blurrgh

So I'm sat in bed, leaving Chris to look after Corin in the hope that some rest will get me over this stinking horrible cold before my birthday on Friday. I'm not going to Carnival now, I don't think it'd wise, given the state of me, so it'll be the 2nd year I'll have missed it :(

I've been looking at life insurance today, not that I think the cold is fatal (despite feeling that way!), but I remember all the arguments Chris' family had trying to sort out his parents affairs when they died, and I want to make sure that it doesn't happen to Corin when I'm gone, or any other children that may come along.

Provided I meet the criteria, LV= will insure me for £5 a month, and thats a flat term policy that pays out after 40 years, or on death, whatever comes first. I don't want to sound morbid, but it comes to us all, and I want to make it as easy for my family to cope with as I can,. and by making sure that there is money for a funeral and all the other arrangements, and ensuring that there is money to pay any leftover bills it will ease the burden greatly.

After all, I'm 31 this week, and I never thought I'd see 30 for some reason!

Corin's Birth

Above: Corin, 4 days old, in a heated cot and having the probe for his SAT's monitor changed

I thought I'd add a bit of background, so here's the story of Corin's birth.

It isn't every day that you find out you're going to be a Mother, but at least it wasn't a complete shock. I was already 7 and a half months pregnant and in hospital on bedrest due to Pre – Eclampsia. The consultants were hoping that I would get to 34 weeks before induction of labour was considered, but my blood tests were at a dangerous level and my blood pressure was high enough despite the medication to lower it.

The consultant doing the rounds that morning had gone to discuss the ward round with his colleague, who I was booked in under, and had come back to tell me that they were going to start labour off the next day!

I had my lunch and phoned & texted round to let friends and family know. It was strange that night, knowing that after tomorrow life was never going to be the same, but I attempted to get a good night's sleep, after all, I was going to need it.

The next morning, I was taken down to the labour ward where Baby was monitored. Then I was moved to the room where I would give birth. I went and had a shower and got some breakfast, and then given Prostin for the first stage of the induction. Obviously, if the induction didn't work then I would have a section the next day, but I was hoping this would work. I didn't want a section if it could be avoided, and I didn't really want a Hallowe'en baby either!

By 3pm, I was getting what felt like period pains, and after being monitored, given the second round of Prostin I was encouraged to have some tea. The pains increased, and at about 6.30pm, I had a show. This was it!

In the early stages, the midwife told me that the consultant in charge that evening had advised me to have an epidural, just in case Baby needed to be delivered quickly, and it would save time if the drip and everything was already in place. I wasn't keen as I'm not the best with needles, but I'm glad I did. I was fortunate in the fact I could feel the pressure from the contractions, but not the pain, and if I ever have another baby, I'll be asking for an epidural straight off!

Due to the pre-eclampsia, the labour processed very quickly, and our Son, Corin John, arrived into the world on 30^th October 2008 at 12.36am, weighing exactly 4lbs. He was cleaned up and put into an incubator and taken straight to the NICU. I caught a glimpse of him as he was taken away, but not enough to know who he looked like. I was cleaned up, and given medication as my blood pressure had rocketed and was at a very dangerous level. Finally, around 3.30am, I was allowed to go to NICU to see Corin. My husband Chris had gone down to be with him already as I hated the thought of him there alone so soon after being born. 2 photos had been sent up to the room when they let us know what he weighed, and to tell us they'd had to give him some formula as his blood sugar had dropped very low, but the photo was nothing to seeing him there and then.

My little boy lay there in the incubator, small but perfect, he had a drip in one hand, and wires on his chest and his foot, and a feeding tube in his nose, wearing nothing but a tiny nappy. He had lots of dark hair, and big bright eyes. He was beautiful, and he was breathing on his own!

I had to go back to the labour room at 4am, as I needed more medication and bloods taken. Chris went home and I was helped into bed, where, absolutely shattered, I soon fell asleep.

bit gutted

I've just found out that the legalities of attaching a buggy to a powerchair is a bit of a legal mindfield, so that's that idea out the window. I'm gutted, but now thinking of other solutions. A 5-point harness used for reins, with a very long strap may go around me, and hold Corin a bit more safely on my lap once he is capable of sitting unaided, and used in conjuction with my lapbelt sounds safe enough!

I'd still be interested in any other solutions. I've seen MIME's wheelchair babycarrier, but they are only suitable for manual chairs, and I don't have the ability to push myself any great distance these days, hence the powerchair, so that would defeat the object. May as well use the powerchair and have someone pushing the buggy.

Oh well, I'm back off to my drawing board, once I've fed a little chap who wants his tea

The first post

I used to blog on AOL, then AOL closed the blogs, followed by the messageboards and the profiles, and started promoting Bebo for things, so I left AOL and went to Sky. If I wanted to use Bebo I'd use my Bebo account. Moving was a good idea all round.

So I'm Dawn, I've been married (and most of it happy I'm glad to say) to Chris for 2 years, and we have a 7 month old son, Corin.

I have Cerebral Palsy, and all I'll say on that front for now is Google it. I have Spastic Diplegia, and very little mobility these days. Very much a few steps and that's it.

Parenting, as I'm sure many of you will know is a very hard job indeed, but being a 'Mum On Wheels' adds a lot to the joys and fun of it all. For example, when I was pregnant, people would ask 'how are you going to manage a pushchair?' Well, I'm not, but again, we'll come to that in due course.

Really, the whole idea of this blog, when I have time is to just share my day-to-day life as a mum, like any other mum, showing people that having a disability isn't always a reason not to have children, and that I am as normal (or as mad!) as any other mother.