"Normality" approaches...?!

It does seem like an update is long overdue. The quietness on our part is a fairly good sign - there hasn't been a lot to report so far this year. A couple of hospital visits for Mo but not a lot else.

We feel as though we have come over the crest of a big hill. Gradually we have found more capacity to do 'normal' things (such as having friends to stay, over the Christmas holiday). We have been able to socialise more (to the point that we actually feel like we have a social life!) and that has further decreased our stress levels (we have some very lovely friends).

One recent noteworthy event was a trip to the home of a young girl who has some similar disabilities to Morgan. She is several years older than him, and it was very valuable to see how her parents had adapted her accommodation and to share some stories and thoughts about life with a disabled child. The prospective modifications and adaptions to our home exercise our thoughts greatly. There are several options, all with varying disadvantages. Not many proposals come with advantages - rather, they meet needs, if that makes sense. Ideally we wish to make alterations that least affect our ability to live as a family unit. You will not be surprised to read that these are not always the primary considerations of the organisations that fund the adaptations...

James' speech is improving, albeit slowly. In the last few weeks, he has started to say 'Yeah', fairly consistently as well as shaking his head for 'No' (less consistently). Emotionally, this feels like a breakthrough because at last we are able to have mini conversations with him. We can tell that he enjoys his new success with communication and we hope that this will spur him on. He has also recently picked up 'Hiya' and 'Bob' although we're not sure that the latter carries any semantic significance.

So I said 'semantic'. Sue me. Heh heh.

Mo has made a good degree of progress with eating and drinking, to our great delight. He now clearly tells us when he is hungry and eats puréed food with relish. (I mean vigour. But he probably would eat relish too, if offered.) His drinking is much better too and he can manage 100 ml of water on a good day. This is all quite variable and there is absolutely no suggestion that he could cope without his gastrostomy (he is on a pump feed 12+ hours a day) but it is enchanting to see him enjoying the experience of eating and drinking.

Life at home is good. Sharon very much enjoys the large garden at the new house - it is her sanctuary. In fact she is presently installing a 'secret garden' at the far end and there is some doubt as to whether I will be allowed admittance. (High days and holy days maybe.) I continue to enjoy my job in I.T. (I have been with my present employer nearly a year) and thank God for this far less stressful job. I do not miss law.

Things we have on our near horizon:

• Potty training for James
• Landscaping works to improve disabled access to the rear of the house (no grant or other assistance for this)
• Installation of adapted bathroom for Mo
• Conversion of downstairs front room to Mo's bedroom
• My novel being made into a major motion picture

Spot the flight of fancy...