the picture of innocence....

Stressful but satisfactory day.

We had the appointment with Alfie's ENT consultant today in Oxford at the John Radcliffe. after weeks of apenea, spiking temperatures, bugs and no sleep which has led to toal abject exhaustion in Alfie, 6 GP appointments at least, 3 GPs and an email to one of the paedatric senior consultants (the most useful bit!) we have got to today. The paeds consultant suggested from the video clip that it could be inflamed adenoids or tonsils.

We saw Miss Lennox this afternoon (who we have known from Alfies previous problems) and she isbrilliant with him, brusque but immensely patient. And the diagnosis is....

Chronic tonsillitis, which has been going on for months. He is now on a heavy dose of amoxycillin for a week and then 5 weeks of once a day preventative to try and get it to calm down if not get rid of it for now. Also 2 days of a steroid to calm down his breathing. If it works to get rid of it we leave it for now. If it just calms it but doesn't clear it he will have to have his tonsils removed. so back up to Oxford in 4 weeks and no nursery for at least a wek to keep him healthy and lots of sleep for us all.

We are both feeling very relieved but shattered and headachey etc. and I think a tiny bit in shock. So very happy it is something simple (ish).I had visions of him needing to be re trached and all that entailed. i find myself standing outside his door if it is too quiet terrified if doesn't breath soon enough that I will go in and find we have lost him. almost more scary now that we know him so well. when he was tiny we didn't know him and what we would be losing if anything happened (if that doesn't sound too harsh)the thought of the loss was terifying but now we are fully aware of this amazing tough little man we could lose.

How he has coped so well and happily over the last few weeks I really don't know, not many adults would me included.

Thank goodness Stuart's work are so understanding and supportive, that has helped enormously in the past and now with this appointment and the follow up. Stuart engenders such good feeling from his team and people more senior to him that they help as much as they can. I think because he tries to understand and support all of them with any crisies they have that they don't think twice about returning the favour. I know from other people that we have huge amount to be grateful for there.

and the picture... we return from Oxford, relieved but shattered to find that this little bitch cutey pie had massacred the local blackbird in our kitchen. Eviscerated bird and feathers everywhere. Nice!!!

I cleaned up and I retired to bed exhausted, feeling sick and having to use the inhaler again while Alfie slept on the sofa and Stuart and worked (dedicated huh?).

ooh and it can fart for England, I swear she makes it an olympic sport! Silent but deadly and it sits in a cloud around your head and moves with you for at least 5 minutes....