A Family Day Out at the BBC Good Food Show

Last year we decided to take Mini Reviewer, Izzie (6), for a fun-filled  family day out to the BBC Good Food Show. From Thursday 29th November until Sunday 2nd December 2018 the BBC Good Food Show is back at Birmingham's NEC. So if you are considering taking your own Mini Chefs or Star Bakers, take a look at how we got on.

The Itchy-saurus by Rosie Wellesley #NationalEczemaWeek

Did you know that 20% of children have eczema? Unfortunately this figure includes all three of my Mini Reviewers, so we thought as it is National Eczema Week, we'd share a great book all about a very itchy and angry dino!

Our story so far... #EctodermalDysplasia #JeansForGenes

Tomorrow it's Jeans for Genes Day and, around the same time each year, I reflect upon the impact a tiny faulty gene continues to have on our family's day-to-day lives. For those of you who don't know, I have a condition called Ectodermal Dysplasia (ED) as does my son, Theo. I have previously shared a little about the condition and my concern's for Theo's future here: Along Came Poppy: Word of the Week: Kindness 

I'd like to emphasise from the outset that I consider our family to be extremely lucky not to be more severely affected by Ectodermal Dysplasia. However, having reviewed last year's post, I now realise that in just over twelve months a lot has happened regarding Theo's condition and treatment. I hope that by sharing our personal experiences, we will raise awareness of ED and may even help other families looking for answers.

Meet Lucy and Jack - H is for Haemodialysis

It has been quite a while since I wrote a Books to Inspire post but you cannot get more inspirational than the story behind the Meet Lucy and Jack series. Just over 12 months ago I reviewed a very special book called "H is for Haemodialysis" written for children whose families are affected by kidney disease. It was the debut picture book of Anita and Simon Howell, who had been inspired by their own experiences of dealing with kidney disease and the impact it had upon their own family life raising two young children. Simon himself suffers from kidney failure and receives dialysis. He is currently waiting for a second kidney transplant.

Childs Farm Toiletries #NationalEczemaWeek

Did you know that 17th - 25th September 2016 is National Eczema Week? Well what better time to share our thoughts on some fantastic toiletries suitable for sensitive and eczema prone skin?

The two eldest Mini Reviewers suffer from eczema and we have to be very careful when choosing products to use on their skin. I am always on the look out for new toiletries and in particular bath time products. I recently came across Childs Farm, a UK brand, that claims to supply a range of toiletries for babies and children that are suitable for sensitive and eczema prone skin. After a quick exchange of emails, the lovely people at Childs Farm very kindly agreed to send me some of their products to try out.

Wear Jeans, Change Lives #JeansForGenesDay

Tomorrow it's Jeans for Genes Day in the UK. You may think (like I did) that genetic conditions are very rare. In fact 1 in 25 children born in the UK have a genetic disorder. That is an astounding 30,000 babies each year. The money raised from Jeans for Genes Day helps over 500,000 children living in the UK and this year one of the charities to benefit from the money raised is The Ectodermal Dysplasia Society.

Some of you may know that Ectodermal Dysplasia (ED) affects my family. I have previously written a little about the rare condition here. I have already received very helpful advice from The Ectodermal Dysplasia Society about obtaining treatment for my little boy as well as genetic testing during my last pregnancy. Our family will certainly need further support as our children grow up. Therefore this is a cause very close to my heart and I'll be wearing my T.Shirt in support! #JeansForGenes #JeansForGenesDay

To find out more about Jeans for Genes Day or to donate click here.

"H is for Haemodialysis" Written by Anita and Simon Howell and Illustrated by Sue Roche (2016)

“H is for Haemodialysis” is Anita and Simon Howell’s first book and is a little different from the stories I am used to sharing with the Mini Reviewers. This picture book has been specifically written to help children whose families are affected by kidney problems and it has been inspired by Anita and Simon’s own experiences of dealing with kidney failure as a family. Simon, a doctor, has required both haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis and he has also been through an unsuccessful transplant. The couple decided to write this book when unable to find any appropriate literature to explain the situation to their own children.

H is for Haemodialysis

The story is told by Lucy who is eight. Lucy has a younger brother called Jack. In the book Lucy explains that their daddy has kidney problems and needs a new kidney. While he is waiting for a kidney transplant, he has to have regular dialysis. She describes their family life and how their daddy can’t do all the things he used to do. She talks about everything from dialysis and fistulas to his special diet. She also shares how she hopes once their daddy has had a transplant, he will feel a lot better and they will be able to go out for the whole day together.

The book is a simple introduction to the issues surrounding kidney failure. It also illustrates how living with chronic illness can impact the whole family. The information provided is easy to understand and the medical terminology is clearly explained. Most importantly the tone of the book manages to remain relatively light despite the serious nature of the content. This is down to the story being told from a child’s perspective as well as Sue Roche's charming illustrations of a such a caring family.  I can see how this book would be incredibly helpful for families affected by kidney disease.

If you would like more information about this book please see:

https://www.facebook.com/meetLucyandJack

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All opinions are, as always, my own.

Word of the Week: Kindness

Since starting our family blog just over two weeks ago, I have been asking myself whether I would ever discuss Theo having Ectodermal Dysplasia (E.D). I always thought my answer would be a resounding “no”, simply because it is such a personal issue. However two things happened this week which have prompted me to share a little about the condition.