JULY 2004
Well, I may have been late with June’s diary… but I’m early with the one for July!!!
The month started off well. Rob and Sue’s daughter, Robyn, celebrated her birthday on the 2nd and July and had a party at Alphabet Zoo. Callum was invited along. We had wondered how he would take to it given he was so young… but he was in his element, with lots of little buddies prepared to stay in the toddler end to play with him. Check out the photo’s. Hope you enjoyed your birthday Robyn!
Callum was getting along much better, still waking at night, but not as much as during June. Plus his appetite had got better. Then, on Sunday 11th July we started noticing familiar signs. We contacted the out of hour’s doctors’ service who saw Callum and said he had tonsillitis again! This time he was not given any antibiotics as the doctor said it was viral and not bacterial (how he knew just from looking I will never know – the hospital had to do throat swabs in order to find out!). We were just told to keep him cool, give him Calpol and plenty of breast milk.
Again I was shattered. For a few days all he would take, and keep down, was breast milk (day and night). Slowly he started to improve. We were so glad he was getting better because we were going on holiday to Scotland the following week.
So, the holiday went ahead. My Mum and Dad came with us. We had rented Clachan Cottage in St. John’s Town of Dalry in the South West. It was lovely. Shaun and I had stayed in the pub next door the previous year.
The cottage was ideal with having a little one. You didn’t feel you had to rush out on a morning and when he was crying you didn’t get frustrated thinking he was keeping other guests awake. Plus the cottage had a washing machine and a tumble dryer – always a plus with babies!
The cottage was much more spacious that I thought it would be and really well equipped. I would certainly recommend it to anyone. If you want to look at it, click here. It was a steal at only £300 for all five of us which included the electric.
Callum soon got used to going to the pub for meals, we ate out a several times. We had a breakfast, and take away from the Clachan_Inn, we also went there for a very delicious evening meal on the Wednesday which was our 14th Wedding Anniversary. This pub/restaurant was only next door so we didn’t have far to go!
We also had a couple of lovely evening meals at the Lochinvar_Hotel which was also very close to the cottage (walking distance for Callum!). We also had our breakfast there on the last morning before we travelled home – and it has to be said that it was the tastiest breakfast of the week! They were so accommodating, they even had the highchair at the table for us when we got there… we had expected to have to ask for it. The current owners only took over the hotel this year, but I am sure they will do well. Their food and service was second to none.
Callum took the holiday in his stride… literally! He always wants to be on his feet. We don’t think it will be long before he is actually walking on his own… ‘til then we will have to suffer the back strain of continually stooping over to hold his hands while he goes on his travels! He had a morning walk with his Grandad every day, and a few extra’s too! He also walked around the cottage, through the forest and on the beach. Not to mention his frequent walks to the pub!!! His leg muscles got stronger by the day.
We were unsure as to how Callum would take to the beach, but decided to take a drive to the little bay of Rockcliffe. It wasn’t a sunshiny day, but it wasn’t bad weather either. We just wanted to show the place to my Mum & Dad because I had fallen in love with it when we found it by accident the previous year when we had stayed in Dalry so we could visit our friend Scott and break the good news that I was pregnant.
When we got there we decided to see what Callum thought of the sand… he loved it! Straight away he started clawing and digging in the sand with his hands and feet. We decided to take him to the water’s edge to see what he made of it – with a screech of delight he raced forward to get his feet wet. I’m so glad we got it on video. I ended up having to take my shoes off and go into the water to be able to film him properly. Shaun was left getting the backache and soggy trainers as Callum paddled.
We thoroughly enjoyed the holiday. We got plenty of fresh air and walks. We also managed to catch up with our friends Scott, Melissa and Hayley. Unfortunately Sam was out so we didn’t catch her… we were a little sad, but maybe next time.
On the day before we were due to come home (Friday) we started to spot some all too familiar signs… we just knew Callum was starting with tonsillitis again. As ever, he tried to remain happy and playful, just having short periods where he wasn’t himself.
We travelled home on Saturday. Callum managed to fit in one last walk with his Grandad whilst we finished the packing. He then slept continuously until we called in at the Otter Trust on the A66 in County Durham for a break and a cuppa. It was too windy to visit the whole area, so we just went into the tea room and then took Callum into the barn to see the few animals in there. He was fascinated by the rabbits, guinea-pigs, goats and sheep – but nothing caught his eye more than the otter that was in there! He loved it! I just wish that the weather, and Callum, had been more up to a longer stay.
We set continued on our journey and pretty soon Callum was asleep again. I know he does sleep in the car, but not as much as this. We knew he was starting to feel worse. As we got close to home he woke up. Once he saw familiar surroundings he started ‘talking’, smiling and waving… bless him!
We planned to keep an eye on Callum overnight and contact a doctor in the morning if needs be. However, after a few more hours of sleep and his temperature rising, we realised that it was time for another trip to the hospital. Again the staff were great with him… despite the fact that once he saw the crowded waiting area he perked up in order to flirt with the strangers!
The doctor who saw Callum was surprised to see just how big his tonsils were. He spoke to the paediatrician who said that Callum could go home with the familiar cocktail of Calpol and Ibuprofen and they also prescribed some more antibiotics which were stronger and a longer course than the first lot. The doctor was non too amused that the out of hours doctor we had seen earlier in the month had not prescribed antibiotics, and, like us, was bewildered at how he could have diagnosed it as ‘viral’ without tests.
A letter was also prepared to our doctor stating that Callum should be referred for a tonsillectomy. Normally they don’t remove the tonsils so young, but Callum has had three bouts in 6 weeks, so they are going to look at whether they can do it to save him from these repeated attacks.
Callum is now responding to the antibiotics and is coming on fine… although he has infected my Mum, my Dad, Shaun and myself, so none of us are feeling too great at the moment!
Callum is getting around by ‘bottom-shuffling’ – he did it one day in a definite ‘I wanna get there’ kind of way, but since then it has been more by default than a deliberate attempt to move… he’s more interested in being walked everywhere!
Well, that’s about it. No weight and length measurements this month… the clinic only wants to see him every other month now – so we will bring you updates next time.
See ya!
Amanda
