Another update!

Just a quick update of whats been happening in our lives the last 2 weeks.


It was Grandad's 70th Birthday last Friday so we all went out to a Chinese restaurant called Ricky's. Lovely restaurant, I had decorated a cake for him and they brought it out at the end. Imogen has been doing fab with her swallowing the last few weeks and she had loads of noodles at Ricky's. At the end of the meal a man from another table came up to ours and said how well behaved our little girl was and how proud we should be of her and that she is a credit to us. We had been sitting there for over 2 hours, but I always take her some colouring to do to keep her occupied.




In the restaurant



At the weekend we went to the local park in the splash pool area, the trampolines and swing boats. On Sunday I took Imogen and her friend to see Nanny Mc phee at the flicks and then had Mc Donald's for lunch. (That'll really encourage her to eat - Baz) So because of the fun filled weekend, Monday morning was the same as usual- I don't want to go to school. Think we need to make weekends really boring so she cant wait to go to school!!

She was star of the week at school this week so she got to bring home the class Bear. This stays with us for a few days and comes everywhere with us. We have to take photos of the bear having a great time and fill the golden book in. Imogen was very excited.

Today the lady who helps with her eating at school sent a note home saying how pleased they all were of her at school today as she took part in the class tasting session and had some brown bread, along with strawberries and radishes that the children had planted in their vegetable patch. She just seems to have turned a small corner with her eating and swallowing, lets hope it lasts and develops.

Lindsey

Caravan Hols have started

Our first venture of the year was to Marton Mere Haven Park in the Easter Holidays. It was great to be back in the van, its like your second home!! Imogen loved it as usual, likes going out dancing at night to the club house and getting dressed up in her party dresses. She is getting to be a right girly girl. Anyway while at the park went to the Sand castle at Blackpool that was great fun, loads of big slides. Imogen liked the wave machine the best, think we were all like kids in there.

Also took a trip to Stanley park in Blackpool, we haven't been there since Barry and me were courting. Took a motor boat out on the lake and Imogen did most of the driving.

Hayley, Colin and Harris came over for the Saturday afternoon which was nice. We all went into the club house at night for an hour or 2 before they went home. Imogen and Harris had fun in the amusements and on the park.

Lindsey

Ps double click the pics to enlarge.

Imogens Birthday and trip to Gulliver's World

Imogen had a party at home this year with a few of her friends from school a few days before her birthday.. Daddy took great delight in doing all the party games with them, he was a great host! She had a brill time and the lounge looked like a disco. We even had an egg hunt in the garden. On her actual birthday the 3 of us went out for lunch and then went 10 pin bowling which she enjoys and most of the time beats us.

The day after the birthday we left daddy at home and have a girly day out with Aunt Kay,Lucy,and Millie at Gullivers world. Aunt Sharron met us for the fun day with Laura and Nathan. A grand day had by all on loads of rides, Imogen was braver this year going on some bigger rides than previously, because she is now 5 is her reason.

Another birthday over for another year.

Imogen is second from the left! She wouldn't go on this ride last year.

January Hospital visit

Well we have finally got a fully working computer so now need to update you all of whats been going on in our lives.

We have had a few hospital visits in last couple months, the first one at Manchester to see Dr Rocoski. He always brings up the issue of Imogens eating, and he cannot understand why she still needs all her nutrition via her gastrostomy. He is thinking it must be medical, but as most of you who know us will know that it is just lack of understanding of how to eat and also sometimes too much of a chore for her to eat. It isn't through want of not trying on our behalf. Its a frustrating daily battle to get her to eat just small amounts. Anyway he has now referred us to see a gastrologist doctor who will do some PH monitoring overnight tests. Think he thinks there is some miracle medical cure!!

Couple of weeks ago went to see our local consultant Dr Peckham. She also thinks along of our lines about Imogens eating, and is referring us to a phycologist to hopefully talk to Imogen about the reasons she doesn't eat. She has also referred us again to the feeding clinic at Alder Hey to see if they have any ideas.
She is really pleased with Imogens progress overall and we see her again in about 5 months.

Imogen is doing really well at school, her reading and writing have come on in leaps and bounds and she has some lovely friends and even swallows her lunch!! Cant believe she is nearly in year 1, time goes so fast.

