Lazy Sunday’s

I love lazy Sunday's especially when they involve:

• Cool Music
  




• Cool Kids
  





Fruit Smoothies





Lots and Lots of Paddlepop Sticks






Paint





And Glue

What else do you need right!

Oh and a Blue Sky with the Sun shining.

Just When You Thought It Was Safe!

Well we were getting a bit beaten this morning by our opposing U/6 Soccer team.

The Half time whistle sounded – I know cause I was the Ref.

We packed down on our cut up apple pieces and reviewed our strategy for the second half.
We started the second half and All seem to be going to plan, there was a bit of a tight tussle in the middle of the pitch with Jack and a few opponents fighting out for the ball when it happened.

The Head Clash!

Jack was left lying on the grass a bit worse for wear, I went over to check him out and make sure he was alright. He started to stand up with me helping him and .......

The eyes rolled back......

The lips went blue......

And down he went.....

He was out for just a few seconds but it was enough.

Ambulance was called...... and funnily enough one of the mothers of the opposing team was a surgeon, so she had a look at him and made sure there was nothing to major happening to him right then.

The Ambulance has had a busy day so they told us it might be a while.
After an hour of him being observed in the First aid room, I rang the ambulance to let them know I was going to transport him myself to the local hospital.

2 minute drive from the soccer complex.

After a check out by the Triage nurse and feeling comfortable in Jack’s state of alertness (and being frequent visitors to the ED with Kate. The Triage was actually one of Kate’s nurses.) I decided that he would be OK to take home (again 90sec drive away from the ED) and observe him from home.

The Triage gave us the list and time frames of what to look out for and so far Jack has been his old self, But he’ll probably sleep in with me tonight.

This is the second time Jack has done this to us, when he was about 18mths old he bounced off a small exercise ball down onto a gym mat and did the same thing – Rolled eyes – Blue lips – Out for a few seconds.

Don’t think he’ll take up boxing as a sport I think he’s got a bit of a glass jaw.

Anyway he’s all good now and I’m sure nothing will come of it.

And to think we stopped him from playing league in case he got hurt.

Winners are Grinners!

What a week end so far of Sport.

Friday night was the official opening on the Townsville Junior Soccer season and it started with a march past of all the clubs.

Annandale Falcon's was the second in the order of marchers but we were definitely the loudest with us winning the March Past.

Please excuse the pics as they were from the mobile phone

Jack displaying the coveted trophy.

My Sparkling Student!

On Wednesday Kate received a "Sparkling Student Award"

Each week one student receives this award from each class.

It's then presented to them by the Principal.

Kate had no idea she was getting the award and her teacher text ed me to let me know so I was able to go the assembly.

I snuck in so Kate didn't know I was there either so it was a big surprise for her.

I was so proud of her as she drove her chair up to the podium by herself with one of her friends in tow and received her award

Soccer Game

Well the day had come,
Finally it had stopped raining long enough for the playing ground to dry out and get mowed.
The U/6 Annandale Falcons Kookaburras had their first taste in competition.

It was supposed to be 4 a side but the opposing side only had 3 turn up so we decided to go with 3 a side.


Lucky we did as our team needed those valuable subs throughout the first half (15min)




Jack was playing in the number 3 jersey with the smallest socks I could get him
(They still came up under his shorts...Hahahah)

Jack kicked off the 2nd half with an absolute scorcher...



And with a bit of aggressive defense...

ended a game with his mates.

Team mate no.4 had already taken off to the canteen for an Ice cream so this week it was just the boys.

Well done Jack!

Big Day

Well Tomorrow is the big day...

Jack has his first U/6 soccer game

and

I am the coach...

and

Cause it is a home game

also the Ref.

So I'm busy studying the U/6 rules......Hahahahah

Pics tomorrow.

What a week!!

What a few weeks it has been.

You when something one bad thing happens Then lots of bad things follow?

Well it started off with the passing of Leighton Dowker...

Then another friend of mine lost his daughter (13yo) - was expected but that doesn't make much difference.

