Hello everyone. Kate is one week old today!
Sorry about the gap in the blog. As you are about to find out, we have been very busy! We left the story having been discharged from hospital. It was straight to our (small) flat in Kingston for a short time while we waited for our audiology appointment in St Mary's Hospital.
As I'm sure you can imagine, and as those of you with children know, the first nights at home with your baby are interesting ones. The first thing we noticed was how loud Katy was, grunts, squeaks and the less subtle screams for attention. I was able to sleep through some of these, but Leanne stayed up with Katy for most of the night. However, I was there in the mornig to take over and let Leanne get some well earned rest.
When we first moved to Surbiton in 2006, we walked along the Thames to Kingston and saw all the prams being pushed by proud parents. It was finally our turn, although we still should have had 3 weeks of walking with a big bump. We were fourtunate enough to have some cracking weather so we we able to have a stroll down the river on Wednesday, a stroll and a wander round outside the shops on Thursday and then we ventured into some shops and a resturaunt on Friday. On Saturday, we were joined by Auntie Sarah for a frosty beer and nibbles, in the sun, next to the Thames. Katy was due to be born in two weeks from that day and we could not quite belive that we were all sitting there and having fun in the sun.
That weekend was spent getting ready for the move back to Wales. Lots of sorting, packing, and thowing things out. Katy was very well behaved, and just watched us get everything sorted. We had a farewell dinner with Uncle James and Auntie Sarah on Monday evening then it was off to the hospital on Tuesday.
The hearing test was not great, reduced hearing in one ear and nothing in the other. Katy was still not supposed to be born so she will be tested again in a few weeks to see if she has got any better. On Wednesday, we loaded up the car, gave the keys back to our landlord and were on our merry way back to Wales.
Katy was fantastic on the journey, she slept pretty much all the way. We had a decent run and were both nervous and excited (there must be a word for that) as we got in the lift up to our new home.
What we found was jaw-dropping. All of our things that had been put in storage over the last two years were there waiting for us. Our ormanents, photos, clothes and our fantastic bed. It was a special feeling to finally be here, almost as if the past three months had melted away.
Katy responded to us being much more chilled out and she loves the sea air. We take her for walks in the "BabyBjorn" (THANK YOU LYDIA!!!) every day and she is developing every day. She is now over 5lb and has started lifting her head and doing little smiles. She has met many of her Welsh relations for the first time and spent lots of time with her Grandparents too.
Katy was supposed to be born last week. She decided that she would come into the world 16 weeks ago and she has shown us all how strong she is. Leanne has been, and still is, an amazing mother. All those hours spent with Katy in hospital have definately meant that we could be here today, and not still in Kingston going to see her in hospital.
Thank you ALL for your support through this tough time. This is not the end of the blog. We will be keeping the photos and comments comming every few weeks so stay tuned for more exciting Katy adventures, and if you are ever in West Wales, drop us a line.
Mark, Katy and Leanne Richards,
129 Altamar,
Kings Road,
Swansea,
SA1 8PP.
PS. Photos in a seperate post
6 comments:
wow what a roller coaster! glad that you are settling into life with no sleep! and by the seaside how wonderful. wishing you all the very best for a calmer end to 2007! happy 1 week birthday Katy!!
take care guys, keep us updated!
with lots of love from Leanne (D!) x x x x
Wow.....so pleased to hear you are all doing so well and have settled back in Wales. You can now really start enjoying being parents to your little bundle and my goodness what a fighter she is! Take care of each other. I look forward to reading your updates. With love Jane (PICU) x
dear all,
am pleased to here that you have settled back to wales and your new lives as parents to your little girl katy. its lovely to see your pics, especially the one of her smiling at leanne, what a brilliant memory to have. hope things continue to go well, even though you may not be getting any sleep, think of it as a night shift leanne!
take care, love to all,
ana
Good luck guys. Leanne you will be missed on PICU. You have all been so strong over the last 16 weeks and an inspiration to all those who have followed the blog. Enjoy life as a family even the dirty nappies and sleepless nights.
Take care of yourselves and each other.
With love Emma (S) x x x
Hello Leanne and Mark and amazing little Katy. It's so lovely to see you all settled into your new home in Wales by the sea. All the pictures are just gorgeous. Wishing
you all the very best for your future together. Keep us updated we often think and talk of you and wonder how you all are you are an inspiration to us all.
Take Care Lots of Love and Hugs
from Emily (PICU) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Looks like Katy sure brought lots of experiences to your life all of which you wouldn't change for the world. I am the same my daughter was born at 27weeks. Airlie has shown us that there is much more to life and we have meet some pretty amazing people since she has been born.
I have set up my own website dedicated to premmie babies. We live in Australia and we provide a dedicated site for premmie babies around the world. We collect information, stories, sell products and now also have our very own blogging area for premmie babies. We would love to have Katy sign up and let us know her birth story and journey and how she is going now?
I hope everything is going well
You can check out our website as http://www.momentbymoment.com.au/cafeprem
take care xx
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