New update soon

Hi all,

it's been ages we know. Our PC has been bust for ages and we can't upload anything without the internet connection dropping out. It will be fixed soon cos it's doing our head in.

Anyway, we are all still well. Imogen is top notch at the moment. Call back soon.

Baz

Father Christmas comes to Morecambe

Well hello all, happy new year. Glad that's out of the way for another year. Really enjoy christmas and new year but once New years eve is out of the way, the decs come down and it's back to normal ASAP.

As one would expect, it was quite manic in the Dyson house over the period and fortunately, father christmas didn't disappoint. Imogen got her fair share of gifts including a dolls house that she had written asking FC for one. She did look pretty upset after opening all the gifts in the sack and remembering she'd asked for a dolls house. She soon realised that he normally leaves bigger gifts in the dining room.

We had duck for dinner with Grandma and Grandad. Grandad was allowed home from the hospital for a few hours for dinner. He had been in for a week or so. Poor Grandad Phil, it was christmas day last year after dinner that he last went in. We told him (as we do every year) that we would make it a very special christmas this year. In a jokey sort of way. He laughs at it (fortunately).

Later in the day we descended on Immie's Uncle Jeff for the big family party. Surprise surprise, came home with another huge bag of pressies. Imogen's other Grandma and Grandpa always buy us all a stash of goodies.

New years eve was a good do. We had the neighbours round, Kay, Adam and Kids. We had a chinese takeaway for tea and then played Abba and Take That singstar on the Wii from 8pm until 0130. Was the best new year in ages cos I am always working the streets.

So now she is back at school and was really reluctant to go. Cried in fact going in. Soon be back into a routine. The word on the street is school is shut tomorrow due to the snow.

Immie is supposed to be at Manchester next week for a barium meal test. She had one a few years ago but it showed that her osophogus was ok and saw no problem for swallowing. Barium meal is a liquid I think, that goes in the tummy and shows up on x-ray. I am confident that all will be ok again, but as the surgeon has requested it, we should do as we are told. Still not swallowing much, same old on that score.

Anyway, if the snow is still bad, we'll shall postpone it as getting into Manchester is not looking brill.

Believe it or not, we have no holidays planned. We have a trip to Nanny's in February - just remembered, but still no plans for the caravan. Immie wants to go to the farm where we store it, to have a cup of tea in it. Sound like a plan - we are all withdrawing.

Health and happiness to ya.

Dyson

PS Loads of videos to watch below

Fat man has been

What's this?




Where's the main pressie?

Cute (bit of a din, but cute)
Check out the teacher on all fours at the end.

A face full of snow.

Sledging on a tea tray

Imogen's swimming lesson

Are we exploiting this child by showing such a miserable pic?

Imogen is in the pink cap.

This is Simon and Jasmine. Jas really is being suspended in the air. Call the social. Moments later, simon got a face full of booby juice!!!

Hola all,

Well it's been a big bag of sick people in this household. Daddy has been a bit poorly, but as this site is Immie's then I should tell you about her. She has been a really sick bag lately, terrible nights. She has been burning up with raging temperatures and being sick in bed with lots of bed changes. She has been on the dioralyte instead of milk through the night. This is just water and a salt replacement, terrible drink but straight into the tummy and she has no idea.

She has also been having her oxygen back on at night just like old times sake - see pic. She created at first but has got used to it. This is just to help her out as her sats have been abysmal. Eating wise - Rubbish. Really taken a backwards step but guess what she wanted last night? Soggy chicken skin. Yup, chicken skin. It was from mine and Linz's chicken legs we were having. Now sometimes if it's crispy, we'll eat it but no it was minging and soggy. So, Ims got a strop on cos we said she could eat it. Anyway, we gave in. So she filled her mouth with greasy horrid skin. No she didn't swallow it! Oh night before, she wanted mustard, none of this ponsey french stuff. Hard case English. She had some after going on and on. "Ok Imogen, try it". She did! That'll be it until adulthood me thinks.

