Maracattack

I started off doing the Crazy Crab and the Travelling Chicken with her, jealously eyeing up her maracas. (Gravity-induced diminishing pertness has meant it’s been a while since anyone jealously eyed up my maracas, but I digress...)

Before long, however, I just stood back and watched, amazed at the astonishing effect
Miranda Hart’s Maracattack workout DVD was having on my daughter.

Prader-Willi Syndrome means it’s hard for her body to convert fat to muscle, so she has poor muscle-tone. It means she has to be on a strict low fat, healthy eating regime, despite being hungry all the time. And it means she needs to exercise, despite not really liking the idea of ‘exercise’ very much at all.

This DVD, starring the tall and bumbling Miranda (whose slapstick TV show my girl finds very funny), turned all that upside down. The music began, and my daughter was off, in maraca heaven, shake shake shaking her thang.

She completed the 10 minute warm-up, and I took her jumper off, as she was actually putting some real oomph into it and looking a little flushed, a rare occurence when it comes to physical exercise, when her default setting is usually ‘amble’.

Then, for 20 minutes, she enthusiastically copied the workout routine, kicking her legs, circling her arms, hopping around, and giggling at Miranda’s silly comments, crabbing and chickening for all she was worth.

Mir-marac-ulous.

Video is The Rolling Stones - Jumpin' Jack Flash

Hogs

The newest chapter of the Hells Angels took to the streets today.

The Sons & Daughters Of Anarchy (East Bedfordshire Under 15s Division) let loose its two latest 'prospects', on a recce to the rec.

My boy was racing around on his new £10-from-ebay bargain bike (quickly picking up the pedalling technique and balancing required when utilising a tiny pair of stabilisers).

I used the opportunity to mention, casually, to my daughter: "Haven't we still got your trike somewhere?" The battered red three-wheeler had been gathering dust in the shed since our house move, forgotten about and unloved - but the idea of joining her brother on a biker rally had my girl asking me to fetch her Hog from the shed.

We bought it a few years back from the mum of a Prader-Willi Syndrome boy who was selling it because her boy had outgrown it. Ideal for someone with poor muscle control and balance, it gave our daughter the confidence and stabillity she lacked on an ordinary bike.

So out it came. Tyres were pumped, the saddle raised a little, and soon she was steadily and sedately sailing along on the tricycle, serene and happy alongside her fearsome-faced brother who was making machine-gun noises and yelling: "TURBO BOOST!" every five yards.

People with PWS need exercise to help control their weight, as their bodies cannot convert fat to muscle as efficiently as others. But they're stubborn. Really stubborn. So 'forcing' them to exercise is impossible. Sparking their interest, however, varying things up, and making them think the activity is their idea, works a treat.

I reckon the Mini and Micro Hells Angels will be burning a lot of rubber - and calories - this summer, which is fine by me. Just as long as they don't ask me to let them have Death's Head tattoos.

Clip is Steppenwolf - Born To Be Wild, from Easy Rider

Bottom

Getting my daughter outside has always been a struggle. She’d always rather be in the warm, reading a book.

Which is fine. But when your child has Prader-Willi Syndrome, you need to sneak in physical activities whenever you can. The trick is not to call it exercise, and to entice her out with a little mission, project, or reward.

So rather than just go for a walk, we’ll pop to the shop to buy a magazine. To encourage her to come out for some bending and stretching and fresh air, we’ll get her to grab a trowel and do a spot of gardening with her dad.

The latter is what’s happening in this picture.

You’ll just have to take my word for it that actual gardening is taking place. 

What it looks like, I'll admit, is a formation builders’ bum display. 

My daughter's little bottom often had an unintentional airing during the nine years she had to wear a body brace to support her back (see previous blog entry Cast). It's hidden under her cardi in this photo, but the bottom edge of the plastic moulded jacket always used to push the top of her trousers down. 

Dunno what my husband's excuse is.

Video is The Presidents Of The United States Of America - Peaches. 
I was going to go for Moon River, but when I searched You Tube I almost clicked on Westlife's version by mistake, and the near miss frightened me so much I had to lie down in a darkened room.