August 19, 2010

Hi folks!
It's been a busy old week so far, and it's not over yet!
Charlie and I spent yesterday at the seaside with my sister and her kids, and much fun was had by all.
We had a wander round the steam fair, and Chas was tickled pink to have a go on the helter-skelter. He couldn't go on it last year because he would have been too breathless to get to the top of the steps, but this year he climbed happily to the top and came squealing all the way down. We didn't manage to get a picture because he shot off the end if the slide too fast!
He also had loads of fun messing around on the beach with his cousins - digging holes and building sandcastles. I've attached a picture of him on his donkey... well, you can't go to the seaside without a donkey ride, can you?!Today we've been at the chocolate factory with Charlie's heart friend, Thomas, along with his mum and baby brother.
The boys had a fabulous day (Charlie scoffed so much chocolate!) and it was so good to catch up with them again.
Thomas will be having his Fontan surgery next year, so we really won't be able to keep up with the pair of them then!
I love it that Charlie has friends with special hearts like his - it's so important for them to be able to share experiences and compare battle scars. (Equally, it's great for us heart mums to have mates in the same boat - there's such a strong bond between heart parents - unlike anything I've ever experienced before. You really do feel each other's triumphs and tragedies as if they were your own.)
Thomas was asking Charlie about his Medicalert wristband today, and Charlie said 'You'll have one soon - once you've had your heart fixed!'
It's so wonderful to see two such brilliant boys doing so well, and enjoying life to the full with their extra-special hearts! I'm attaching a (slightly blurry) pic of the two of them, along with baby Samuel.A quiet day tomorrow, I think, before we start thinking about heading for the big city - I hear Les Mis, Madame Tussaud's, St James's Park and numerous museums calling!
Cheerio for now - I'm off to bed!
PS Apologies to anyone who reads our blog via Google Reader, and has had about a dozen versions of this post appearing... Blogger is NOT playing ball tonight!