On this post there is a vid of Imogen having swimming lessons with her friend Elizabeth. Immie has been very clingy all her life in the pool, but these private lessons have done wonders for her confidence. The quality of the video is a bit ropey but ya can make her out in the pink cap. Sounds like we're posh having private lessons but it won't be for ever.

At the moment, Imogen is doing her nativity at school. Her line is, "Yes you can, shine star, shine" and "Thank you for coming to our show, we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year". No she isn't saying it alone, she wouldn't and I'm unsure if she will even get onto the stage but hopefully she will surprise us.

Bad news troops, caravan is away for the winter. No photos this time - Sorry, you're all gutted I know.

T'ra.

Harrogate holiday

Hi all,
just a short clip of Imogen running scared from the ducks.

Imogen is 99.1cm

Imogen has been to see Doctor Peckam today at Lancaster infirmary. This was a general check up as she sees her periodically. Doctor Peckham was at the hospital the day she was born and remembers just how poorly Ims was. Every time we go back, she (doctor) always has a nice surprise.

She was weighed today and has put on a little bit of weight but we think she has lost some as she has been quite poorly recently. She has a nasty chesty cough and bogey nose and what with her being sick a bit she has likely lost some weight. Any road, she is 99.1 cm's. There is no way she can get in at Gulliver's world for free now!

Next week, she begins school full time and I think this will wipe her out. Even with just going half days for the last month she has been going (her own request) to bed earlier. We think she enjoys it, but at the moment it's mainly based on playing. They don't learn anything much yet, just a bit of story interaction. She already knows all 26 letters, which they start learning next year. Think we'll have to pull her back.

See yas

Ste and Donna's wedding

Immie dancing with Jenny, a bridesmaid at Ste and Donna's wedding. As per usual she was cooed over.

Imogen and Lana Banana

This was Lana bana who was on our table at the wedding. She was lovely and adored Imogen. (I'm not just saying that - she did!)

Mum and Imogen dancing

Comment from Jeannette at St Mary's

Hi
You may or may not remember me, I was (and still am!) a nurse on the neonatal surgical unit during Imogen's time on the unit (Jeanette) I cared for her during quite a few shifts and during those few short months (must have seemed like and eternity at the time) feel I got to know the three of you well, But I wouldn't know her now, Micky pointed us in the direction of your web page, saw the school photos, what a fit and healthy young lady she is, just gorgeous.

Take Care
Jeanette

Imogen's first day at school - Torrisholme Primary

Well Imogen's big day finally arrived - 14th Sept 09. She is now officially at school. We set off on the long 100 yard walk from our front door to school at 0850 and arrived at 0852. The playground was full of joyous and excited little darlings with a somewhat overwhelmed Immie Dee. She was quiet and reserved but, to our surprise she kept the waterworks at bay.
Her new teacher is Mrs. Dowker, who seems really lovely and meets with Immie's approval. There is also Mrs. Anderton a nursery nurse in her class and due to Immie's feeding needs Mrs. Armstrong is on hand for her hourly fill.
So far, I think they have just played and got to know each other. Trying to find out what they have done is blood out of stone job with Immie. We think they have just played. So for the next 2 weeks she is there 9 until 12 and then 1230 to 3 in a couple of weeks. Then she goes for a full time week before half term. All seems daft to me. Kids eh! Never at school.
Dad is going to get the guitar out of the cupboard which he put away in April 05 and pick up where I left off. Oh and maybe a golf club..

T'ra
Baz

Immie on a fly past in her Hummer. Check out the smooth gear change.

This was us on the beach at Formby. We were staying in the caravan at Burscough

Immie goes to Annie

Top pic is Immie outside the Lowery theatre when we took her to see Annie (actually Auntie Shaz did). These doggies are from the show. The big one plays Sandie.

Then we have a picture of Abi who Ims met at Burscough in the next caravan.

Comment from St Mary's

WOW. I cannot believe just how grown up she is now! Going to school and everything!
Looking back at those photos of her as a tiny dot, really does remind me just how poorly she was. What a fighter.. All the staff from NNSU (Neonatal Surgical Unit) still refer to Imogen as the miracle baby. And they love to get the updates from you. Thank you for those... keep them coming.It’s fantastic to see her doing so well. Alison. S/N @ NNSU

Summer Holiday 09

Summer holiday 09