RIP Stacey

This all made me stress out a bit when Will had to go into hospital to get his adenoids and tonsils out then get grommets put into his ears.

Surgery and a stay over night at hospital.

As you could imagine I was relieved to have him home this morning.

I am So Proud Of Her!

Today has been another interesting day. Kate had a pediatric appointment this afternoon to see the results of her MRI.

Well!!


We know that Kate has brain damage but now we know to what extent.

There are many large gaps in her brain and some of the sections are quiet “shriveled” for want of a better word.

Kate’s pediatrician is amazed at what Kate has achieved to date now looking at her scan.

She amazes us everyday.

She is such a trooper and

I am so proud of her, She is one amazing little girl.

RIP - Leighton Dowker

Last Sunday night as I surfing around the net of my usual web haunts, I received news that a friend from my surf lifesaving days had suddenly passed. From the details I have he had a fever and then just collapsed on his living room floor and passed away.

He was only 30 years old.

I have many memories of Leighton most of which are of him knocking around over on Magnetic Island with the Picnic Bay SLSC.
He was the type of bloke that no matter what mood you were in he always got you smiling.
He was your typical beached Aussie, tall, broad, tanned and toned, he liked a beer on a hot day and a surf in the morning.

My thoughts are with Kev, Deanne and Aley and Jane.

And Leighton I will never forget your cheeky grin.

RIP Mate

Drew.

Another Rainy Day

Another rainy Day so we headed off to Reef HQ on last Sunday.

It was pouring outside which made it a Little dark as the tanks are sunlit.

Jack was invited over a mates place on Sunday so he went there while we went to Reef HQ.


This is one of Kate's favourite tanks as there are many many different coloured fish and corals in it.



"Which one is you're favourite?"


"This is My favourite"

The rain has seems to have gone for now and the place smells like a swamp.

We're looking forward for the backyard to dry up so I can mow then the kids can get out there and play again.

Happy

I love having my Wife home on the week ends...

Rain Rain Go Away

This rain is starting to drive us crazy.

We were supposed to go up to Broadwater State Forrest on Sat for our Delica Day Out but it's an absolute no go.

A friend in Ingham has about 3-4 foot of water running under his house - and we have to drive through past it to get to Broadwater.

So there's not much to tell cause we haven't been doing much.

Jack had a News Report speech to do at school today, so him and I sat down last night and went through the Courier Mail.

I got him to look at the pics and when he found one he liked I read him the story in his terms.

He found one about the jelly fish blowing up on the beach on the Sunshine coast and so I read it to him.

His teacher told me that he got up and did a very good speech telling the class that it was stinger season and we shouldn't go swimming in the ocean, and that the wind blew lots of Jellyfish up on the beach and the life saver said he has never seen so many jellyfish.

Well Done Jack!!

Last night I put photos of all of Kate's classmates into her trial Liberator 14.

And this morning she was saying "Good Morning Mrs Nolan" and also to all her classmates (by name), which they thought that was pretty cool. So did all the mum's...

Kate's already got a bit of a fan club.

For 3 years we asked her previous school if we could take pics of her classmates to put into her 'talker' and it didn't happen..

We've been at Southern Cross Catholic School 11 days now and it's already done. I spent the day with her class on Monday and the teachers and support workers have taken on everything I have suggested, I think it is going to be a real TEAM environment there for us and Kate.

But most importantly both Kate and Jack are enjoying it.

The young lad who moved into the house across the road over the school holidays is also going to the same school so some days if his Dad has an early start he come with us.

After the Australia Day BBQ and we all had a good social meet everyone seems carrying that on so hopefully we will have a nice little network soon.

Well it's getting late and I have school tomorrow..

So I'm off to bed....

¡¡¡lnɟǝɹɐɔ ǝq

¡¡¡ʇǝuɹǝʇuı ǝɥʇ ɟɟo spɹɐoqʎǝʞ dɐǝɥɔ ƃuıʎnq ɟo lnɟǝɹɐɔ ǝq

The Dam is Full, The Dam is Full!!

