This week is Heart week and I’ve been focusing a lot on raising awareness of congenital heart defects, as I do every year. My blog posts this week have all been heart-focused and I’ve been busy with various fundraising events for heart charities this week too. Jessica had her monthly community nurse check-up yesterday to check her oxygen saturation levels and weight. Whilst her weight gain was fine, her sats were lower than usual – they normally are around 80, but this time they were hovering around 73-76. We had a chat with our cardiac liaison nurse and as Jessica seems well in herself, apart from a slight cough, we will just keep a close eye for now and check her sats again later today at home. The community nurse has brought her next visit a little closer so will come again in a fortnight rather than leaving it a month and we have a couple of hospital appointments coming up in the next few weeks anyway. I’m hoping that it’s just a momentary blip and not a sign that Jessica needs the next surgery sooner rather than later.
Things I have loved this week:
- Having a coffee morning at church in aid of Little Hearts Matter.
- Watching Sophie playing with a smaller child at toddler group and sharing the toys beautifully with her.
- An afternoon baking biscuits with the girls.
- Eating pancakes and wondering as I do every year, why I so rarely cook them at any other time.
- Jessica’s preschool having a wear it red day, with stay and play sessions, a cake sale and a guess the Love Hearts game in aid of Tiny Tickers.
- Jessica’s toddler signing class also supporting Heart Week with another guess the Love Hearts game in aid of Tiny Tickers. What really touched me was that every single parent in the class joined in with it and donated, and most of them don’t know Jessica’s story at all.
- Being featured on the first Meet the Parents podcast where I shared my post on “What it means to be a heart parent” to help raise awareness of Heart Week.
- My ‘what it means to be a heart parent’ post being shared on the Action Medical Research blog – they are currently funding research into improving heart surgery for babies with HLHS, the heart condition that Jessica has.
- Starting this year’s 40acts challenge for Lent.
- Jessica’s enthusiasm for learning French with Mummy – she has asked me every day this week “can we do some French now please Mummy?” and her latest favourite thing is to count to ten in French. I just need to work on improving my French now!
I do hope is it a momentary blip and Jessica’s OK at her next check and that the surgery can remain in the distant future. You’ve worked so hard raising awareness, such an important cause and one that I know means so much to you all. And wow to Jessica learning French, bless her! Clever girl! My daughter asks to say hello in different languages sometimes, and I can only manage a handful before she puts me to shame! Thanks for sharing with #WotW x
Thank you – rechecked them since and they were back up so fingers crossed! Love that Boo wants to say hello in different languages too 🙂
I hope it’s a blip too, will keep my fingers crossed.
My daughter is learning French and German at school! not something I did at her age, but she loves it too 🙂
Thanks Karen, they were back to normal when I rechecked them so hopefully all is fine now.
Glad Jessica is doing fine. Looks like you’re doing really good on raising awareness on heart disease 🙂 I love looking at photos of your little girls, especially on Instagram. Warms my heart. Adorable little girls 🙂 #wotw
Thanks Dean – it’s certainly been a busy week! Glad you love the photos – I think my girls are adorable too but I am very biased! 🙂
I hope it is just a little blip and Jessica’s sats improve!
You have done so well at raising awareness and money this week….
I listened to you on the Meet the Parents podcast….You did great!
Have a fab weekend x
Thank you Kim, they were back up when I checked again. Hope you have a fab weekend too x
Hope it’s just a blip for Jess! You have done fab with the heart awareness… Seen lots of posts! I need to check the podcast out! I love that pic of Sophie baking she looks adorable. You are making me think I should dig out the French xx #wotw
Thanks Sarah – Jessica’s certainly been keeping me on my toes with my French! Her sats were back up again when I rechecked them so hopefully just a blip.
Sounds like it’s been a great week. The fundraising events sound great fun and all for a very worthy cause. French is the second language in this house….I’m waiting for the day my daughter asks why daddy is speaking a funny language. Going to check out those links you’ve created. #wotw
Thank you Helena – it’s been a very busy week but good to raise awareness 🙂
I hope Jessica is ok, it must be a worry every time she has an infection. My friends daughter has a similar condition she is 11 now and I know how much they worry, constant appointments and meeting at Alder Hey but they are just incredible parents as you are x And as fir the pancakes I have started cooking them more lately, as we all love them so why save them for once a year x
Thank you Sarah – thankfully her sats picked up again and she has been fine over the last few days – it is a lot of worry though as you say. Hope your friend’s daughter is doing well.
A busy week for you! Well done on working so hard to spread the message about congenital heart disease during Heart Week. I love the little apron that Sophie is wearing in the baking photo – I’d like one like that myself!
It sounds like you have been busy this week. I love the photo of your daughter cooking. I hope Jessica’s sats improve and she is ok. x #WoTW
Thank you Karen – they were better when I rechecked them and Jessica has seemed fine since so fingers crossed all is well.
It is funny that certain foods are only eaten at certain times isn’t it? I always think that about mince pies- I could definitely eat them all year round! Haha!! Thank you so much for joining in #HappyDaysLinky x
Ah I’m not a fan of mince pies – am always happy to leave them firmly behind once Christmas is over! Lovely to link up again – thank you for hosting 🙂
I hope that Jessica’s levels are back to normal now, and it was just a blip. It’s great that they are being so flexible and moving appointments – it must be so reassuring.
How lovely that Jessica want’s to learn French with you =) Boo has started to say more in Danish and it’s amazing what she can understand!! I wish learning Danish has been as easy for me! hehe
Thanks Jenni – how lovely that Boo is saying more in Danish now – it is amazing how easily they seem to pick up languages when they are little isn’t it? I wish I could do the same too! 🙂
Oh I do hope it is just a blip, fingers crossed all will stay well and her surgery won’t have to be brought forward. You do an amazing job at raising awareness. Sophie looks adorable in her pinny! Thanks for linking up to #HappyDaysLinky x
Thank you Sian – keeping fingers very firmly crossed on that front!