BACK FROM HOSPITAL

Hiya everyone!

We are back!! Surgery went very very well; Dominic looks amazing; it's like a miracle for us. He keeps looking around in amazement; we didn't realise how little he could see before; he is walking so much more confidently already.

There is obviously still bruising/wounds to heal but the result is fantastic as you can see. He will need to 'learn' to use his forehead muscles to raise and lower his lids and may perhaps need another op when he is 4 or 5 to finalise things but overall we are thrilled.

xx Leonie

RAINING CATS AND DOGS

Its bucketing it down outside! Theo had an early night; Ella is watching 'the nutty professor', Dunc is bathing Dom (see attached photos as to why!). I'm all washed up and finished (in more ways than one, I suspect) so I'm going to get out a cross stitch to start.
Every time Dom has been in hospital, Duncan has bought me a stitching magazine to pass the time so I think I'll take one along on Tuesday. Its either that, or smoke myself to death (no pun intended).
So just a quickie to you all to say Hi and to post the gorgeous photos of Dom enjoying a mini magnum ice cream. Bless! (But would you want a kiss?)
xx Leonie

QUICK POST

Hi All,
No, I haven't forgotten my blog but been so busy and nothing nice to report anyway!

Dom is still set for surgery on the 30th however...he has managed to get a nasty skin infection (impetigo) so is on antibiotics to try and clear because he can't have surgery with that obviously...

Plus last week he fell over, and cut his tongue; what seemed at first to be just a nick turned out to be a great big cut which has now healed up without going back flat so he has a big sticking up bit; which the doctor now reckons will need sorting out at a later date. We are trying to arrange the oral surgeon to look at it whilst he is out for the count for the eye op...

It never rains but it pours...

My dad has found a beautiful English Setter which he obviously cannot keep so I have managed to entangle myself with a rehoming plan to take the dog to Germany so up early in the morning to take the dog for his injections....more stress but hoping I will get a much needed feel good factor buzz...

Nothing much else to report; just countdown to operation really, can't concentrate on anything else..

Hope all you out there are well?

Love Leonie

p.s. posting a pic of rescued dog....

DOMINIC ENJOYING LIFE!

Just some photos of Dominic on the Sissi beach, Bufos, on Tuesday. Ella introduced him to the delights of 'pebble plopping' and he found it compulsive! He was laughing so much but had a real tantrum when it was time to go!!

BTW; we have the eye surgery date; 30th January. We have to go in the day before to check he's fit for surgery etc. NOT looking forward to it but it is SO hard to get him to wear his glasses for even 5 seconds and the doctors think this surgery is necessary soon to avoid Amblyopia (lazy eye), let alone the cosmetic issues.

So keep us in your thoughts on that day :)

GETTING BACK TO REAL LIFE....

Hi all,

As the title says, Christmas is well and truly over, kids are back at school on Tuesday, the house is all de-decorated and all that's left is a few Xmas pressies/sale bargains out there in the ether, somewhere between the UK and Crete!

Kids are really missing their yia yia now; currently moving down Essex way (Hi Teresa!); I am too; must go and sweep up half a ton of grape vine leaves which have fallen into her courtyard in her absence.

Just been moving furniture about; saw a pine dresser for sale on the net; somewhere in Malia which is about 15 mins from here; Duncan called up and said we'd have it (unseen); picking it up on Tuesday. It is very difficult to find affordable stuff here so 100 euros is good for anything! Really need somewhere for all the kids videos against the back wall; fed up with this place looking like student digs!!

Isn't it gross when you move furniture; the dust and stuff behind it! Even a dead snail (!!??) Three pencils, half a biscuit and a wasp (also dead); maybe they had a suicide pact?

Went over to Milatos today; cleaned a friends house so abit of cash earned, saw dad and generally had a nice lazy Sunday. Its our one day all together and it always goes so fast; why don't Mondays whizz by like that?

Well Dominic is well and truly a 'walking' person now! Yeahhhh!! Took them all to the park yesterday and he literally walked his little legs off; whenever he fell over he just got back up and kept going. I am so pleased!

Still waiting for the operation date; hopefully will get it tomorrow or Tuesday...sort of looking forward to it now; obviously not to poor old baby being in pain, but a)getting it all over with and b) hopefully Dom being able to see the world properly. Also, whether it sounds shallow or not, I am hopeful that the op will give him a more 'standard' appearance.
For his sake; as other people can be very cruel to those who look different and, although he will still probably have to deal with this because of his shunt, if this operation can lessen the difference in how his eyes look I will be glad for him. For me, (and Duncan, Ella, Theo etc) we love him just how he is.

Anyway, hope everyone out there is all fine? Please leave comments on my blog; even if it just reassures me that someone is reading it!!

Take care
x L

P.S Have added a few photos - just for fun I am going to add a few from my 'album' whenever I post.... Ella at carnival time, Feb 07/Sissi at sunset/Theo aka skinhead, last summer/Rolly the dog with canine friend, Dexter, April 06/Dominic with new rabbit friend, just before Christmas.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year to all our friends and family!

Hope everyone had a good one?

We had the best New Years for years :)

We went to the taverna in the village; it was crammed! The owner, Yiorgi kept calling it his 'sardine party' and he was not wrong. But everyone was good natured about it; actually there were probably more English than Greeks last night but a good time was had by all.

The live bouzouki/singer duo was great; lovely traditional Greek music and lots of dancing - beautifully performed by the Greeks and enthusiastically by the English, including myself at one point (eek!!)

Dom was the perfect angel; he was wedged in by the bouzouki player who kept a fatherly eye on him, and Dom was mesmerised by his nimble fingers. Later Dom was passed around for cuddles and seemed happy enough.

Ella and Theo were very brave and did lots of dancing; I think it seems quite natural to them now as they learn it at school. Santa came at 12 midnight which delighted Theo!

The English were asked by Yiorgi for a couple of traditional UK songs; they came up with Auld Lang Syne and 'You'll never walk alone'. The Greeks all clapped politely!!!

Lots of nice food, wine, and loads of familiar faces; Jan and Maurice, Bev, Barry and Maxine, Paul and Paula etc etc.

I had a great night; finally rolled in at 2.30, popped the kids into bed and zonked. Got up as late as one can with 3 kids then started Duncs new year off with a bang by suggesting we wash the cars!!! Start as we mean to go on! Had a big fry up lunch and now just vegging on sofa with kids; early nights all round....

xx L