Busy school life

This School Term has been a busy one. Missy has settled in nicely to her class and her new teacher is jumping on board with Missy's technology and is keen to expand her writing skills.
Recently the school disco was held, always a highlight with Missy, this year her little sister H-Ho could stay the whole night, not just grab a dance at the start. When it was time to pick them up, they were both exhausted, Missy was glowing red from dancing in her walker.
Missy decided to join the School Girls cricket team, along with her best friends. While all facets of the game are challenging for Missy, not to mention some are dangerous, when protective reflexes aren't working so well. Anyway challenging has never stopped her from having a go. The School team played and won their first game last week, with Missy having a go at fielding and being the photographer. Later Missy told me on her Dynavox that the best part was hanging with her friends while the team was batting. It was a wonderful experience for her, to be part of a school sports team, that travelled away . This week will see the team play their second game at home... Good Luck girls.
Another event to squeeze into this term, will be the Athletics Carnival, hope the battery on her powerchair will hold up.

It's all happening

With Missy's Birthday celebrations over, there was the outstanding present that Missy wanted, her ears pierced.
Well last week she had her ears done, I was more nervous than her. Missy was so excited and couldn't drive out of school fast enough to get there (for Missy that is out of character, as usually it's impossible to get her out of school in the afternoons).
We pulled up in the car park, Missy leaned over and opened her door by herself. The lady in Pharmacy who knows our family couldn't believe how excited she was, she talked Missy thru what was going to happen (always a good move) and while counting to three, she fired the gun on one, Missy face first was one of astonishment that she lied and didn't go on three. Tears soon followed and while wiping away the tears she signed, "get the gun and do the other one". Missy wanted it over and done with, as she had lots of kids to show off at school to.
So all done, pretty pink sparkley studs, they look great.
Must the picture up soon.

Something a little different...

While I write mostly about Missy's life , a big part of our familiy's lifestyle is the farm we live on and the Murray Grey cattle we bred.
Recently we made a return to the show ring with our cattle and exhibited two young bulls at the Canberra Royal Show. Murray Greys were the feature bred and 150 were presented for judging from a number of states, the biggest showing in the breed for many years.
Our bulls were in the same class 14-16 mths and we received a 2nd and 4th. The handsome boys(including hubby the handler) are shown in the pictures.
The girls and I went down to the show and the girls lasted a 13 hour day at the show with a showbag, rides and scary fireworks to finish off.

We have another van....

A few weeks ago, we picked up our new, second hand van from Sydney. We got a VW transporter 09 Diesel LWB with mid roof, this should provide us with the base requirements, that will enable us to to convert it to our needs.
Thankfully the way it is set-up currently it's useable, with a cargo barrier behind the bench seat and using our portable ramp we have been able to transport around the kids and the powerchair.
Later this week, we are taking it to ATS www.accessibletransit.com in Sydney for it's conversion, hopefully only taking two weeks to make it just the way we want it.
So as I soon head back to taking the truck everywhere I will be counting down the days until the VW is ready.

The 2nd Swimming Carnival

Excitement builds quickly when the kids return to school to find out the swimming carnival is on in the second week. Lots of chit chat goes on amongst kids about what races they are going in, and it's no different for Missy.
Missy blog readers may remember the post about her 1st swimming carnival and her participate in the backstroke race. Well this year she promptly told me that she was going in two races, the freestyle and backstroke.
Missy seems to have little regard to how she will actually stay afloat and propel herself along, that is just something that she thinks someone else will work out, while she tries her heart out, has a go alongside her mates, gains points for her house and shares in the excitement and adrenaline of waiting for the gun to go off.

Our wonderful Aide Miss H went in the water with Missy, who competed in the freestyle race in a wetsuit and then did the backstroke with her neck float on. Missy wasn't happy to start at the 15metres to the finish, like last year and insisted on starting up at the blocks. Missy had only just started her race and the whole school was chanting her name.
Missy has advised me that next year she is going to be in three races... there is no end to the height,she sets the bar for herself.

