The final preparations - or not!

What a week it’s been here in Leigh-on-Sea. Just as everything was beginning to fall in place with the holiday disaster strikes twice, and the family is thrown into turmoil. On Saturday (3^rd) night little Lloyd stops feeding at 4 am and starts crying as though he is in pain. By the Sunday afternoon we are in hospital, with Lloyd being admitted! I couldn’t believe it, suddenly the holiday was off the cards and the priority became ensuring Lloyd would recover. His temperature hit 39.5 degrees and we had a hard couple of nights, but he is a strong lad even at this tender age of 6 weeks. With the help of the staff at Southend Hospital he makes a great recovery. The cause of the infection is never known, though I suspect he picked up a virus from his brother.

Lloyd had to have his antibiotic injections morning and night up until Feb 10^th, the day before we are due to leave for Singapore. After the final visit to the hospital with a great sigh of relief I go pick up Matthew from his Grandad’s. Here I find Matthew has been poorly all afternoon and is being sick every 30 mins or so!! Again the holiday is in complete jeopardy, and I admit defeat for a time.

We decide the way forward is for me to travel with Lloyd, then my husband to follow on afterwards with Matthew. The bags are repacked, and we finally get to sleep at 11pm. Matthew is ill throughout the night up until 2am. We wake him at 4am to find him in better health. I traipse him round the house, up and down the stairs, just to see if he is going to be sick again. But he seems okay. So we make the decision to go for it, the whole family leaves the house on 11^th Feb, and somewhat wearily begin our 4 month journey.