We went to the movies today and saw "Bolt" then we went for a drive up to the Ross River Dam to have a look at the water coming over the spillway.

Here is Jack and Will at the bottom of the spillway.

Kate always has a cheeky smile for the camera..


The grate in front of us is out over the flowing water and the spray and wind shoot straight up, this is where we get soaked..

We had to leave Kate's chair up the top and I carried her down the ten or so staircases AND THEN back up again...Phew!

Always knows there's a camera around..

Time to think!

I had a terrible night last night, That's why I'm up at 0330 on the computer.
Yesterday (Fri) we were supposed to head up to Cairns for the week end. Donna has the week end off - and that doesn't happen very often - so we were staying at this nice resort with a big pool and playground for the kids. It was a last minute thing but I was really excited about getting out if this house.

The rain has been depressing me and even though it was probably raining in Cairns also I was happy to lay about in a hotel room and watch movies or go for a swim with the kids in the pool and maybe even do a trip to sugar-world.

But it was not to be, and for some reason I feel like there was a reason we should not go. I don't know what it is - but.....

This business with the young child being thrown off the bridge in Melbourne has really knocked me around a bit also, I keep picturing it in my head - Dad driving the car in solid traffic, Kids screaming in he back, Dad under lots of stress, Dad then snaps!!! I picture the child looking at its Dad has he carries her to the side thinking he won't do it he's my dad and then looking back up at Dad while she's falling to earth thinking.... he's supposed to be protecting me....what Did I do??....Why doesn't he love me????

I know as parents we all been in the situation where you are driving and the kids are going ballistic in the back but where is that line that changes you to do something as irrational and deadly as the above story.

How close has any of us been to that line. Maybe not to the extreme as the above but to at least not paying attention to what is really important - The deadly weapon you are driving - not who took who's toy or who's turn is it to pick the movie.

A friend on mine was driving home the other day from picking his kids up from school and came across a fatal motorcycle accident where the rider was an older guy - maybe had kids maybe not but no doubt had a family somewhere and his (my friend) kids were in the car while he was trying to save this guy. What a terrible thing to happen.

Sorry about the rant but it makes you think.....

What really is Important to Us ...Huh!!!

Australia Day

This is how we Celebrated Australia Day.
Just a bit of a BBQ with the neighbours!!!




The Pool.

The Flag..

The pool again....In the rain!

Cleaning Up the next day..

First day of school!

Can you tell that the first day of school followed Australia Day! This was a great opportunity to take a photo of the 5 of us together, looking somewhat respectable!

Kate Talking!!!

Kate has had her trial 'Talker' for a week now and is going really well with it!

Here is the video that we have sent away for apply for MASS (Medical Aid Subsidy Scheme) funding for some of the cost of Kate's Liberator 14.

Please enjoy!

It All Arrives!

What a day it was yesterday,

Kate's Liberator 14 arrived for trial.



It's an upgrade of the communication device that she is already using and we have it for a month.
As you can see from the link above it is a very complex voice output communication device and we now have a month to raise the AU$13,000 so Kate can continue using it at school.
It has always been Donna and my goal for Kate to have a new one by the start of school.

Kate's old one has never worked at 100% since it came home one day from her old school rattling like a baby's toy but that is another story....

This one has a MP3 player and runs Windows XP so now everything can be done on the device where as we used to have to connect it up to her laptop for her to use Word etc.

But I think the Mp3 player is what Kate is most excited about...

What also arrived yesterday was the approval for funding for the renovation of our bathroom, We wanted to enclose the laundry, toilet and bathroom into one big room with full wheelchair access etc.

The funding only covers half of the cost so we need to come up with the rest (just over 9 grand).

So it will be interesting where all this money is going to come from?

Oh Well that's the life of a parent with a special needs Kid I suppose.

Getting Sorted

Now that it's 2009,

I'm going to get all my pics and video's sorted into albums for 2008......True!