Thoughts on first Covid vaccination.

So today I got my first Covid vaccination. I'm an unpaid carer to Louis so I didn't have to wait for the under 50s cohort.

I can't begin to describe how happy I am to have received this first dose. For the last 12 months I've lived in fear of catching Covid 19 and I haven't. That is to say I still could, one dose isn't enough protection. But I feel I've dodged a bullet!! Even if I do get it before my next dose in 12 weeks one dose will lessen the effects.

I'm also so grateful to science for rushing through the trials and giving us these vaccines. Freedom for all hopefully this summer!

Back to school yay!?! (not me I loved lockdown and homeschool.

It's 8th March, parents up and down England are celebrating because the schools are open again....

Not me though. Louis my grandson has always lived in a three generation house. Me, his Gangy, Mum. Me and Mum share the caring using our different strengths (Mum was a carer before, I worked in a school). So starting in March last year I did the Homeschooling. I loved it, loved having him at home, loved seeing his little face as I taught him. But please don't get me wrong....it was hard, Louis has moderate learning disabilities, he has aphasia, he has some hearing loss. A lot of things are very difficult for Lou to grasp; number bonds to 10, letter format and the biggest one concentration. He finds it hard to stay on task, explain himself, and he needs (and always gets) praise for completing the smallest thing. I don't mind that, we all need to be cheerleaders for the kids in our lives. But I'm not here to moan about homeschooling during lockdown, I'm here to celebrate it! 

You see you can teach at your own child's (grandchild's) pace, you can switch it around, it can 100% paper based one day, tablet based the next. Because you aren't confined to a timetable you can start and finish when you want, you can go slow, go quick, see what's not working in real time. The pressure is off because the child isn't set against others in a classroom. 

So why if I enjoyed homeschooling is Louis going back to school today?

Because school is what he needs, I'm not a teacher and with his special needs (speech and language therapy, occupational therapy etc) he doesn't get what he needs at home. I do believe school is about more than education, it's about friends, fun, and all that. 

It's also a place for Louis to learn more than he can at home; how to be a friend, respect, play, rules and most of all working together.

School will still differentiate his work, the SALT team will visit. School will be about fairness, giving Lou want he needs to be successful.

So I hope he enjoys being back, I'll miss him, but he won't miss out.

When we are out of lockdown, looking forward!

© Country Life Magazine

So hopefully by June 21st there may be some semblance of normal coming back to the UK.

Above is the Brighton Pavilion built by King George IV. 

So why the picture? Well my grandson Louis has decided that's where he wants to go. Problem? Not a big one....however with Louis' learning disability he doesn't really understand lockdowns, covid and everything else related to it. He wants to go now! 

He asked "Why not to now?" 

We explained about 'the nasty germs' and the fact it was 7.30 pm, dark and also bedtime. His reply "We go to later" 

That's the answer I knew he'll give us. See Lou has no real concept of time. Everything is yesterday, "Just a now" or later. It's from the brain injury due to his massive stroke. We as his carers, live in the moment with him whilst trying to explain what yesterday, today and tomorrow really mean.

So Brighton some time in the future we visit you and your lovely pavilion. It's not going to be 'later' or tomorrow, but we get there!

An introduction

 

This is my grandson Louis.

Louis is special but in the best possible way. Why? Because he's lived up to and more every challenge he's been set since Christmas 2018.

Now Christmas 2018....

Louis had complained of an earache in the days leading up to Christmas, but kids have earache so as a family we thought it was just that an earache.

Turns out it wasn't just an earache though it was worse. It was mastoiditis which led to meningitis, encephalitis and sadly a massive stroke. All within 4 days over Christmas 2018.

We were told it was bad and Louis wouldn't make it.

BUT he did. Louis (a Big Harry Potter fan) us the boy who lived.

Today Louis lives with learning disabilities, moderate hearing loss, aphasia, sight problems and some issues regarding weight that come from the brain damage caused by the stroke.

However it's not as bleak as it sounds. Not bleak at all by any means. Louis is great, happy, affectionate and loved by all who meet him.

I'm his proud and delighted Gingy (not Granny!!) I have 3 beautiful grandchildren, Louis, Ffion and Robyn. They are the light of my life.

Life is so precious 😍