman must have dropped that poor baby.. it’s got two broken legs”

I wish I could write that I went over to her and told her how rude she was and that how dare she make such awful assumptions and then be rude enough to say them aloud in earshot of us.. but I didn’t.. I strapped Jessica into the car seat, hoped Stewart hadn’t heard too and  got into the car.. heartbroken.

I remember this being very early in Jessica’s life.. it must have been because my midwife was still visiting us at home.. when she next visited I told her.. and she was amazing.. she told me to stand proud and not let ignorance of others cloud this happy time for our family.. so I didn’t.. I later heard a young boy ask his mummy what was wrong with that baby’s legs.. she looked at me mortified but I didn’t blush and shy away.. I explained to him that she had magic feet that can actually change direction.and that the casts were to help them be like his feet… and he seemed happy with that and I left the shop smiling. 🙂

Children and motherhood is character building! FACT xxxx

Cuddles…

My biggest regret from when I had Jessica is that I didn’t cuddle and hold her for every minute of her first 24 hrs of life..

You see, I did what most new mums do …. the right thing..  I ‘shared’ her.. of course what I really mean is that I let her absolutely doting Grandparents, Great Nana, Uncles and Aunties cuddle her and hold her when the visited me in hospital.. of course if i did it all again I wouldn’t change any of this.. but I would change that when I had her all to myself for those few hours on the hospital ward, that I had held her and never put her down.. because that’s what you miss..you miss holding your ‘newborn’ without feeling the hard full leg casts banging together..

Jessica was around 24 hrs old when I met a lady that is still a big part of our lives now.. Jane.  Jane in my eyes is a miracle worker.. (she is Jessica and Max’s physio)  Jessica was put in full leg casts the morning after she was born..

This is the clever part…

The Ponseti method works because physios work closely with the staff in the plaster room and between them, they position and set the feet, each week in a new pair of casts to reposition the feet and manipulate them to be straight.. I am still in awe of Mr Ponseti for his amazing work which led to this method now ensuring that not all children born with Talipes will need surgery.. it’s AMAZING!  another point for you happy feet parents though – doesnt it feel strange to see such a small person have casts sorn off! I remember cringing that it may hurt her.. Jessica meanwhile was more often than not, flaked out on the hospital bed oblivious to all of the fuss – what a life hey?

Jessica’s feet were both turned inwards and upwards and to see her at birth, it was hard to imagine that she would ever walk, let alone dance.. but this amazing treatment works and she is living proof x

If I am honest, the cast part wasn’t so bad.. we didn’t know any different and neither did Jessica so we just ‘rocked on’ with it we were lucky in that Jane explained every thing she was doing .. .we did however long to bath our precious girl and were on a serious countdown to week 5 when this would be possible and the boots would be off!!! wooohooooo

So week 5 came and sure enough Jessica had her final casts removed and I have to say that I had a little weep to myself – first hurdle COMPLETE!! 🙂

xxx

When it all started….

When I met my hubby it was a standing joke (pardon the pun) that I wouldn’t marry him as he had scars on his feet and I ‘didn’t do feet’  I had been paranoid as a child of someone cutting my feet or stretching my tendons..funny how things turn out… years on we have two beautiful children and I am constantly aware of stretching tendons and feet operations!

I could not have been happier when I found I was expecting a baby.. I had all of the usual tests and scans and it was only when I received a call from my midwife about the results of my 16 week blood test that things didn’t look so positive.. she told me that the chance of our baby having spina bifida had come back as a borderline score.. of course she told us not to worry (which was an impossible request) and informed us that we would be scanned by a consultant to ensure thorough checks were done.. the scan was a week later..

That was the longest week of my life.. I read everything I could find about spina bifida as I had no idea what it was – during this reading, my hubby and I came across information on talipes… as he had had it when he was born we read further.. it mentioned that this could be hereditary so we decided to ask the consultant to look to see if our baby had it..

Thank goodness. the scan showed that our baby did not have spina bifida.. but it did show that our baby had a fine pair of ‘happy feet’.

This would be so worrying to some parents.. but we were so relieved that’s ‘all’ that it was, we were almost thrilled.. My hubby was living proof to me that my baby would still live a normal life.. he had ran for his county in 100 mtrs sprints and also played football semi pro so I had no worries  and maybe that’s why I never really allowed Jessica to feel anything but normal, because in our eyes she is…