Fitting in

Watching a programme the other night about a children's hospital,  one of the doctors verbalised what many parents think, whether we admit it or not is a different matter but I'm sure many think it at some point. Especially us mothers of children who were diagnosed with a Syndrome or condition whilst in utero. I did. More than once....'I hope that my child will be normal.'

I beat myself up about this thought many a time. How awful must I be to care about how my child looks or acts. Of course I'd love her regardless. But I didn't mean it from a superficial point of view. And what is normal anyway?? You see it's because we as parents want the best. We want our children to have the best chances in life, to face as few obstacles as possible. To have the easiest ride in life.
But I realised it didn't matter. The day she finally arrived by the skin of her teeth, so close to not arriving, I didn't care less what she looked like, or what she'd become. It's the love that we surrounded her with that mattered. The strength, resiliance and confidence that we instilled in her. But love, that matters the most.

As for easy rides, it doesn't matter how clever you are or how you behave or what job you have or what you believe in. People can be nasty ass regardless. I know that from experience.
It's how you deal with it that matters.
As it stands we have one feisty little babe on our hands anyway. That and the prayers of her over-protective, over-anxious, ridiculously proud mother. And some.

Tummy troubles
We just cannot get to the bottom of G's tummy troubles. Bottom being the key word. 17 days and counting.  Several days of jiggling childcare, several missed preschool sessions (much to her disgust) and the over familiarity of many many bathrooms! Thank goodness for the newly decorated downstairs toilet...I've been rehearsing in my head what the sheet music wallpaper would sound like.

We have a gastro appointment in just over a week and we really hope they can shed some light. I'm also keeping a food diary to see if the dietician can spot any patterns.  Though a dairy free, gluten free diet is fairly gentle on the old digestive system anyway,  so who knows?!

So you won't try and discharge us?
Finally we have found an ear nose and throat consultant who doesn't dismiss our worries, or more to the point the very real impact of Turner Syndrome on our girl's ears/hearing.
Thankfully for now G has perfect hearing, no fluid behind her drums and has been infection free for 4 months. 
We've been promised annual screening until at least 16, and should or when the infections resurface, they will see us more frequently.
Six months of antibiotics will be prescribed this coming winter also. Downside....her poor gut will take a further bashing :(

The beauty of the NHS
G received her second meningitis B jab recently.  I know this a sore subject for many families, rightly so. But I just have to be thankful that her poorliness qualifies her (at our doctors in our county at least) for another potentially life saving jab.

Next week we have growth discussions with her paediatrician at our endocrinology appointment, and the week after is the much anticipated gastroenterology appointment.  In the meantime I need to crack on with school reports. The past few weeks have reminded me that being a working mummy to a girl who doesn't have the best track record with good health can be a tough one.
Wouldn't change a thing though. Love you G!  

Ps...G's current favourite phrase- I ABSOLUTELY like that. And game-school assemblies. Haha!