St Francis

At the hospital again today! Think I should get a season ticket!

This time it wasn’t just for Blessing. Obiwan had an Ears Nose and Throat appointment, one of the check ups following his Grommets operation 18 months ago. All was fine and they have now discharged him.

After that appointment I took Blessing across to have her special boots checked in the Orthotics department as I was feeling they seemed a little tight. Fortunately there was an Orthotist there who could see us after her clinic. I’m glad I went as she measured Blessing and though the length was just about alright her feet had grown quite a lot width ways and the boots and the special insert were much too small.

The Orthotist ordered her some new (funky fuschia!) boots and inserts and put the boots on a ‘very urgent’ order so they will hopefully be back by tomorrow. We should get them Friday morning (if all goes according to plan!).

We’re due to leave on Sunday for two weeks in France and the Orthotist didn’t want Blessing to be in her present boots whilst we were away. The whole point of the boots is to improve her feet not cause more damage!

We also had some good news today!

When Blessing came to live with us last year we applied to be assessed by her placing authority for an Adoption Allowance. As she is not developmentally at the same stage as her chronological age we must legally be allowed to be assessed for this financial support.

Since last year our SW, Blessing’s SW and many other people have been trying to chase a decision from the Adoption Support Team as to whether we qualify. Today we heard the panel that assess financial support had met and made some decisions!

They need to look in to what happened last year and when exactly the application was submitted and what happened to it after that but for the coming year we have been given an adoption allowance payable every fortnight! We were so pleased.

This will really help out as with her developmental delay she will continue to need things that other children of her age grow out of. She is in the largest size nappies now (size 5+ or 6) and they are tricky to get in an eco friendly make and we also will need a larger travel cot soon for trips away. Her love of eating everything as well as the instability in her walking means she cannot be left alone in a room to sleep without being in a cot. With her learning difficulties too she has and will continue to have a limited understanding of danger.

Looking forward to the holiday now! It will be our first proper holiday with Blessing and I’m sure she will love it especially as there is a pool where we’re going and we think she was actually born a dolphin!

May not be able to blog once we’re away but will catch up when we get back!