As I was thinking about writing this post I decided to have a look back at one I had written last year about heading on holidays to France and some of the worries that went through my head. And as I read through it I was smiling at the difference a year can make.
Last year I was worried how the flight might have affected Lucia’s lymphoedema, how she would react to the heat, being in a different country and all sorts of other stuff…but of course, I now know that she coped wonderfully and wrote about that too! Read them here and here.
We had such a fantastic holiday that within a month of returning home we booked another one in the same region for this summer – and we are currently counting down the weeks! Plus, thanks to our past, positive experience I am less worried and more excited at the thought of lazy days by the pool, day trips out and about and just enjoying some lovely family time.
So here are my preparations and plans so far!
The first aid kit
Last year we put together a comprehensive first aid kit that had something for every eventuality – and the same one is going again this year. It includes: plasters, bandages, antiseptic cream, sting/bite cream, dry antibiotics (provided by the doctor), pain medicine, allergy medicine, sterile water and lots of other stuff! It is a big bag, stuffed to the brim but better to be safe than sorry!
Two new products
This year we will also be bringing two new products with us – Medi Fresh Spray and Avon’s Skin So Soft Dry Oil Spray. Last year we brought along a little spray bottle which we filled with water and it was brilliant for spraying on Lucia’s garments to keep her cool. This year however I discovered this Medi Spray which is refreshing and cool and contains all natural ingredients including menthol. We have already used it a couple of times on two very rare warm sunny days that Northern Ireland has enjoyed so far and it smells gorgeous too which is also a bonus.
The second product is Avon’s Dry Oil Spray which we saw in the LSN’s Lymphline Newsletter. As well as being a lovely moisturising spray it also acts as a bug repellent – two important jobs in one! Needless to say both Max and Lucia will be getting sprayed liberally!
The pool
I still take Lucia swimming every week so she will love getting some daily pool time when we are away. This will also allow her some daily compression free time which she loves. And, like last year, we also let her have a wee bit of bare leg time after the pool – providing she is either on grass or inside. She really loves this little bit of freedom so that’s the plan.
The beach
We aren’t really beachy people but we will go once or twice as it is all part of the holiday experience and the kids enjoy building sandcastles and jumping over the waves. We are undecided about whether we will let Lucia have bare legs on the beach – my head says no way and my heart says maybe. We are awaiting the delivery of new garments before we head off so she will have a few old pairs that can be worn on the beach and in the sea so that might be the best idea to preserve my sanity! Plus, we have the Toms shoes that are perfect for the beach and will give her little feet great protection. Regardless of whether we keep the garments on or take them off she will still need rinsed off with bottled water to make sure all salt water and grains of sand are washed away asap.
Have fun
Finally, we aim to have a lot of fun and make some more wonderful memories. Experience brings so much confidence and we can’t wait to get away. Bring on the holidays!
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