Veronica and Sven’s Baby Diary

Hooray, I finally found time to post a little video of Simon’s walking as I promised! 

I don’t think I mentioned it but, in case you noticed it, I dislocated my jaw and have to wear a mouthguard for 6 weeks until my jaw has time for the swelling to go down, then wear some other contraption for 6 months until the ligaments heal properly, then I have to get braces to stop it from happening again. All that from biting into an apple. The mouthguard was a problem at first but has settled down now. At least the liquids only diet part of it all has finished now and my jaw is no longer popping out all the time.

For a change, this is a bit of an emotional, sad post.  We recently found out that my Nanna, who has Altzheimer’s, also has a type of leukemia and so her time left with us is limited.  I decided to use some money I had received (my early inheritance from Nanna) to go and visit her and introduce her to Holly and Simon.  It was really important for me to be able to see her again and say goodbye and to have that opportunity for me to introduce my children to her, even though she couldn’t understand what was going on.

My Nanna has been in a nursing home for many years because of the Altzheimer’s.  She has no recognition of us as being family and can only say a few words.  There is little inkling of the Nanna I grew up with and love so completely.  I hate Altzheimer’s for robbing me of her joking, cheeky, loving nature while leaving this shell that looks similar enough to make you wonder if there is any recognition.  It tears your heart-strings.  Most of all, I am distraught at watching my younger cousins with her.  They never had the opportunity to know her as she really was; they only know her as she is today.

While it was quite difficult emotionally to see her again, I’m glad I went.  There were a few things that Nanna did that reminded me of good times, and she looked much better than I had been imagining.  My Mum came along for support and I was happy to see her smiling and sharing time with Nanna too although, again, it was hard to watch her having to say goodbye.

The trip to Melbourne was good in other ways though, as I was able to meet up with some of my relatives from my Mum’s side of the family.  Here they all are in the photos.

Here’s Holly meeting her Great-Grandnanna for the first time and giving her a cuddle.

Mum and Nanna.

Mum, Holly and Nanna.

Nanna, Simon and me.

Four generations - Nanna, Mum, Holly, me, and Simon.

Aunty Mary, Nanna and Mum.

Me, Taylah, Holly, Simon, Caitlyn, and Maddy (my cousins).

Lots of aunties… Aunties Marg, Jo and Mary with Mum and Simon.

Holly and her second cousin.

Aunty Megan feeding Simon his evening bottle.

We have official first steps!  Simon has been on the vege for a while, but today he took quite definite steps on his own.  He’d balance, make two or three steps, then fall over.  Hooray, Simon!  The whole family is very impressed.

See below for a lovely picture of simon, replete in grubby “Stud Muffin” t-shirt, and no pants.

Wow, while I was typing this, Simon just walked from the bean bag to the couch!  Lots of steps, no falling! Yay!