Little Sister H-Ho starts school

Missy was excited about her little sister starting school with her this year and was upset the first day, as H-Ho had to stay with the kindy kids for their first lunch and Missy expected she would sit her.

H-Ho cruised into school full of excitement with next to no worries. She has asked could she go on Saturday and loves her teachers.
H-Ho runs to Missy's classroom every afternoon to meet her.

Still Van Hunting

Since the news from our insurance company that they wish to write our MB Vito Van off, we have been researching far and wide for a new vehicle. We are unable to get one like we had and have decided to try some new things while the unfortunate opportunities arise.
We haven't been able to find anything suitable that is already setup with wheelchair accessibility, so we heading towards a VW transporter LWB with a mid roof height this time, and looking to have the conversion done to our preferences. We think we may have found a suitable second hand vehicle and the converters will have to line the interior, put windows in, wheelchair grade flooring and tie downs, 4 single seats,some air in the back and a hoist or fold down ramp. Waiting on quotes for the conversion, but I'm guessing about 20K.
Hopefully we can get back to something with similar practicability to our Vito.

Leonid's - The Optimism Advantage

Leonid Blyum the ABR founder posted some inspiring notes in his New Years Greeting that I would like to share with visitors to Missy's Blog. The Optimism Advantage can apply to all walks of life and particularly to parents.
Here is the link to his blog, I have just grabbed snippets from it, it makes for some interest reading.
http://blyum.typepad.com/on_abr_and_beyond/2011/01/2011-new-year-greetings-the-optimism-advantage-.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OnAbrAndBeyond+%28On+ABR+and+beyond...%29
I’d dare to encourage you to make an effort and even when it feels difficult to keep your optimistic stance – still to keep trying and keeping your internal ‘reality perception’ filters switched into the “Positive” mode.

I know it’s not easy. Sometimes the pressures of juggling all the challenges of bringing up a child with special needs and physical impairments mount up to such extremes that it appears impossible to keep looking at ‘the bright side of life’…
I understand it very well.

At the end of the day, I am Russian, right?

And by and large we are one of the most if not the most pessimistic nation on the face of the planet.
So when a Russian encourages you to take an optimism stance – it’s worth giving it a thought… :-)

The basis of my judgment is plain and simple – optimism pays-off; and I am not simply generalizing – I am talking about the ability of special parents to bring the maximum contribution towards the developmental advancement of the kids with Cerebral Palsy.

ABR is a coaching program for parents. The ABR works through you –- the progress of Cerebral Palsy kids depends on the skill and the ability of a parent to deliver consistent day-in day-out work of high technical quality.

Leonid goes on talk about the key elements that come into play that ensures Optimism pays off. Motivation - more aware of the signs of progress. Higher Energy Level - being optimism doesn't tax you like hesitance, indecisiveness and anxiety . Seeing opportunities rather than obstacles - this is really a point I'm endeavouring to take on board, as we search for a new vehicle, having our wonderful van written off last week. I'm hoping that a new van will provide different opportunities for us, once we jump over the pile of decisions and choices.

Leonid writes: I’d be happy if this little post with the praise for optimism is going to help you in improving your ‘inner game’ even just a little extra bit.
Consider it done, Leonid

Luck has got to change

HI All
Happy New Year to everyone and hope it will be a fantastic one.
Our recent week hasn't been so good, starting Christmas Eve with Missy's Powerchair charger blowing up, followed by 4 inches of rain on our hay, Christmas night due to be baled on Boxing Day. Boxing Day bought some localised flooding and our wheelchair accessible van got water damage to the engine and is now off the road. All this happens when everything is shutdown. Following this Missy's and H-Ho favourite pet chook died.

Anyway we are hoping for brighter start to the new year then the end of 2010.

I'll be back soon with some wonderful words from the ABR founder of Leonid Blyum - The Optimism Advantage